Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
ध्यानमार्गेणेति ख , ज च ध्यायेत्त्रिमण्डलं पूर्वं कृष्णं रक्तं सितं क्रमात् सत्त्वोपाधिगुणातीतः पुरुषः पञ्चविंशकः
dhyānamārgeṇeti kha , ja ca dhyāyettrimaṇḍalaṃ pūrvaṃ kṛṣṇaṃ raktaṃ sitaṃ kramāt sattvopādhiguṇātītaḥ puruṣaḥ pañcaviṃśakaḥ
“Dengan jalan meditasi”—demikian bacaan naskah Kha dan Ja. Hendaknya terlebih dahulu bermeditasi pada tiga lingkaran: hitam, merah, dan putih secara berurutan. Melampaui guṇa, Puruṣa yang hanya berupādhi sattva dihitung sebagai prinsip ke-25.
Lord Agni (narrating the doctrine to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Employ color-and-form visualization (trimandala) as a meditative ladder leading from guṇa contemplation toward recognition of Puruṣa as the 25th tattva, beyond guṇas.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Trimandala Dhyāna and Recognition of Puruṣa as the 25th Tattva","lookup_keywords":["trimandala","kṛṣṇa-rakta-sita","pañcaviṃśa-tattva","puruṣa","guṇātīta"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on three circles—black, red, white—in sequence; through this dhyāna one discerns Puruṣa, counted as the 25th principle, transcending guṇas (yet approached via sattva as the clearest upādhi)."}
Concept: Sāṅkhya tattva scheme: Puruṣa is the 25th, guṇātīta; meditation uses sattva as the most transparent conditioning (upādhi) to intuit the witness beyond prakṛti’s guṇas.
Application: In dhyāna: visualize three concentric maṇḍalas (black→red→white), then let even the white dissolve into pure witnessing awareness; use the sequence to stabilize attention and refine perception of the seer.
Khanda Section: Yoga-Dhyana / Sankhya-Tattva (Meditation on the Trimandala and the 25 Tattvas)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator visualizing three concentric circles: outer black, middle red, inner white, culminating in a subtle luminous presence labeled by implication as Puruṣa beyond guṇas; the circles float in the inner space of the heart or between the brows.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: bold flat colors, three concentric mandalas (black-red-white) behind a seated yogin, stylized heart-lotus motif, traditional ornamental borders, sacred geometry emphasis.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: concentric mandala with gold leaf outlines; white center rendered with pearl-like sheen; yogin with gold halo; rich reds and deep blacks, temple-like framing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: precise geometric mandala diagram with subtle shading; yogin in correct posture; didactic clarity showing sequence black→red→white; gentle background wash.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a sage in meditation with a translucent overlay of three concentric colored discs hovering before him; fine detailing, delicate gradients, scholarly marginalia feel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Jog","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhyānamārgeṇeti = ध्यानमार्गेण + इति; dhyāyettrimaṇḍalaṃ = ध्यायेत् + त्रिमण्डलम्; sattvopādhiguṇātītaḥ = सत्त्व-उपाधि-गुण-अतीतः; pañcaviṃśakaḥ = पञ्च-विंशकः. ‘ख, ज’ are treated as पाठसंकेताक्षर (textual markers) in the given line.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sāṅkhya 25-tattva expositions; Agni Purana: dhyāna procedures and subtle visualization methods
FAQs
It teaches a precise dhyāna-vidhi: visualizing a trimaṇḍala (three concentric spheres/circles) in a fixed color-sequence—black, red, then white—leading the meditator toward contemplation of Puruṣa as the 25th Sāṅkhya principle.
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana also preserves technical yogic visualization and Sāṅkhya metaphysics (the 25 tattvas), showing its breadth as a compendium of practical sādhanā and systematic philosophy.
The sequence culminates in contemplation of the guṇātīta Puruṣa—shifting identity from guṇa-bound prakṛti to pure consciousness—supporting inner purification and liberation-oriented insight (viveka) rather than merely worldly merit.