Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 369 — शरीरावयवाः
The Limbs/Organs and Constituents of the Body
कफप्रसाराद्भवति हृदयं पद्मसन्निभं अधोमुखं तच्छूषिरं यत्र जीवो व्यवस्थितः
kaphaprasārādbhavati hṛdayaṃ padmasannibhaṃ adhomukhaṃ tacchūṣiraṃ yatra jīvo vyavasthitaḥ
Da difusão de kapha, o coração torna-se semelhante a um lótus, voltado para baixo; é oco por dentro—ali se encontra o jīva (o princípio vital individual).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Physiological/anatomical description of the heart’s form and locus of jīva; used for understanding vital centers and kapha’s role in bodily structure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Heart (hṛdaya) lotus-form and seat of jīva","lookup_keywords":["hṛdaya","kapha-prasāra","padma-sannibha","adhomukha","jīva-sthāna"],"quick_summary":"The heart is described as lotus-like, downward-facing, and hollow, arising in relation to kapha’s presence/spread. It is identified as the locus where the jīva is situated."}
Dosha: Kapha
Alamkara Type: Upama
Concept: The embodied self (jīva) is spoken of as ‘situated’ in the heart, linking anatomy with consciousness doctrine.
Application: Supports contemplative practices that focus attention on the heart-region as a vital center (while remaining within a śārīra framing).
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Śārīra / Anatomy and Physiology)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A semi-symbolic anatomical heart depicted as a downward-facing lotus with a hollow center, with subtle light indicating the jīva within; kapha shown as a cool, white supportive essence around it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized torso with a lotus-heart facing downward, hollow center glowing softly (jīva), cool white kapha aura surrounding, traditional flat shading and bold outlines, temple interior mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, lotus-heart motif central with gold-leaf halo, hollow center as a gem-like cavity, kapha rendered as pearly white sheen, ornate border, sacred anatomical symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise instructional illustration: heart as inverted lotus, labeled ‘adhomukha’, ‘śūṣira’, ‘jīva’, with kapha indicated by pale shading; minimalistic teaching setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, physician’s folio showing an inverted lotus-heart diagram, delicate wash colors, fine calligraphy labels, subtle glow in the cavity representing jīva."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कफप्रसाराद्भवति = कफप्रसारात् + भवति; तच्छूषिरं = तत् + शूषिरम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Śārīra passages on hṛdaya and prāṇa/jīva loci; Agni Purana discussions of doṣa roles in organ formation
FAQs
Ayurvedic śārīra-vidyā: it describes the heart’s lotus-like form, its downward orientation, its internal cavity, and the doctrinal placement of the jīva within it, using doṣa terminology (kapha).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s inclusion of Ayurvedic anatomy and physiological theory (doṣas and organ-description) alongside its more commonly known ritual, dharma, and cosmological materials.
By locating the jīva in the heart, the verse supports contemplative and ethical disciplines that treat the heart as the seat of life and inner awareness, encouraging purity and restraint as foundations for spiritual progress.