Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 6
Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतीरसरूपविवर्जितम् अहं ब्रह्म परं ज्योतिः सर्वगन्धविवर्जितम्
ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotīrasarūpavivarjitam ahaṃ brahma paraṃ jyotiḥ sarvagandhavivarjitam
मी ब्रह्म आहे, परम ज्योती—रस व रूपरहित। मी ब्रह्म आहे, परम ज्योती—सर्व गंधरहित।
Lord Agni (teaching Brahma-vidya in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Meditative negation of tanmātras (rasa, rūpa, gandha) to stabilize awareness as self-luminous Brahman.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Aham Brahma—Negation of taste, form, and fragrance (tanmātra-vyatireka)","lookup_keywords":["rasa vivarjita","rūpa vivarjita","sarva gandha vivarjita","tanmātra","param jyotis"],"quick_summary":"Defines Brahman as beyond sensory qualities—taste, form, and smell—supporting the insight that the Self is not an object of perception."}
Alamkara Type: Anaphora (refrain) with enumerative negation
Concept: Brahman is nirguṇa with respect to sensory attributes; rasa-rūpa-gandha belong to prakṛti and are not the Self.
Application: During meditation, notice taste/visual imagery/odors as passing vṛttis; affirm the witness as 'param jyotiḥ' untouched by them.
Khanda Section: Brahma-vidya / Advaita-Vedanta (Atma-Brahma-Jnana)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A field of pure light where sensory objects—fruits (taste), colors/forms, and fragrant flowers—appear at the periphery but dissolve before reaching the central radiance of the Self.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central orb of jyotis with meditating figure; stylized fruits, pigments, and flowers at edges fading into flat golden background; ornate frame; śānta expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf radiance dominating; peripheral motifs of fruit bowl, painted form silhouettes, jasmine/lotus for fragrance, all rendered smaller and subdued; devotional yet philosophical tone.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic: three tanmātras labeled rasa-rūpa-gandha shown as clouds dissolving into a bright central consciousness; fine lines, gentle colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden scene with flowers and fruit, yet the yogin’s aura washes out their colors; delicate realism, luminous wash around the figure."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतीरसरूपविवर्जितम् = ज्योतिः + रस + रूप + विवर्जितम् (ज्योतिः+रस → ज्योतीरस); सर्वगन्धविवर्जितम् = सर्व + गन्ध + विवर्जितम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 377.5-377.9 (series of negations of organs, tanmātras, antaḥkaraṇa, prāṇas)
FAQs
Brahma-vidya: a contemplative identification (aham-brahma) with Brahman as pure Light/Consciousness, explicitly negating sensory attributes (taste, form, smell) to cultivate nirguṇa (attributeless) realization.
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s breadth by including not only rites and practical sciences but also high metaphysics—nondual Brahman teaching using a systematic negation of sense-qualities (tanmātras) to define the Absolute.
By meditating on the Self as Brahman beyond sensory qualities, attachment to sense-objects is weakened, supporting inner purification and liberation-oriented insight (moksha) rather than karma-bound desire.