Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
ध्यायेद्वा रश्मिजालेन दीप्यमानं समन्ततः प्रधानं पुरुषातीतं स्थितं पद्मस्थमीश्वरं
dhyāyedvā raśmijālena dīpyamānaṃ samantataḥ pradhānaṃ puruṣātītaṃ sthitaṃ padmasthamīśvaraṃ
あるいは、蓮華に坐す主を観想すべし。至上として安住し、光の網をもって四方に燦然と輝き、プラダーナ（原初自然）とプルシャ（個別意識原理）の双方を超越する。
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Lotus-seat visualization of the Supreme Lord with all-pervading radiance, used as a dhyāna-krama for transcending prakṛti–puruṣa dualities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Padmāsana-īśvara-dhyāna (rāśmi-jāla, pradhāna-puruṣātīta)","lookup_keywords":["padmastha īśvara","rāśmi-jāla","pradhāna","puruṣa","dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the Lord seated on a lotus, blazing with a net of rays, as the Supreme beyond both Pradhāna (prakṛti) and the individual puruṣa—supporting non-dual contemplation."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (implicit transcendence)
Concept: The Supreme (Īśvara/Brahman) is beyond both prakṛti (pradhāna) and the limited puruṣa—pointing to a transcendent ground of both.
Application: During meditation, negate identification with body-mind (prakṛti) and individual ego (puruṣa) while holding the luminous lotus-seated form as a bridge to formlessness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana-yoga (Tantric-Vaishnava meditation visualization)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-seated Lord at the center, encircled by a lattice of rays expanding in all directions, conveying transcendence over prakṛti and individual self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central padmāsana deity on a pink lotus, concentric rāśmi-jāla in warm gold and white, deep green-blue background, serene face, minimal narrative elements.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lotus-seated Lord with heavy gold embossing, radiant net-like aureole, jewel tones, symmetrical composition, devotional grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of lotus seat and ray-net geometry, soft pastel shading, emphasis on clarity of the radiance pattern.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined halo rendered as delicate ray lattice, lotus throne with botanical precision, subtle philosophical ambiance in a quiet garden pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ध्यायेद्वा = ध्यायेत् वा; रश्मिजालेन = रश्मि-जालेन; पुरुषातीतं = पुरुष-अतीतम्; पद्मस्थमीश्वरं = पद्म-स्थम् ईश्वरम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.24; Agni Purana 373.26; Agni Purana 373.28
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative visualization): contemplate Īśvara as lotus-seated and radiating a raśmijāla (net of rays), explicitly defined as transcending Sāṅkhya categories like Pradhāna and Puruṣa.
The verse blends practical worship-meditation (pūjā/dhyāna procedure) with philosophical vocabulary from Sāṅkhya-Vedānta (Pradhāna, Puruṣa, transcendence), showing how the Agni Purana integrates ritual manuals with metaphysical doctrine.
Meditating on the Lord as beyond prakṛti–puruṣa aims at inner purification and non-dual orientation—reducing identification with material nature and the limited self, and directing the mind toward the supreme, liberating reality (Īśvara/Paramātman).