Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
वशीकृतैस्ततः कुर्यात् स्थितं चेतः शुभाश्रये आश्रयश्चेतसो ब्रह्म मूर्तञ्चामूर्तकं द्विधा
vaśīkṛtaistataḥ kuryāt sthitaṃ cetaḥ śubhāśraye āśrayaścetaso brahma mūrtañcāmūrtakaṃ dvidhā
Kemudian, setelah indria ditundukkan, hendaknya meneguhkan batin pada sandaran yang suci. Sandaran batin adalah Brahman, yang dua macam: berwujud (mūrta) dan tak berwujud (amūrta).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Choose an auspicious support (ālambana) for dhyana after sense-control; contemplate Brahman either with form (saguna/murta) or without form (nirguna/amurta) according to aptitude.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ālambana for Dhyāna: Brahman as Murta and Amurta","lookup_keywords":["dhyana-alambana","shubha-ashraya","murta-brahman","amurta-brahman","saguna-nirguna"],"quick_summary":"After mastering the senses, steady the mind on an auspicious support; Brahman serves as the support in two modes—formful for devotional concentration and formless for non-dual contemplation."}
Concept: Brahman is the mind’s support in two contemplative modalities: murta (saguna) and amurta (nirguna).
Application: If the mind needs a concrete focus, use a deity-form (murta) with steady visualization; if mature in abstraction, rest in formless awareness (amurta) by negating attributes and abiding as pure consciousness.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Dhyana (Brahma-upasana / Meditation on Brahman)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin steadies the mind on an auspicious support: on one side a serene form of Hari as a visual focus, on the other side a formless luminous expanse representing amurta Brahman.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left panel Vishnu/Hari in calm standing posture with stylized ornaments as murta-ālambana; right panel an abstract mandala of light for amurta Brahman; central yogin in meditation bridging both, earthy pigments and temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central meditating figure, above the heart a small gold-embellished Vishnu icon (murta), behind it a radiant gold field fading into plain space (amurta), heavy gold work and ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split composition labeled murta and amurta: deity-form visualization steps on one side, formless contemplation cues (neti-neti, breath settling) on the other, clean lines and soft washes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined philosophical scene: yogin seated in a pavilion; a painted Vishnu image on a small stand to one side, and an open sky/blank parchment motif to the other symbolizing formlessness; delicate detailing and balanced symmetry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वशीकृतैः + ततः → वशीकृतैस्ततः; आश्रयः + चेतसः → आश्रयश्चेतसः; मूर्तम् + च + अमूर्तकम् → मूर्तञ्चामूर्तकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.23 (Hari as Brahman remembrance); Agni Purana 378.25 (samadhi and Brahman attainment); Agni Purana 378.26 (pratyahara as prerequisite)
FAQs
It teaches dhyāna-vidhi: first subdue the senses, then stabilize the mind on a chosen auspicious meditative support, recognizing Brahman as the ultimate support in both manifest (saguṇa) and unmanifest (nirguṇa) modes.
Alongside ritual and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yogic-vedāntic method—mind-discipline and twofold contemplation of Brahman—showing its coverage of both spiritual technique and philosophical taxonomy.
Sense-control and steady meditation purify the mind, reduce karmic agitation, and orient the practitioner toward liberation by progressing from form-based contemplation to the formless Absolute.