Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 3
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
उपविश्यासने युञ्ज्याद्योगमात्मविशुद्धये समकायशीरग्रीवं धारयन्नचलं स्थिरः
upaviśyāsane yuñjyādyogamātmaviśuddhaye samakāyaśīragrīvaṃ dhārayannacalaṃ sthiraḥ
正しい座に坐し、自己の浄化のためにヨーガを修し、身・頭・頸を一直線に整えて均等に保ち、動かず堅固に安住せよ。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Yoga-vidya","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Postural alignment (body–head–neck in one line) and immobility to support meditation and inner purification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Samakāya-śiro-grīva: aligned posture for yoga-sādhana","lookup_keywords":["samakāya","śirogrīva","acala","sthira","ātma-viśuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Sit on a proper seat and practice yoga for self-purification, keeping torso, head, and neck aligned and steady. Physical stillness is presented as a direct aid to mental steadiness."}
Concept: Ātma-viśuddhi through yoga begins with sthira-āsana and bodily alignment, enabling dhāraṇā/dhyāna.
Application: Keep chin neutral, neck long, spine upright without rigidity; reduce micro-movements; use gentle effort (not strain) to sustain steadiness for the session.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and Asana discipline)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin sits upright, spine straight, head and neck aligned, hands resting, body motionless—an image of disciplined stillness for inner purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal yogin seated in meditation, strong symmetrical alignment, stylized musculature, subdued background, calm śānta expression, traditional jewelry minimal or absent","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, centered symmetrical composition, yogin with gold halo, perfectly aligned posture, ornate frame, minimal props, emphasis on stillness and purity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagram-like clarity of alignment (torso-head-neck in one line), soft colors, clean background, instructional focus on posture correctness","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, side profile showing straight spine and aligned neck, detailed mat and cushion, quiet interior with subtle light, emphasis on poise"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: upaviśyāsane = upaviśya + āsane; yuñjyādyogam = yuñjyāt + yogam; yogamātmaviśuddhaye = yogam + ātma-viśuddhaye; dhārayannacalaṃ = dhārayan + acalam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372.1–2 (seat and preparation); Agni Purana 372.4 (gaze and bodily restraint)
FAQs
It teaches the technical foundation of seated meditation: sit on a proper seat and maintain straight, aligned body–head–neck posture, remaining motionless and steady to begin yoga practice.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yoga-method instructions—here, a precise meditative posture rule—showing its coverage of multiple knowledge-systems (vidyās).
The posture is framed as a means to ātma-viśuddhi (inner purification): steadiness and alignment support concentration, reduce distraction, and aid the purifying effects of yogic practice.