Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 25
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
ध्यायेद्वा रश्मिजालेन दीप्यमानं समन्ततः प्रधानं पुरुषातीतं स्थितं पद्मस्थमीश्वरं
dhyāyedvā raśmijālena dīpyamānaṃ samantataḥ pradhānaṃ puruṣātītaṃ sthitaṃ padmasthamīśvaraṃ
किंवा कमलासनावर स्थित प्रभूचे ध्यान करावे—जो सर्व बाजूंनी किरणजाळ्याने दीप्तिमान आहे, परम स्थितीत आहे, आणि प्रधान व पुरुष यांपलीकडे आहे।
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Lotus-seat visualization of the Supreme Lord with all-pervading radiance, used as a dhyāna-krama for transcending prakṛti–puruṣa dualities.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Padmāsana-īśvara-dhyāna (rāśmi-jāla, pradhāna-puruṣātīta)","lookup_keywords":["padmastha īśvara","rāśmi-jāla","pradhāna","puruṣa","dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the Lord seated on a lotus, blazing with a net of rays, as the Supreme beyond both Pradhāna (prakṛti) and the individual puruṣa—supporting non-dual contemplation."}
Alamkara Type: Vyatireka (implicit transcendence)
Concept: The Supreme (Īśvara/Brahman) is beyond both prakṛti (pradhāna) and the limited puruṣa—pointing to a transcendent ground of both.
Application: During meditation, negate identification with body-mind (prakṛti) and individual ego (puruṣa) while holding the luminous lotus-seated form as a bridge to formlessness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana-yoga (Tantric-Vaishnava meditation visualization)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus-seated Lord at the center, encircled by a lattice of rays expanding in all directions, conveying transcendence over prakṛti and individual self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central padmāsana deity on a pink lotus, concentric rāśmi-jāla in warm gold and white, deep green-blue background, serene face, minimal narrative elements.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, lotus-seated Lord with heavy gold embossing, radiant net-like aureole, jewel tones, symmetrical composition, devotional grandeur.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of lotus seat and ray-net geometry, soft pastel shading, emphasis on clarity of the radiance pattern.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined halo rendered as delicate ray lattice, lotus throne with botanical precision, subtle philosophical ambiance in a quiet garden pavilion."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ध्यायेद्वा = ध्यायेत् वा; रश्मिजालेन = रश्मि-जालेन; पुरुषातीतं = पुरुष-अतीतम्; पद्मस्थमीश्वरं = पद्म-स्थम् ईश्वरम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.24; Agni Purana 373.26; Agni Purana 373.28
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative visualization): contemplate Īśvara as lotus-seated and radiating a raśmijāla (net of rays), explicitly defined as transcending Sāṅkhya categories like Pradhāna and Puruṣa.
The verse blends practical worship-meditation (pūjā/dhyāna procedure) with philosophical vocabulary from Sāṅkhya-Vedānta (Pradhāna, Puruṣa, transcendence), showing how the Agni Purana integrates ritual manuals with metaphysical doctrine.
Meditating on the Lord as beyond prakṛti–puruṣa aims at inner purification and non-dual orientation—reducing identification with material nature and the limited self, and directing the mind toward the supreme, liberating reality (Īśvara/Paramātman).