Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Śānti-Śodhana-Kathana (Instruction on the Purification of Śānti) — Agni Purāṇa, Adhyāya 87
इन्द्रिये त्वक्करावस्या स्पर्शस्तु विषयो मतः गुणौ स्पर्शनिनादौ द्वावेकः कारणमीश्वरः
indriye tvakkarāvasyā sparśastu viṣayo mataḥ guṇau sparśaninādau dvāvekaḥ kāraṇamīśvaraḥ
ത്വക് ഇന്ദ്രിയത്തിന്റെ വിഷയം സ്പർശം എന്നാണ് കരുതുന്നത്. അതിന്റെ ഗുണങ്ങൾ രണ്ട്—സ്പർശവും നിനാദവും (ശബ്ദം); ഏക പരമകാരണം ഈശ്വരൻ തന്നെയാണ്.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vyakarana","practical_application":"Sense-analysis for meditation and discrimination: identify indriya, its viṣaya, associated guṇas, and trace causality to Īśvara to reduce sensory entanglement.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Tvak-indriya: Viṣaya (Sparśa), Guṇa (Sparśa/Nināda), Kāraṇa (Īśvara)","lookup_keywords":["tvak indriya","sparśa viṣaya","guṇa","nināda","Īśvara kāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Defines the skin sense-faculty and its object (touch), notes associated qualities, and asserts a single ultimate cause—Īśvara—supporting a theistic Sāṅkhya–Yoga framing."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Indriya–viṣaya mapping and guṇa enumeration, culminating in a unifying causal principle (Īśvara).
Application: In pratyāhāra practice, label experiences as ‘touch-object’ and ‘sound-quality’, then return attention to the witnessing cause (Īśvara) to weaken identification.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Tattva-nirupana (Indriya–Vishaya–Guna analysis)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic teaching scene: a teacher points to a diagram linking ‘tvak’ to ‘sparśa’, with two qualities indicated, and a single causal apex labeled Īśvara.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: guru-disciple scene inside a temple corridor, palm-leaf diagram showing tvak→sparśa, two guṇa markers, apex Īśvara, warm lamp-lit tones and stylized faces","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: ornate framed teaching tableau with gold accents, central diagram medallion labeled Tvak/Sparśa/Guṇa/Īśvara, rich colors, devotional scholastic mood","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: clear didactic chart with elegant figures, labeled arrows tvak to sparśa, two guṇa bubbles (sparśa, nināda), top node Īśvara, precise linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: philosopher and students with a folio diagram, fine calligraphy labels, restrained palette, emphasis on intellectual discourse"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्पर्शस्तु = स्पर्शः + तु; कारणमीश्वरः = कारणम् + ईश्वरः (म् + ई → मी)। ‘त्वक्करावस्या’ पाठः सन्धि/पाठभेद-सम्भाव्यः; पदच्छेदः: त्वक् + कर + अवस्या (अनिश्चित)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 87 (Tattva-nirūpaṇa: indriya–viṣaya–guṇa sequence)
FAQs
It imparts tattva-vidyā (metaphysical analysis): identifying the skin as the touch-sense, defining its sense-object (touch), listing its associated qualities, and pointing to Īśvara as the ultimate causal principle.
By systematizing knowledge in a quasi-Sāṅkhya framework—mapping sense-faculties to objects and qualities—it shows the Purana’s coverage beyond mythology into philosophical taxonomy and technical doctrinal instruction.
It supports inner purification through discernment (viveka): understanding sensory operation and tracing causality to Īśvara helps reduce sense-identification and strengthens contemplative orientation toward the supreme cause.