Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 51
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
विष्णुर्हस्तं ततो मूर्ध्नि दत्वा ध्यात्वा तु वैष्णवम् एवमेकं बहून् वापि जनित्वा ध्यानयोगतः
viṣṇurhastaṃ tato mūrdhni datvā dhyātvā tu vaiṣṇavam evamekaṃ bahūn vāpi janitvā dhyānayogataḥ
Puis Viṣṇu, posant sa main sur le sommet de la tête et méditant sur le Vaiṣṇava (forme/mantra), fait ainsi naître, par la discipline du yoga méditatif, soit une seule manifestation, soit même plusieurs.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Meditative emanation (sṛṣṭi-kalpa) practice: visualize Viṣṇu’s anugraha (hand on crown) and generate one or many forms/mantra-manifestations through dhyāna-yoga.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava dhyāna: śiras-sparśa anugraha and meditative emanation","lookup_keywords":["vaiṣṇava-dhyāna","śiras-sparśa","anugraha","sṛṣṭi-kalpa","bahu-rūpa"],"quick_summary":"By meditating on the Vaiṣṇava principle with Viṣṇu’s hand placed on the crown, the practitioner contemplates the arising of one or many manifestations through disciplined dhyāna-yoga."}
Concept: Emanation through contemplation: the one Vaiṣṇava reality can be meditated as producing one or many forms; grace (anugraha) is symbolized by crown-touch (śiras-sparśa).
Application: In visualization practice, begin with Viṣṇu’s anugraha at the crown, then expand the single form into multiple protective/ritual forms (or mantra-forms) without losing unity-awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava Dhyana–Srishti-kalpa / Meditative Emanation Practice)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu standing or seated, gently placing his hand on a devotee’s crown; from the devotee’s meditative aura arise one or many luminous Vaiṣṇava forms or mantra-syllable bodies, arranged like emanating reflections.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with four arms and bright halo, hand extended to touch the devotee’s head, multiple small Viṣṇu-forms radiating outward in concentric arcs, rich reds/greens and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with gold-embossed ornaments, devotee kneeling, crown-touch blessing, multiple miniature Viṣṇu icons emerging in gold-backed aura, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean composition showing one-to-many emanation: single Viṣṇu above, multiple forms below in orderly rows, soft pastel shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant palace-garden setting, Viṣṇu rendered with delicate detailing, blessing gesture on crown, emanated forms as translucent repeats, fine borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇurhastaṃ → viṣṇuḥ + hastam; vāpi → vā + api; dhyānayogataḥ → dhyāna-yogataḥ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (sṛṣṭi-kalpa and dhyāna-yoga sequences)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaiṣṇava dhyāna-yoga procedure: placing the hand on the crown of the head and meditating on the Vaiṣṇava principle (form/mantra) to generate a desired manifestation—single or multiple—through focused visualization.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical yogic-ritual technique (dhyāna as a method of effecting results), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa compiles applied disciplines—mantra, visualization, and worship-technology—alongside theology.
The instruction emphasizes disciplined meditation on Viṣṇu as a purifying, concentrative practice that aligns the practitioner with a Vaiṣṇava divine power, implying spiritual refinement and siddhi-like efficacy through controlled dhyāna.