Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 1
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे यमनियमा नामैकसप्तत्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ द्विसप्त्यधिकत्रिशततमो ऽध्यायः आसनप्राणायामप्रत्याहाराः अग्निर् उवाच आसनं कमलाद्युक्तं तद्बद्ध्वा चिन्तयेत्परं शुचौ देशे प्रतिष्ठाप्य स्थिरमासनमात्मनः
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe yamaniyamā nāmaikasaptatyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha dvisaptyadhikatriśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ āsanaprāṇāyāmapratyāhārāḥ agnir uvāca āsanaṃ kamalādyuktaṃ tadbaddhvā cintayetparaṃ śucau deśe pratiṣṭhāpya sthiramāsanamātmanaḥ
इस प्रकार आग्नेय महापुराण में ‘यम-नियम’ नामक तीन सौ इकहत्तरवाँ अध्याय समाप्त हुआ। अब तीन सौ बहत्तरवाँ अध्याय—‘आसन, प्राणायाम और प्रत्याहार’—आरम्भ होता है। अग्नि बोले: ‘कमलासन आदि आसन को ग्रहण कर उसे दृढ़ करके परम का चिन्तन करे। शुद्ध स्थान में अपने लिए स्थिर आसन स्थापित करे।’
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Establishing a stable meditative posture (āsana) in a clean place to begin dhyāna, prāṇāyāma, and pratyāhāra; practical setup for daily practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āsana-sthāpanā and parama-dhyāna (lotus-seat etc.)","lookup_keywords":["āsana","padmāsana","śuci-deśa","dhyāna","sthiratā"],"quick_summary":"Choose a clean place, sit steadily in a firm posture such as padmāsana, and direct the mind to the Supreme. The verse gives the opening procedural frame for yoga practice."}
Concept: External steadiness (āsana, śuci-deśa) supports internal steadiness (dhyāna on the Supreme).
Application: Create a consistent meditation corner; sit in a stable posture you can hold without strain; begin with īśvara-smaraṇa before breath practices.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Asana–Pranayama–Pratyahara; Yama–Niyama continuation)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: Sacred space (practice-site)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin prepares a clean spot, sits in padmāsana on a simple mat, spine upright, eyes calm, mind turned toward the Supreme.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin in padmāsana on a clean floor, minimal forest-āśrama backdrop, muted ochres and greens, subtle divine aura above head indicating para-dhyāna, traditional stylized anatomy","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, seated yogin with gold halo, lotus-seat emphasized, clean sanctified space with small lamp, gold detailing on aura and borders, devotional yet instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of padmāsana, labeled-like clarity without text, soft pastel background, emphasis on stable seat and calm face, neat meditation corner","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtyard or garden pavilion, yogin seated in lotus posture on a mat, fine textiles, subdued palette, a faint luminous symbol of the Supreme in the sky"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति; 'dhyāyaḥ' preceded by elision: 'adhyāyaḥ' with avagraha in IAST ('dhyāyaḥ). अग्निर् = अग्निः. चिन्तयेत्परं = चिन्तयेत् + परम्. स्थिरमासनमात्मनः = स्थिरम् + आसनम् + आत्मनः. kamalādyuktaṃ = kamala-ādi-yuktam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 371 (Yama–Niyama as prerequisites); Agni Purana 372 (continuation: seat height, gaze, restraint)
FAQs
It teaches foundational Yoga-vidyā: choose and stabilize a yogic posture (e.g., padmāsana), sit in a clean place, and begin contemplation of the Supreme—setting the practical preconditions for prāṇāyāma and pratyāhāra.
Beyond myth and devotion, the Agni Purana also preserves applied disciplines; here it functions as a yoga manual, cataloging practice-sequences (āsana → contemplation → prāṇāyāma/pratyāhāra) alongside other sciences and dharmic topics.
Purity of place and steadiness of posture reduce distraction and restlessness, enabling inwardness; contemplation of the Supreme is presented as a direct means of purification and progress toward liberation-oriented practice.