Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 34
Explanation of the Final Dissolution (Ātyantika Laya) and the Arising of Hiraṇyagarbha — Subtle Body, Post-Death Transit, Rebirth, and Embodied Constituents
श्वासोच्छासौ सनिर्वापौ वाह्यसंस्पर्शनमिति ञ नाभिर्मेडमिति ख , ञ च ???
śvāsocchāsau sanirvāpau vāhyasaṃsparśanamiti ña nābhirmeḍamiti kha , ña ca ???
ഒരു പാഠത്തിൽ—ശ്വാസോച്ഛ്വാസങ്ങൾ, നിർവാപം/ശമനം, ബാഹ്യസ്പർശം എന്നു പറയുന്നു. മറ്റൊരു പാഠത്തിൽ “നാഭിയും മേഢ്രവും (ജനനേന്ദ്രിയ-പ്രദേശം)” എന്നു വരുന്നു; മറ്റൊരു പാഠാന്തരവും സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ടെങ്കിലും പാഠം ഭ്രഷ്ടം/സന്ദിഗ്ധം.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha) [standard Agni Purāṇa frame; chapter-level attribution]
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Prāṇa-vāyu/śvāsa–ucchvāsa lakṣaṇa and bodily loci are used for breath-observation in yoga and for diagnosing vāyu-function in physiology; variant readings suggest alternate locus-identifications (nābhi, meḍhra) relevant to vāyu-sthāna mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śvāsa–Ucchvāsa and Vāyu-sthāna (variant readings)","lookup_keywords":["śvāsa","ucchvāsa","nirvāpa","nābhi","meḍhra"],"quick_summary":"Defines inhalation/exhalation with an added term (nirvāpa/cooling relief) and notes textual variants pointing to bodily loci such as the navel and genital region—useful for prāṇa-vāyu localization and breath-based practice."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Prāṇa is approached through definitional analysis of breath (śvāsa/ucchvāsa) and its loci; correct understanding supports disciplined practice.
Application: In prāṇāyāma and meditation, track inhalation/exhalation and note bodily ‘seat’ sensations (nābhi/pelvic region) to stabilize attention and regulate vāyu.
Khanda Section: Yoga / Ayurveda (Prāṇa–Vāyu and bodily loci; physiological definitions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation, visually annotated with breath arrows (inhalation/exhalation) and highlighted bodily loci at the navel and pelvic/genital region, indicating prāṇa-vāyu seats; a marginal note shows ‘variant readings’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, calm yogin in padmāsana, stylized breath-streams entering and leaving nostrils, lotus-like nābhi center glowing, subdued earthy palette, palm-leaf manuscript marginalia indicating variant pāṭhas.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central yogin with ornate aureole, gold-leaf accents on nābhi chakra and pelvic locus, delicate breath lines, temple-like framing, rich reds and greens, manuscript caption panels for śvāsa/ucchvāsa.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: yogin seated, clean linework, labeled nābhi and meḍhra points, arrows for śvāsa/ucchvāsa, soft pastel background, minimal ornamentation.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-yogin in a study with a palm-leaf text, fine brushwork showing breath as thin blue lines, anatomical emphasis on navel/pelvis, marginal glosses for variant readings, muted courtly palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Text appears corrupt/with editorial markers (ña, kha, ???). Sandhi resolved minimally: śvāsocchāsau → śvāsaḥ + ucchāsaḥ; sanirvāpau → saha + nirvāpaḥ; vāhyasaṃsparśanam → vāhya-saṃsparśanam; nābhirmeḍam → nābhiḥ + meḍam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 368 (prāṇa-vāyu, guṇa, svapna-phala sequence)
FAQs
It defines technical physiological terms—śvāsa (in-breath), ucchvāsa (out-breath), and related notions like pacification/cooling (nirvāpa) and external tactile contact—used in yogic–āyurvedic descriptions of prāṇa and bodily function.
By cataloging precise, almost glossary-like bodily and breath terms (and even preserving variant readings), the text functions as a compendium that blends yoga/physiology with broader Purāṇic instruction.
Correct understanding of breath-processes and bodily loci supports disciplined practice (e.g., prāṇāyāma and restraint), which Purāṇas commonly frame as purifying and conducive to steadiness of mind and merit (puṇya).