Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 21
Chapter 367 — नित्यनैमीत्तिकप्राकृतप्रलयाः
The Nitya, Naimittika, and Prākṛta Dissolutions
ज्योतिषो ऽपि गुणं रूपं वायुर्ग्रसति भास्करं नष्टे ज्योतिषि वायुश् चबली दोधूयते महान्
jyotiṣo 'pi guṇaṃ rūpaṃ vāyurgrasati bhāskaraṃ naṣṭe jyotiṣi vāyuś cabalī dodhūyate mahān
ବାୟୁ ଜ୍ୟୋତିର ଗୁଣ ଓ ରୂପକୁ ମଧ୍ୟ ଗ୍ରସି ନେଇ ସୂର୍ଯ୍ୟକୁ ଆବୃତ କରେ। ଜ୍ୟୋତି ନଷ୍ଟ ହେଲେ ସେଇ ମହାବଳୀ ବାୟୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ପ୍ରବଳ ହୋଇ ଉଛଳି ଘୂରିବାକୁ ଲାଗେ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Jyotisha","practical_application":"Contemplative mapping of pralaya as a stepwise withdrawal of perceptible phenomena (light, sun) into subtler principles; used in teaching impermanence and in meditative laya-krama visualizations.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Pralaya: Laya of Tejas (Light) into Vayu","lookup_keywords":["pralaya","tejas-laya","vayu","surya-grasana","tattva-krama"],"quick_summary":"At dissolution, even the manifest form and qualities of light are swallowed by wind; the sun is engulfed, and wind becomes overwhelmingly forceful and turbulent."}
Concept: Laya-krama: grosser perceptibles (light/sun) are reabsorbed into subtler tattvas; the cosmos is contingent and reversible into its causes.
Application: Use as a meditation sequence: withdraw attention from visual radiance (tejas) into the felt movement of prana/vayu, recognizing the instability of sensory certainties.
Khanda Section: Jyotiṣa & Cosmic Dissolution (Pralaya-Lakṣaṇa)
Primary Rasa: bhayanaka
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A cosmic horizon where the sun’s disc is being swallowed by colossal spiraling winds; light itself collapses into a storm-like vortex, with the world dimming into a wind-dominated void.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, dramatic pralaya scene: Surya mandala fading as massive stylized vayu-spirals engulf radiance, deep mineral reds/ochres/greens, bold outlines, sacred cosmic scale, minimal landscape, sense of churning air swallowing light.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central sun disc with embossed gold halo being covered by swirling wind motifs, rich maroons and greens, ornamental borders, gold work emphasizing the last remnants of tejas, cosmic dissolution atmosphere.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional cosmology plate showing tejas-laya into vayu, labeled elements in Devanagari, soft shading, elegant linework, subdued palette, wind shown as layered curls overtaking the sun.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed sky with the sun veiled by turbulent wind-cloud whorls, fine brushwork, gradated dusk tones, tiny figures/landscape fading, emphasis on motion and engulfment."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jyotiṣo 'pi = jyotiṣaḥ + api; vāyur = vāyuḥ (visarga sandhi); vāyuś ca = vāyuḥ + ca; cabalī read as ca balī; naṣṭe jyotiṣi forms a locative-absolute.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 367 (Pralaya-lakshana sequence); Agni Purana cosmology sections on mahabhuta-krama and tattva-srishti
FAQs
It imparts pralaya-lakṣaṇa (technical markers of cosmic dissolution): the extinction of light and the overpowering of the Sun by the cosmic Wind, indicating a transition into darkness and atmospheric upheaval.
Alongside rituals and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves systematic cosmology—cataloging observable end-time phenomena (loss of luminosity, solar obscuration, violent winds) as a distinct knowledge-domain akin to Purāṇic 'natural philosophy.'
It underscores impermanence: even the Sun and the principle of light dissolve, directing the listener toward detachment (vairāgya) and reliance on dharma and liberation-oriented practice rather than worldly stability.