Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 14
Chapter 367 — नित्यनैमीत्तिकप्राकृतप्रलयाः
The Nitya, Naimittika, and Prākṛta Dissolutions
आत्ममायामयीं दिव्यां योगनिद्रां समास्थितः आत्मानं वसिदेवाख्यं चिन्तयन्मधुसूदनः
ātmamāyāmayīṃ divyāṃ yoganidrāṃ samāsthitaḥ ātmānaṃ vasidevākhyaṃ cintayanmadhusūdanaḥ
ಮಧುಸೂದನನು ತನ್ನ ಆತ್ಮಮಾಯಾಮಯ ದಿವ್ಯ ಯೋಗನಿದ್ರೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಥಿತನಾಗಿ, ವಾಸುದೇವವೆಂದು ಕರೆಯಲ್ಪಡುವ ತನ್ನ ಸ್ವಾತ್ಮಸ್ವರೂಪವನ್ನು ಚಿಂತಿಸುತ್ತಾನೆ.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic theology to Vasiṣṭha, chapter-context typical of Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Explains Yoga-nidrā as the Lord’s own māyā and self-contemplation as Vāsudeva; used for theological meditation, mantra-japa visualization, and understanding māyā as divine power rather than mere illusion.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yoga-nidrā as Ātma-māyā; Vāsudeva self-contemplation","lookup_keywords":["yoga-nidrā","ātma-māyā","madhusūdana","vāsudeva","svātma-cintana"],"quick_summary":"The Lord enters divine yogic sleep constituted of His own māyā and contemplates Himself as Vāsudeva. The teaching frames pralaya-rest as conscious, self-luminous sādhanā-like absorption."}
Alamkara Type: Paradox (Virodha-ābhāsa)
Concept: Īśvara’s māyā is self-possessed power; Yoga-nidrā is conscious absorption; Vāsudeva denotes the supreme self-ground.
Application: Meditation cue: contemplate the Self as witness even in 'sleep'; for devotees, visualize Vāsudeva as inner substratum during deep rest and japa.
Khanda Section: Avatara & Yoga-Nidra Narrative (Vaishnava Cosmology / Devotional-Theology)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu/Madhusūdana rests in yogic sleep, surrounded by a subtle aura of māyā; the posture suggests inward contemplation of Vāsudeva—an inner radiance rather than external action.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: reclining Viṣṇu with half-closed eyes, soft halo patterns indicating māyā, minimal attendants, emphasis on calm facial expression and symbolic lotus motifs for inner contemplation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: serene Viṣṇu with gold halo and ornaments, māyā depicted as translucent veil-like patterns, rich textile detailing, devotional stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: meditative instructional painting—Viṣṇu in repose with subtle concentric aura lines labeled 'yoga-nidrā' and 'ātma-māyā', gentle palette and fine brushwork","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate cosmic chamber over ocean, Viṣṇu reclining with contemplative expression, delicate translucent veils representing māyā, restrained composition emphasizing inwardness"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्ममायामयीं → आत्म-माया-मयीम्; वसिदेवाख्यं (IAST vasidevākhyaṃ) → वसुदेव-आख्यम् (expected reading); चिन्तयन्मधुसूदनः → चिन्तयन् + मधुसूदनः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 367.13 (Hari on Śeṣa); Agni Purana 367.15 (awakening and creation)
FAQs
It conveys yogic–theological knowledge: Yoga-nidrā as a controlled divine trance/state rooted in the Lord’s own māyā, used for inner contemplation (cintana) of the supreme identity (Vāsudeva).
Alongside ritual and practical disciplines elsewhere, this chapter preserves a precise metaphysical vocabulary—māyā, yoga-nidrā, and Vāsudeva-tattva—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of cosmology and yogic doctrine in addition to applied śāstras.
It frames liberation-oriented practice as contemplative recognition of the supreme Self (Vāsudeva), implying that devotion and meditation on the Lord’s true nature purify cognition and align the practitioner with the highest reality.