Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 18
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
एकाक्षरं परं ब्रह्म प्राणायामः परन्तपः सावित्र्यास्तु परं नास्ति पावनं परमं स्मृतः
ekākṣaraṃ paraṃ brahma prāṇāyāmaḥ parantapaḥ sāvitryāstu paraṃ nāsti pāvanaṃ paramaṃ smṛtaḥ
La syllabe unique (Om) est le Brahman suprême ; et le prāṇāyāma, ô dompteur des ennemis, est l’austérité la plus haute. Rien ne surpasse le mantra Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) : on s’en souvient comme du purificateur suprême.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Daily purification and inner-discipline regimen: japa of Ekākṣara/Oṁ and Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) with prāṇāyāma as tapas for citta-śuddhi and prāyaścitta.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Ekākṣara-Brahma, Prāṇāyāma-tapas, and Sāvitrī as Supreme Pāvana","lookup_keywords":["ekakshara","Om","pranayama","Savitri","Gayatri"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Oṁ as the supreme Brahman, prāṇāyāma as the highest austerity, and Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī as the unsurpassed purifier—framing mantra + breath-discipline as the core purification technology."}
Concept: Mantra (Oṁ, Sāvitrī) and prāṇāyāma function as supreme means of purification; Brahman is apprehended through ekākṣara as para-tattva.
Application: Adopt a daily triad: prāṇāyāma → Sāvitrī-japa → silent contemplation on Oṁ as Brahman, especially as prāyaścitta and for antahkaraṇa-śuddhi.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Prāyaścitta (Purification, Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī, Prāṇāyāma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka in clean attire performs prāṇāyāma and japa; the syllable Oṁ radiates above, and a luminous Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī presence (solar aura) signifies supreme purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: yogi seated in padmāsana doing prāṇāyāma, stylized Oṁ in red-gold above, solar halo suggesting Sāvitrī, deep earthy pigments, ornate borders, serene śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central meditating sage with prominent gold-leaf Oṁ and radiant sun-disc for Sāvitrī, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, devotional yet instructional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework showing prāṇāyāma posture and japa-mālā, subtle Oṁ calligraphy, soft pastel palette, didactic clarity with calm background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a scholar-yogi in a quiet pavilion, holding mālā, controlled breath indicated by delicate lines, calligraphic Oṁ in the margin, sunlit ambiance, fine detailing and restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sāvitryāstu = sāvitryāḥ + tu; nāsti = na + asti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-vidya sections on Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī-japa; Agni Purana prāyaścitta and snāna-śuddhi discussions; Agni Purana yoga/dhyāna passages near 165.21–22
FAQs
It teaches a hierarchy of purificatory means: Oṃ (the ekākṣara) is identified with Parabrahman, prāṇāyāma is declared the highest tapas, and the Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī mantra is affirmed as the foremost purifier for spiritual and ritual purification.
It compresses multiple disciplines—Upaniṣadic mantra-doctrine (Oṃ as Brahman), yogic technique (prāṇāyāma), and Vedic ritual-mantra practice (Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī)—showing how the Agni Purāṇa synthesizes theology, yoga, and ritual science in a single instructional verse.
By elevating prāṇāyāma and Sāvitrī-japa as supreme purifiers, the verse frames them as powerful means to cleanse sin (pāpa), refine consciousness, and align the practitioner with Brahman through disciplined breath and mantra-recitation.