Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
शुचिर्वाप्यशुचिर्वापि ध्यायेत् शततमीश्वरम् स्वदेहायतनस्यान्ते मनसि स्थाप्य केशवम्
śucirvāpyaśucirvāpi dhyāyet śatatamīśvaram svadehāyatanasyānte manasi sthāpya keśavam
ଶୁଚି ହେଉ କି ଅଶୁଚି, ସଦା ଈଶ୍ୱରଙ୍କୁ ଧ୍ୟାନ କରିବା ଉଚିତ। ନିଜ ଦେହ-ଆୟତନର ଅନ୍ତର୍ଭାଗର ଶେଷେ, ମନରେ କେଶବଙ୍କୁ ସ୍ଥାପନ କର।
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Bhakti-yoga","practical_application":"Practice internal worship by installing Keshava in the mind/inner body as a shrine, maintaining remembrance regardless of external purity conditions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Deha-āyatana: Installing Keśava in the Inner Shrine","lookup_keywords":["shuchi ashuchi","antah-puja","deha-ayatana","manasi sthapya","Keshava"],"quick_summary":"Meditation is not obstructed by external purity; establish Keśava inwardly as the deity of the body-temple and sustain constant remembrance."}
Concept: Antar-upasana supersedes dependence on external ritual conditions; the body-mind complex can be treated as the Lord’s shrine for continuous worship.
Application: When external worship is not possible, turn inward: visualize Keśava seated in the inner sanctum of the heart/mind and repeat his name with steadiness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana-yoga (Vishnu-smarana and internal worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A symbolic body-temple: within the devotee’s torso a small sanctum glows, with Keśava seated on a lotus in the mind/heart, indicating inner installation beyond purity rules.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal devotee figure with cutaway chest showing lotus-sanctum, Keśava enthroned, bold reds/ochres, ornate temple border, serene expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-leaf inner halo inside the heart-lotus, Keśava richly adorned, devotee shown in profile with transparent torso window, heavy gold detailing and gemstones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean anatomical-symbolic cutaway of the body as temple, labeled sanctum area, Keśava on lotus, soft pastel palette, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined portrait of devotee with subtle translucent chest revealing a luminous shrine with Vishnu, delicate shading, intricate textiles, quiet interior setting."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शुचिर्वा = शुचिः + वा; वाप्यशुचिः = वा + अपि + अशुचिः; अशुचिर्वापि = अशुचिः + वा + अपि; शततमीश्वरम् = शततम + ईश्वरम्; स्वदेहायतनस्यान्ते = स्वदेहायतनस्य + अन्ते.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.13 (heart-lotus pedestal; dhyana-yajna); Agni Purana 372–373 (dhyana and upasana sequence)
FAQs
It teaches a practical smaraṇa/dhyāna-vidhi: regardless of external purity, one should continuously meditate and mentally establish Keśava within the body as an inner shrine (manasā-sthāpana / internalized worship).
Alongside external rites, the Agni Purana also preserves inner ritual technologies—mental installation and constant remembrance—showing how purification and worship can be performed through yogic-ritual methods (dhyāna + manasā-pūjā).
It emphasizes that sincere remembrance of the Supreme (Keśava) functions as a purifier even when external conditions are imperfect, directing the practitioner toward continuous devotion and inner sanctification.