Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 45
Explanation of the Vāsudeva and Related Mantras (वासुदेवादिमन्त्रनिरूपणम्)
पादे जान्वोरुपस्थे च हृदये मूर्ध्नि च क्रमात् परश् च पुरुषात्मादौ षड्विंशे पूर्ववत्परं
pāde jānvorupasthe ca hṛdaye mūrdhni ca kramāt paraś ca puruṣātmādau ṣaḍviṃśe pūrvavatparaṃ
Nos pés, nos joelhos, na região das coxas e do órgão gerador, no coração e na cabeça—sucessivamente—devem ser colocados/meditados os princípios. Depois, para além deles, deve-se contemplar o Supremo, «Para», começando pelo Si mesmo como Puruṣa; no vigésimo sexto princípio, o «Superior» é colocado do mesmo modo que antes.
Lord Agni (narrating to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Tattva-nyāsa: meditative placement of Sāṅkhya principles onto body loci, culminating in contemplation of Para beyond the enumerated categories.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Ṣaḍviṃśa-tattva (Puruṣa/Para) nyāsa on body loci","lookup_keywords":["tattva-nyasa","sankhya","purusha","shadvimsha","subtle-body mapping"],"quick_summary":"Place/meditate on principles successively at feet, knees, thigh/genital region, heart, and head; then contemplate the Supreme beyond, beginning from Puruṣa, with the 26th principle installed ‘as before’."}
Concept: Sāṅkhya-tattva hierarchy culminating in Puruṣa/Para; the body as a ladder for inner ascent from gross supports to transcendent awareness.
Application: During dhyāna, use locus-by-locus placement to prevent conceptual drift; end by resting attention in the ‘beyond-tattvas’ witness (Para).
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tattva / Sankhya–Purusha-Nyasa (Subtle-body mapping and inner placement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator visualizes tattvas as subtle symbols placed at feet, knees, pelvic region, heart, and head; above the head a luminous ‘Para’ sphere signifies transcendence beyond categories.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized body with lotus-like loci glowing at feet/knees/pelvis/heart/head, a radiant orb above crown for Para, traditional iconographic color coding, temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold accents on the crown aura and heart-lotus, embossed tattva emblems at each locus, rich ornamentation framing a serene yogin.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic clarity: subtle tattva glyphs (tanmātra/ahaṃkāra/buddhi/puruṣa) arranged along the body, soft pastel background, fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, seated yogin with translucent overlays showing loci and symbols, delicate clouds above head indicating Para, intricate carpet and manuscript-like margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jānvorupasthe = jānvōḥ + upasthe. pūrvavatparaṃ = pūrvavat + param.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 25 (tattva/nyāsa sections); Agni Purana (Sāṅkhya-yoga expositions elsewhere in the Purāṇa’s yoga material)
FAQs
It teaches a nyāsa-style contemplative placement of metaphysical principles (tattvas) into bodily loci (feet, knees, upastha region, heart, head), culminating in contemplation of the transcendent Para as the higher principle.
Alongside ritual and dharma topics, the Agni Purana also preserves yogic–tantric praxis and Sāṅkhya metaphysics—here, a practical method for internalizing tattva-doctrine through structured meditation/nyāsa.
By internalizing the tattvas and finally fixing awareness on the Para (Supreme), the practitioner moves from bodily identification toward liberation-oriented insight, using the body as a sacred map for realization.