Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
ज्ञानशक्तियुतान्येतैर् आरब्धानीन्द्रियाणि तु र् इति ङ, चिहिनितपुस्तकपाठः मनसाहृत्य मनो ऽहङ्करणे क्षरे इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः वासुदेवे समाहित इति ङ, इति चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः सङ्क्रमते जीव इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चाष्टवृत्तिकीति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः त्वक्श्रोत्रघ्राणचक्षूंषि जिह्वाबुद्धीन्द्रियाणि तु
jñānaśaktiyutānyetair ārabdhānīndriyāṇi tu r iti ṅa, cihinitapustakapāṭhaḥ manasāhṛtya mano 'haṅkaraṇe kṣare iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vāsudeve samāhita iti ṅa, iti cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ saṅkramate jīva iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ cāṣṭavṛttikīti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ tvakśrotraghrāṇacakṣūṃṣi jihvābuddhīndriyāṇi tu
Pourvues de la puissance de connaissance (jñāna-śakti), ces facultés sont mises en action. Et le jīva, les ramenant par le manas (mental), passe dans le manas puis dans le principe d’ego (ahaṅkāra) en voie de dissolution. Lorsqu’elles sont ainsi rassemblées et concentrées sur Vāsudeva, les facultés se trouvent maîtrisées. Les sens sont : la peau (toucher), l’oreille (ouïe), le nez (odorat), les yeux (vue), la langue (goût), et la buddhi (faculté d’intellection) comme organe interne.
Lord Agni (in dialogue framework of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Apply pratyāhāra and dhāraṇā: withdraw senses into mind, dissolve egoic appropriation, and fix attention on Vāsudeva to restrain faculties.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Indriya-Nigraha: Withdrawal into Mind and Absorption in Vāsudeva","lookup_keywords":["indriya","pratyāhāra","manas","ahaṅkāra","Vāsudeva"],"quick_summary":"The cognitive senses operate through jñāna-śakti; by drawing them back via mind and quieting egoity, one restrains the faculties, culminating in collectedness oriented to Vāsudeva."}
Concept: Indriyas are governed by mind; withdrawal and dissolution of ego-support enables restraint; devotionally, absorption in Vāsudeva stabilizes the collected state.
Application: Practice: (1) notice sense engagement, (2) draw attention back to mind, (3) release ‘I am the experiencer’, (4) hold a single support—name/form of Vāsudeva—until senses quiet.
Khanda Section: Sāṅkhya–Yoga / Adhyātma (Tattva-vicāra on mind, ego, and the senses)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator draws five sensory rays inward from ear/skin/eye/tongue/nose into the mind at the heart/head, while a serene image of Vāsudeva becomes the focal point; ego-symbol fades.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: yogin with five colored rays retracting inward, central Vāsudeva icon (four-armed) in a lotus aura, subdued background, strong outlines, devotional calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Vāsudeva as central deity with gold halo; below, a yogin in meditation with gold-highlighted inward-flowing sense streams; ornate arch and embellishments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: stepwise instructional composition—senses outward then arrows inward to manas, then to ahaṅkāra dissolving, final panel with focus on Vāsudeva; fine linework and labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: contemplative ascetic in a pavilion; translucent lines show senses withdrawing; a small radiant Vāsudeva vision appears before the inner gaze; intricate textiles and margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse contains extensive manuscript/edition interpolation markers (e.g., ‘r iti ṅa… cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ’). These are excluded from pada analysis as non-shloka apparatus. Resolved: युतान्येतैः = युतानि + एतैः; आरब्धानीन्द्रियाणि = आरब्धानि + इन्द्रियाणि; त्वक्श्रोत्रघ्राणचक्षूंषि = त्वक् + श्रोत्रम् + घ्राणम् + चक्षूंषि; जिह्वाबुद्धीन्द्रियाणि = जिह्वा + बुद्धि-इन्द्रियाणि
Related Themes: Agni Purana yoga/adhyātma sections on dhyāna, pratyāhāra, and bhakti-oriented concentration (adjacent adhyāyas)
FAQs
It teaches an inward discipline akin to pratyāhāra: withdrawing the senses through the mind, dissolving the ego-sense, and fixing concentration on Vāsudeva as the stabilizing object of meditation.
Alongside ritual and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves Sāṅkhya–Yoga style psychology—mapping jīva, mind, ego, and the sense-faculties—showing it functions as a compendium of both external rites and internal contemplative science.
By restraining the senses and ego and centering awareness on Vāsudeva, one reduces attachment-driven action (karma-bandha) and moves toward purification of mind and steadiness conducive to liberation-oriented practice.