Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 32
अधिवासनं नाम निर्वाणदीक्षायाम्
Adhivāsana in the Nirvāṇa-dīkṣā
स्थावरं पञ्चमं सर्वं योनिः षष्ठी अमानुषी पैशाचं राक्षसं याक्षं गान्धर्वं चैन्द्रमेव च
sthāvaraṃ pañcamaṃ sarvaṃ yoniḥ ṣaṣṭhī amānuṣī paiśācaṃ rākṣasaṃ yākṣaṃ gāndharvaṃ caindrameva ca
Segala makhluk tidak bergerak (sthāvara) merupakan kategori kelima; yoni keenam ialah bukan-manusia—iaitu piśāca, rākṣasa, yākṣa, gāndharva, dan juga golongan aindra (celestial/berkaitan Indra).
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic classifications to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Extend yoni-bheda taxonomy to include immobile beings and non-human/celestial classes (piśāca, rākṣasa, yakṣa, gandharva, aindra), useful for puranic cosmology, ritual appeasement contexts, and narrative world-building.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Yoni-bheda continued: sthāvara and amānuṣa classes (piśāca–aindra)","lookup_keywords":["sthāvara","amānuṣī yoni","piśāca","rākṣasa yakṣa","gandharva aindra"],"quick_summary":"Adds the fifth category as all immobile life and defines a sixth, non-human class comprising piśācas, rākṣasas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and aindra beings—broadening the creation map beyond visible fauna."}
Concept: Sarga includes both sthāvara (immobile) and amānuṣa (non-human) embodiments, indicating a cosmos populated by seen and unseen orders of life.
Application: Supports ritual caution and appeasement frameworks (bhūta/prekṣa contexts) and expands ethical imagination beyond human-centered categories.
Khanda Section: Sarga / Cosmology and Taxonomy of Beings (Yoni-bheda, Creation-classifications)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: Cosmic region
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A two-part classification scene: one side shows forests and mountains filled with immobile life (trees, creepers, grasses); the other shows non-human beings—piśācas, rākṣasas, yakṣas, gandharvas, and radiant aindra figures—arranged as distinct groups.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, left panel dense stylized vegetation representing sthāvara; right panel shows grouped amānuṣa beings with traditional stylization—yakṣas as robust guardians, gandharvas as musical celestials, darker piśāca/rākṣasa forms—temple-mural palette and symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate yakṣa and gandharva figures with gold jewelry and halos, contrasted with subdued darker tones for piśāca/rākṣasa; sthāvara rendered as a lush gilded grove border; rich gold work and embossed details.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, instructional grouping with clear labels for each class; gentle rendering of plants for sthāvara; distinct costume/icon cues for yakṣa (guardian), gandharva (lute/veena), aindra (celestial aura).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a fantastical yet refined scene: a garden of immobile beings on one side, and on the other a procession of supernatural classes—musician gandharvas, jeweled yakṣas, fierce rākṣasas, shadowy piśācas, luminous aindra—fine detailing and calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Darbari Kanada","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: caindram eva → ca aindram eva.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 84 (yoni-bheda sequence)
FAQs
It imparts yoni-bheda—an applied cosmological taxonomy used in Purāṇic teaching to classify embodied existence (immobile beings as one class, and specific non-human superhuman species as another).
By cataloging categories of life and non-human beings in a systematic list, it functions like a reference taxonomy—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark encyclopedic features across cosmology, dharma, and metaphysics.
It frames rebirth and embodiment as structured classes (yonis), encouraging ethical conduct by reminding that karmic outcomes can lead to lower or non-human modes of existence, while also acknowledging higher celestial categories.