Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
हिरण्यगर्भादिषु च ज्ञानकर्मात्मिका द्विधा त्रिविधा भावना प्रोक्ता विश्वं ब्रह्म उपास्यते
hiraṇyagarbhādiṣu ca jñānakarmātmikā dvidhā trividhā bhāvanā proktā viśvaṃ brahma upāsyate
ចំពោះហិរ៉ណ្យគರ್ಭ និងអង្គធាតុ/ទេវតាផ្សេងៗ ភាវនាត្រូវបានបង្រៀនថា មានពីរប្រភេទ—មានលក្ខណៈជាចំណេះដឹង និងជាកម្ម—ហើយក៏មានបីប្រភេទផងដែរ; ដោយនេះ ព្រហ្មជាសកលលោក ត្រូវបានគោរពបូជា។
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use graded contemplations—knowledge-based and action-based (and a threefold scheme)—to worship Brahman as the universe, integrating upasana with worldview.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Dvi-vidhā and Tri-vidhā Bhāvanā in Brahma-upāsanā (Hiraṇyagarbha context)","lookup_keywords":["Hiranyagarbha","jnana-bhavana","karma-bhavana","trividha bhavana","vishvam brahma upasya"],"quick_summary":"Contemplation is taught in two modes (knowledge/action) and also in a threefold arrangement, applied to Hiraṇyagarbha and cosmic principles. The practical aim is viśva-rūpa upāsanā—seeing and worshipping the universe as Brahman."}
Concept: Upāsanā-krama: bhāvanā can be knowledge-centered or action-centered, and also arranged as a threefold discipline, culminating in viśva-brahma-darśana.
Application: Daily practice: (1) karma-bhāvanā—offer actions as īśvara-arpaṇa; (2) jñāna-bhāvanā—contemplate witness-consciousness; (3) expand to viśva-upāsanā—perceive all forms as Brahman’s appearance.
Khanda Section: Jnana-Yoga and Upasana (Brahma-upasana / Puranic Vedanta-themed instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Hiraṇyagarbha as a golden cosmic embryo above a mandala of the universe; two and three streams of contemplation shown as distinct paths—one of ritual/action offerings, one of luminous knowledge, converging into worship of the cosmos as Brahman.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Hiraṇyagarbha as golden orb-lotus, surrounding cosmic mandala with devas and elements, two/three flowing bands of color representing bhāvanā modes, stylized waves and lotuses, sacred geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central golden Hiraṇyagarbha with heavy gold embossing, devotees offering lamps (karma) on one side and sages in meditation (jnana) on the other, both facing a viśva-mandala, ornate arch and border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic composition with clear separation of twofold and threefold practice panels, fine linework, soft gradients, labels implied by iconographic cues (offerings vs meditation), calm instructional mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, cosmological diagram rendered as courtly painting, golden orb above, scholars and ritualists in separate groups, converging gaze toward a painted universe-map, intricate detailing and balanced symmetry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: हिरण्यगर्भादिषु = हिरण्यगर्भ + आदि + षु; ज्ञानकर्मात्मिका is a tatpuruṣa compound qualifying भावना.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.30 (Brahman definition); Agni Purana 378.31 (saguṇa-to-nirguṇa meditation progression)
FAQs
It teaches upāsanā through bhāvanā (structured contemplation): meditating on cosmic principles like Hiraṇyagarbha using both jñāna-oriented (insight) and karma-oriented (discipline/ritual-action) modes, and also through a threefold contemplative scheme.
Alongside ritual and practical sciences, the Agni Purana preserves systematic spiritual technologies—classifying meditation (bhāvanā) by method (jñāna/karma) and by a threefold model—showing it as a compendium that includes Vedānta-style contemplative practice.
By worshipping/meditating on Brahman as identical with the universe (viśvaṃ brahma), the practitioner integrates action and knowledge, purifying karma and stabilizing non-dual insight through sustained contemplation (bhāvanā).