Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 5
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः पायूपस्थविवर्जितं अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः श्रोत्रत्वक्चक्षुरुज्झितं
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ pāyūpasthavivarjitaṃ ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ śrotratvakcakṣurujjhitaṃ
मी ब्रह्म आहे, परम ज्योती—गुद व उपस्थरहित। मी ब्रह्म आहे, परम ज्योती—श्रवण, त्वचा व नेत्र यांच्या मर्यादांपासून मुक्त, इंद्रियातीत।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s mokṣa/ātma-jñāna section)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Neti-neti contemplation to disidentify from body and sense-organs; used as a mahavakya-style affirmation in nididhyasana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aham Brahma—Negation of bodily organs (pāyu-upastha; śrotra-tvag-cakṣus)","lookup_keywords":["aham brahma","param jyotis","pāyu upastha","śrotra tvak cakṣus","deha-abhimāna tyāga"],"quick_summary":"Affirms the Self as Brahman (supreme Light) and negates identification with excretory/reproductive organs and the hearing/skin/vision faculties; a direct aid for non-dual meditation."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (punarukti/anvaya via repeated 'ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ')
Concept: Ātman/Brahman is self-luminous consciousness, not the body or sense-organs (deha-indriya-vyatireka).
Application: Practice pratyāhāra and nididhyāsana: when bodily sensations arise, negate 'I am this organ' and rest in the witnessing light.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Advaita-Brahma-vidya (Non-dual Self-knowledge and negation of bodily identification)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation, surrounded by a subtle halo of light; faint outlines of sense-organs and bodily parts dissolve into radiance, indicating negation of bodily identification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogin in padmāsana within a mandala of golden-white jyotis, stylized sense-organs (ear, eye, skin) fading into the background, flat colors, ornate borders, serene śānta mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central meditating sage with embossed gold halo labeled 'param jyotiḥ', symbolic icons of ear/eye/skin and pāyu-upastha rendered as small motifs being transcended, rich reds and greens, heavy gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition: yogin with annotated subtle-body diagram; organs shown as detachable layers dissolving into light, delicate linework, soft shading, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior of an ashram, yogin in contemplation, translucent anatomical/sensory symbols drifting away like mist, luminous aura, fine detailing and naturalistic shading."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पायूपस्थविवर्जितम् = पायु + उपस्थ + विवर्जितम् (समासाङ्ग-समाहार); श्रोत्रत्वक्चक्षुरुज्झितम् = श्रोत्र + त्वक् + चक्षुः + उज्झितम् (त्वक्+चक्षुः → त्वक्चक्षुः; चक्षुः+उज्झितम् → चक्षुरुज्झितम्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377 (Brahmavidyā/advaita affirmations)
FAQs
It imparts Brahma-vidyā (non-dual Self-knowledge) through apavāda (negation): the Self/Brahman is affirmed as pure Light-Consciousness, not the body or its organs (including excretory, generative, and sensory faculties).
Alongside rituals, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-śāstra material: concise Vedāntic identity-statements (“ahaṃ brahma…”) and negation of bodily attributes, showing its coverage of both practical sciences and highest metaphysics.
Meditating on the Self as Brahman beyond organs and senses reduces dehābhimāna (body-identification), weakening desire and fear, and supports inner purification and liberation-oriented insight (mokṣa-dṛṣṭi).