Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
खाण्डिक्यजनकायाह योगं केशिध्वजः पुरा अनात्मन्यात्मबुद्धिर्या आत्मस्वमिति या मतिः
khāṇḍikyajanakāyāha yogaṃ keśidhvajaḥ purā anātmanyātmabuddhiryā ātmasvamiti yā matiḥ
ಹಿಂದೆ ಕೇಶಿಧ್ವಜನು ಖಾಣ್ಡಿಕ್ಯ-ಜನಕನಿಗೆ ಯೋಗವನ್ನು ಬೋಧಿಸಿದನು—ಅನಾತ್ಮನಲ್ಲಿ ಆತ್ಮಬುದ್ಧಿಯನ್ನು ಆರೋಪಿಸುವ ಜ್ಞಾನವೂ, ‘ಇದು ನನ್ನದು’ (ಆತ್ಮಸ್ವ) ಎಂಬ ಮತಿಯೂ—ಇವೇ ಮೂಲಭ್ರಾಂತಿ।
Lord Agni (narrating an older instruction of Keśidhvaja to Janaka)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga–Jnana","practical_application":"Practice self-inquiry by detecting and dropping the two core superimpositions—‘I am the body’ and ‘mine’—as the entry-point to Yoga and liberation-oriented discrimination.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yoga teaching of Keśidhvaja to Janaka—ātma-buddhi in anātman and ‘mamatā’ as error","lookup_keywords":["Keshidhvaja Janaka","anatmani atma-buddhi","mamatva","adhyasa","yoga jnana"],"quick_summary":"The foundational mistake is adhyāsa: taking the non-self as Self and generating possessiveness (‘mine’). Yoga begins with recognizing and undoing this misidentification."}
Concept: Adhyāsa (superimposition) of ātman on anātman and mamatā (‘mine-ness’) is the root cognitive error to be removed by yoga-jñāna.
Application: Daily practice: observe ‘I’ thoughts and ‘mine’ thoughts; reframe as ‘body/mind phenomena’ and ‘temporary relations’; cultivate witness-awareness and non-possessiveness.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Jnana (Moksha-dharma / Adhyatma: teachings on Yoga and Self-knowledge)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-sage Keśidhvaja instructs King Janaka; two translucent overlays appear on a human figure: one labeled ‘I am the body’ and another ‘mine’, being peeled away to reveal the inner Self as steady light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Janaka in royal attire seated respectfully before sage Keśidhvaja, symbolic veils labeled aham/mama being lifted from a figure, warm temple palette, stylized gestures of teaching (vyākhyāna mudrā)","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru-disciple scene with gold halo around the guru, Janaka with folded hands, embossed gold for the revealed inner light, decorative palace-pillars framing the teaching","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear pedagogic composition: guru pointing to a diagram of ‘ātman vs anātman’, subtle facial expressions, fine lines, calm interior setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace garden discourse: sage and king on carpets, attendants at distance, allegorical scroll showing ‘I’ and ‘mine’ being crossed out, intricate textiles and flora"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खाण्डिक्यजनकायाह = खाण्डिक्यजनकाय + आह; अनात्मन्यात्मबुद्धिर्या = अनात्मनि + आत्मबुद्धिः + या; आत्मस्वमिति = आत्मस्वम् + इति
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.16–17 (avidya/moha and ‘I am this body’ expansion)
FAQs
It imparts Yoga-vidyā as a diagnostic principle: the root bondage is misapprehension—taking the non-Self as the Self and generating the possessive notion ‘mine’.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise Advaita/Sāṅkhya-style Yoga psychology—here summarizing the core epistemic error (ātma-anātma adhyāsa) that Yoga aims to remove.
By abandoning the false ‘I’ and ‘mine’ superimposition, attachment and karma-producing clinging diminish, supporting detachment (vairāgya) and progress toward liberation (mokṣa).