Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 41
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
द्वादशात्मा पञ्चविंशः षड्विंशव्यूहकस् तथा पुरुषो धीरहङ्कारो मनश्चित्तञ्च शब्दकः
dvādaśātmā pañcaviṃśaḥ ṣaḍviṃśavyūhakas tathā puruṣo dhīrahaṅkāro manaścittañca śabdakaḥ
तो द्वादशात्मा आहे; पंचविसावे तत्त्व आहे; तसेच षड्विंश-रूप व्यूह म्हणूनही विन्यस्त आहे। तोच पुरुष—धीर अहंकार, मन व चित्त यांसह—आणि शब्दलक्षणयुक्त आहे।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"Tattva-nirupana for meditation and discrimination: understand Purusha’s status (as 25th/26th principle in varying enumerations) and the functional emergence of inner instruments (ahamkara, manas, citta) and tanmatra marker (shabda) to guide yogic analysis.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Purusha and tattva enumeration (12-fold, 25th, 26th; ahamkara–manas–citta; shabda)","lookup_keywords":["Sankhya","Purusha","25th tattva","26th tattva","ahamkara"],"quick_summary":"Defines Purusha’s placement in tattva-counts and links inner faculties and sound-principle; used for metaphysical clarity in yoga and for aligning ritual cosmology with philosophical categories."}
Concept: Tattva-viveka: Purusha distinct from evolutes; inner instruments (antahkarana) and tanmatras are categorized for liberation-oriented discernment.
Application: In meditation, observe ahamkara/manas/citta as objects; rest as witnessing Purusha; use tattva-count as a scaffold for pratyahara and dhyana.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Tattva-nirupana (Cosmology and categories of existence)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmological chart-like vision: Purusha as luminous witness above a layered schema of tattvas—ahamkara, manas, citta—and the subtle sound principle (shabda) depicted as vibrating ether.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural cosmogram: central radiant Purusha figure, concentric bands labeled as tattvas, stylized sound-waves in akasha, traditional ornamental borders and flat color fields","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore iconized metaphysics: Purusha as golden luminous presence, surrounding lotus-petals representing tattvas (25/26), embossed gold for the central witness, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting as didactic diagram: neat concentric circles or vertical ladder of tattvas with Purusha at top, fine lines, soft colors, clear labels for ahamkara/manas/citta/shabda","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature manuscript illustration: a sage teaching Sankhya with a painted chart, Purusha shown as a haloed silhouette, delicate calligraphy naming tattvas, refined palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: षड्विंशव्यूहकस्→षड्विंशव्यूहकः; मनश्चित्तञ्च→मनः चित्तम् च; (धीरहङ्कारो→धीर अहङ्कारः).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25.42 (tanmatras, jnanendriyas, karmendriyas list)
FAQs
It imparts tattva-vidyā: a Sāṅkhya-style mapping of reality, identifying Puruṣa (the 25th principle) and related inner faculties (ahaṅkāra, manas, citta) along with śabda as a defining subtle characteristic.
By incorporating systematic metaphysical taxonomy (tattva-vyūha) alongside devotional and ritual material, it shows the Agni Purana’s broad scope—preserving philosophical psychology and cosmology in a Purāṇic framework.
Discriminating Puruṣa from the mind–ego complex supports self-knowledge (viveka), which is traditionally held to weaken bondage-causing identification and thereby aid purification and liberation-oriented practice.