Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
Chapter 83 — निर्वाणदीक्षाकथनम्
Description of the Nirvāṇa Initiation
विषयञ्च गुणञ्चैकं कारणं च सदा शिवं सितायां शान्त्यतीतायामन्तर्भाव्य प्रपीडयेत्
viṣayañca guṇañcaikaṃ kāraṇaṃ ca sadā śivaṃ sitāyāṃ śāntyatītāyāmantarbhāvya prapīḍayet
Après avoir fondu l’objet de méditation (viṣaya), la qualité (guṇa), le principe unique intégrateur et le fondement causal (kāraṇa) en Sadāśiva—dans la Śakti Blanche, dans l’état de « Paix transcendante »—on doit presser fermement, c’est-à-dire intensifier et stabiliser cette absorption.
Lord Agni (instructing a sage in the Agni Purana’s ritual/meditative section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Internal laya (merging) of viṣaya, guṇa, integrating oneness, and kāraṇa into Sadāśiva within the ‘white’ śakti-state; stabilizing absorption through firm intensification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Laya into Sadāśiva in Śitā-Śakti and Śāntyatīta (pressing/stabilizing samāveśa)","lookup_keywords":["Sadāśiva-laya","viṣaya-guṇa-laya","śitā-śakti","śāntyatīta","prapīḍana"],"quick_summary":"Merge object, quality, unity, and causal ground into Sadāśiva within the white śakti of śāntyatīta, then ‘press’ the state—i.e., intensify and stabilize the absorption."}
Concept: All experiential categories (object/quality/causality) are reabsorbed into Sadāśiva-consciousness; stabilization (prapīḍana) is essential for abiding realization.
Application: In meditation, repeatedly dissolve sensory object and its guṇa into the witnessing ground, then deepen by sustained one-pointed ‘pressure’ rather than intermittent attention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Shiva-shanti & internalized ritual practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator dissolves a stream of sensory forms and qualities into a radiant Sadāśiva presence within a white, luminous śakti-field; the posture is steady, with an aura compressing inward to a single point.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Sadāśiva as serene luminous form in white aura, meditating sādhaka before/within the aura, symbolic icons of viṣaya and guṇa melting into light, strong outlines and traditional palette with dominant white highlights","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Sadāśiva seated on lotus with heavy gold halo, white śakti radiance rendered with bright highlights, small motifs (sense-objects) dissolving into the central figure, ornate gold embossing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, stepwise instructional panels: viṣaya → guṇa → kāraṇa merging into Sadāśiva, final panel shows ‘pressing’ absorption with concentrated bindu at heart/ajñā, soft shading and clear linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, contemplative yogin in a quiet chamber, translucent white aura forming a dome, faint icons of objects fading into a central luminous Śiva-form, refined detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विषयञ्च → विषयम् + च; गुणञ्चैकं → गुणम् + च + एकम्; शान्त्यतीतायामन्तर्भाव्य → शान्ति-अतीतायाम् + अन्तर्भाव्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 83.16; Agni Purana 83.17; Agni Purana 83.19; Agni Purana 83.20
FAQs
It teaches an internalized tantric method of laya (absorption): merging object, qualities, unity, and causality into Sadāśiva in a purified “white” state, then stabilizing that samāveśa (deep absorption) through sustained mental pressure (prapīḍana).
Alongside external rites, the Agni Purana also preserves technical contemplative instructions—mapping metaphysical categories (object/quality/cause/oneness) into a Śaiva framework—showing that it functions as a manual of ritual plus inner yoga-like disciplines.
By dissolving multiplicity into Sadāśiva and holding the absorption steady, the practitioner cultivates pacification beyond ordinary calm, reducing karmic agitation and orienting the mind toward liberation-focused purity.