Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 18
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
एकाक्षरं परं ब्रह्म प्राणायामः परन्तपः सावित्र्यास्तु परं नास्ति पावनं परमं स्मृतः
ekākṣaraṃ paraṃ brahma prāṇāyāmaḥ parantapaḥ sāvitryāstu paraṃ nāsti pāvanaṃ paramaṃ smṛtaḥ
ഏകാക്ഷരമേ പരബ്രഹ്മം; ഹേ പരന്തപ, പ്രാണായാമം തന്നെയാണ് പരമതപസ്. സാവിത്രി (ഗായത്രി) മന്ത്രത്തേക്കാൾ മേലൊന്നുമില്ല; അവൾ പരമ പാവനയായി സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു.
Lord Agni (instructing Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Daily purification and inner-discipline regimen: japa of Ekākṣara/Oṁ and Sāvitrī (Gāyatrī) with prāṇāyāma as tapas for citta-śuddhi and prāyaścitta.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Ekākṣara-Brahma, Prāṇāyāma-tapas, and Sāvitrī as Supreme Pāvana","lookup_keywords":["ekakshara","Om","pranayama","Savitri","Gayatri"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Oṁ as the supreme Brahman, prāṇāyāma as the highest austerity, and Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī as the unsurpassed purifier—framing mantra + breath-discipline as the core purification technology."}
Concept: Mantra (Oṁ, Sāvitrī) and prāṇāyāma function as supreme means of purification; Brahman is apprehended through ekākṣara as para-tattva.
Application: Adopt a daily triad: prāṇāyāma → Sāvitrī-japa → silent contemplation on Oṁ as Brahman, especially as prāyaścitta and for antahkaraṇa-śuddhi.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidya & Prāyaścitta (Purification, Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī, Prāṇāyāma)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated sādhaka in clean attire performs prāṇāyāma and japa; the syllable Oṁ radiates above, and a luminous Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī presence (solar aura) signifies supreme purification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: yogi seated in padmāsana doing prāṇāyāma, stylized Oṁ in red-gold above, solar halo suggesting Sāvitrī, deep earthy pigments, ornate borders, serene śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central meditating sage with prominent gold-leaf Oṁ and radiant sun-disc for Sāvitrī, rich reds and greens, embossed ornaments, devotional yet instructional composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: clean linework showing prāṇāyāma posture and japa-mālā, subtle Oṁ calligraphy, soft pastel palette, didactic clarity with calm background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: a scholar-yogi in a quiet pavilion, holding mālā, controlled breath indicated by delicate lines, calligraphic Oṁ in the margin, sunlit ambiance, fine detailing and restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sāvitryāstu = sāvitryāḥ + tu; nāsti = na + asti.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra-vidya sections on Gāyatrī/Sāvitrī-japa; Agni Purana prāyaścitta and snāna-śuddhi discussions; Agni Purana yoga/dhyāna passages near 165.21–22
FAQs
It teaches a hierarchy of purificatory means: Oṃ (the ekākṣara) is identified with Parabrahman, prāṇāyāma is declared the highest tapas, and the Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī mantra is affirmed as the foremost purifier for spiritual and ritual purification.
It compresses multiple disciplines—Upaniṣadic mantra-doctrine (Oṃ as Brahman), yogic technique (prāṇāyāma), and Vedic ritual-mantra practice (Sāvitrī/Gāyatrī)—showing how the Agni Purāṇa synthesizes theology, yoga, and ritual science in a single instructional verse.
By elevating prāṇāyāma and Sāvitrī-japa as supreme purifiers, the verse frames them as powerful means to cleanse sin (pāpa), refine consciousness, and align the practitioner with Brahman through disciplined breath and mantra-recitation.