Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 21
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
पद्मपत्राष्टकं ज्ञेयमणिमादिगुणाष्टकम् कर्णिकाकेशरं नालं ज्ञानवैराग्यमुत्तमम्
padmapatrāṣṭakaṃ jñeyamaṇimādiguṇāṣṭakam karṇikākeśaraṃ nālaṃ jñānavairāgyamuttamam
Lapan kelopak teratai hendaklah difahami sebagai lapan sifat bermula dengan aṇimā (kehalusan yang amat kecil). Bahagian putik dan filamennya, serta tangkainya, ialah pengetahuan dan pelepasan nafsu (jñāna dan vairāgya) yang tertinggi.
Lord Agni (in instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Maps lotus anatomy to inner attainments: eight petals as aṣṭa-siddhi qualities (aṇimā etc.), and the inner structures as jñāna-vairāgya—used for adhyātma contemplation and value-orientation in practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Padma-aṅga as Siddhi–Jñāna–Vairāgya mapping","lookup_keywords":["padma-patra-aṣṭaka","aṇimā-ādi-guṇa","aṣṭa-siddhi","jñāna-vairāgya","karnikā-keśara-nāla"],"quick_summary":"Visualize the lotus’s eight petals as the eight siddhi-like qualities beginning with aṇimā; contemplate the pericarp/filaments/stalk as the supremacy of knowledge and dispassion, directing the mind from powers to liberation."}
Concept: Siddhis are peripheral (petals), while liberation-oriented jñāna and vairāgya are central/supporting; hierarchy of goals in yoga.
Application: In meditation, acknowledge capacities (siddhi) without attachment and re-center attention on discriminative knowledge and dispassion as the true support of freedom.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Jnana–Vairagya (Lotus-of-Knowledge Allegory / Adhyatma-vidya)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An eight-petaled lotus diagram where each petal is labeled with aṇimā and related qualities; the pericarp/filaments/stalk glow to signify jñāna and vairāgya as the inner essence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized aṣṭa-dala lotus with ornate petal patterns, subtle inscriptions for aṇimā etc., central karnikā luminous, stalk highlighted as jñāna-vairāgya, serene palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, eight-petaled lotus with gold embossing on each petal, gem-like centers, central pericarp radiant, gold rays along stalk to indicate jñāna-vairāgya, devotional-symbolic composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional yantra-like lotus: eight petals with fine calligraphy labels, central karnikā and keśara detailed, stalk rendered as a bright channel, soft background wash.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise botanical lotus cross-section with eight petals, delicate labeling in margins, central filaments finely drawn, restrained elegance and clarity."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पद्म-पत्र-अष्टकम् इति समास; ज्ञेयम् + अणिमा-आदि-गुण-अष्टकम् → ज्ञेयमणिमादिगुणाष्टकम्; ज्ञान-वैराग्यम् + उत्तमम् → ज्ञानवैराग्यमुत्तमम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.22 (dharma-jñāna-vairāgya arising from kanda); Agni Purana 373.23 (central flame visualization within karnikā)
FAQs
It teaches an adhyātmic mapping used in yoga/meditation: the lotus is visualized as a schema where the eight petals signify the aṇimādi set of eight yogic attainments/qualities, while the core (pericarp, filaments, and stalk) represents the foundational disciplines of jñāna (true insight) and vairāgya (detachment).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves technical yogic-vedāntic instruction—here integrating siddhi-doctrine (aṇimā etc.) with liberation methodology (jñāna-vairāgya) through a precise symbolic model.
It emphasizes that extraordinary yogic powers are secondary; the “core” of the path is supreme knowledge and dispassion, which purify attachment and support liberation-oriented practice rather than power-seeking.