Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 28
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
नालेनाष्टदलं पद्मं द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तृतं सत्त्वोपाधिसमायुक्तः सदा ध्येयश् च केशव इति ख लब्धदीपशिखाकृतिमिति ख , ञ च सकर्णिके केसराले सूर्यसोमाग्निमण्डलं
nālenāṣṭadalaṃ padmaṃ dvādaśāṅgulavistṛtaṃ sattvopādhisamāyuktaḥ sadā dhyeyaś ca keśava iti kha labdhadīpaśikhākṛtimiti kha , ña ca sakarṇike kesarāle sūryasomāgnimaṇḍalaṃ
Qu’on visualise, avec sa tige, un lotus à huit pétales s’étendant sur douze largeurs de doigt. Keśava—associé au conditionnement de sattva (sattva-upādhi)—doit être médité sans cesse. (Certaines recensions ajoutent : «ayant la forme d’une flamme de lampe».) Dans le lotus, pourvu de son péricarpe et de ses filaments, qu’on visualise aussi les mandalas du soleil, de la lune et du feu.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Mandala-and-lotus visualization practice: constructing an inner eight-petalled lotus with measured proportions and installing Keśava with associated mandalas (sun, moon, fire) for sustained dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭadala-padma-dhyāna with sūrya-soma-agni-maṇḍalas (Keśava as sattva-upādhi)","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadala padma","nāla stalk","dvādaśāṅgula","Keśava dhyāna","sūrya soma agni maṇḍala"],"quick_summary":"Visualize an eight-petalled lotus with stalk, twelve finger-breadths wide; meditate on Keśava (sattva-associated), and within the pericarp/filaments place the sun, moon, and fire mandalas (some recensions add a lamp-flame form)."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka (implicit identification of inner space as lotus-mandala)
Concept: Sattva-oriented upāsanā: Keśava as the sattva-upādhi focus, integrating solar-lunar-fire principles into a single inner mandalic field.
Application: Use measured inner imagery (petals, pericarp, mandalas) to keep attention structured; contemplate balancing of cooling (soma), heating (agni), and illuminating (sūrya) principles as a meditative integration.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Yoga-Dhyana (Tantric visualization of the lotus and mandalas)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An inner mandala: an eight-petalled lotus with stalk, precisely measured, with Keśava at the center; within the pericarp and filaments appear three circular mandalas—sun, moon, and fire—optionally as a lamp-flame glow.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large stylized aṣṭadala lotus with visible karṇikā and kesara, central Keśava icon, three mandalas (sun red-gold, moon white, fire orange) nested in the core, flat yet vibrant temple palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Keśava on lotus, heavy gold leaf on petals and aureoles, three embossed circular mandalas in the lotus core, jewel-toned background, optional flame motif rendered in gold.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise geometric lotus diagram with soft shading, clear depiction of stalk and 12-aṅgula proportion cue, labeled-like clarity without text, central Keśava and three mandalas neatly placed.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, botanical realism in lotus petals and filaments, central deity rendered delicately, three luminous discs (sun, moon, fire) in the pericarp, refined color gradations and fine detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नालेनाष्टदलं = नालेन अष्ट-दलम्; द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तृतं = द्वादश-अङ्गुल-विस्तृतम्; सत्त्वोपाधिसमायुक्तः = सत्त्व-उपाधि-समायुक्तः; ध्येयश् च = ध्येयः च; पद्मस्थमीश्वरं (पूर्वश्लोके) इव; पाठे ‘इति ख …’ ‘ञ’ इत्यादि हस्तलिपि-चिह्नानि/पाठभेद-सूचकाः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.24; Agni Purana 373.25; Agni Purana 373.27
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna-vidhi: constructing a precise inner visualization of an eight-petalled lotus (with measured extent) and installing Keśava there, along with the Sun–Moon–Fire mandalas in the lotus center.
It exemplifies the Purāṇa’s practical ritual-technology—measurement (aṅgula), iconographic/mandalic visualization, and deity-meditation—alongside its broader coverage of many sciences and arts.
Constant meditation on Keśava in a purified sattva-oriented inner seat is presented as a means to steady the mind, purify inner impressions, and align the practitioner with divine luminosity (often symbolized by the lamp-flame).