Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 30
Chapter 72 — स्नानविशेषादिकथनम्
Special Rules of Bathing, Mantra-Purification, and Sandhyā
साक्षिणीं कर्मणां सन्ध्यां आत्मानंतत्प्रभानुगं चतुर्थी ज्ञानिनः सन्ध्या निशीथादौ विभाव्यते
sākṣiṇīṃ karmaṇāṃ sandhyāṃ ātmānaṃtatprabhānugaṃ caturthī jñāninaḥ sandhyā niśīthādau vibhāvyate
La méditation du crépuscule, Témoin des actes—à savoir le Soi (Ātman) qui suit, c’est-à-dire est illuminé par cette radiance—est la quatrième Sandhyā pour les connaisseurs; elle doit être contemplée au commencement de minuit.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Yoga & Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Adds a jnani-oriented, internalized Sandhya at midnight (nishiitha) focused on the witnessing Self, complementing external Sandhya rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Caturthī Sandhyā (Jñāninām) — Nishiitha-dhyāna of the Sākṣī-Ātman","lookup_keywords":["caturthī sandhyā","sākṣī","nishiitha","ātman","sandhyā-vandana"],"quick_summary":"Defines a ‘fourth Sandhyā’ for knowers: contemplation at the start of midnight on the Self as witness of actions, illumined by the supreme radiance."}
Concept: Ātman as sākṣī (witness) of karma, illumined by the supreme radiance (tat-prabhā).
Application: Shift Sandhyā from external timing-only ritual to non-dual recollection of the witnessing Self, especially at midnight when sensory activity is minimal.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Sandhya-Vandana / Yogic-ritual meditation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A solitary practitioner seated in meditation at the onset of midnight, mind turned inward to the witnessing Self, with a subtle aura of radiance behind the head and heart.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep indigo night, seated yogi in padmāsana, subtle golden prabhā behind head, minimal landscape, sacred midnight ambience, stylized lotus motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central meditating figure with embossed gold halo (prabhā), dark blue background, ornate arch framing the contemplative scene, minimal props (kamandalu, japa-mālā)","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, calm interior shrine setting at midnight, lamp dimmed, yogi meditating on sākṣī-ātman, soft gradients around crown and heart","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, moonlit terrace at midnight, ascetic seated on carpet, delicate rendering of night sky, subtle luminous wash around the figure indicating inner radiance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्मानंतत्प्रभानुगं → आत्मानम् तत्प्रभानुगम्; निशीथादौ → निशीथ-आदौ (अव्ययीभाव).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 72 (Sandhyā-vandana and internal Sandhyā sections)
FAQs
It teaches a specialized Sandhyā for jñānins: a midnight contemplation (niśītha) focusing on the Ātman as the sākṣī (witness) of all actions, aligned with the supreme radiance (tat-prabhā).
It shows the text blending external ritual discipline (Sandhyā observance) with inner yogic-vedāntic method (witness-consciousness), illustrating how the Agni Purana compiles practical rites alongside contemplative spirituality.
By meditating on the Self as the impartial witness of karma, the practitioner weakens identification with actions and their fruits, supporting purification of mind and movement toward liberation-oriented insight.