Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 29
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
छन्दो ऽस्य देवी गायत्री अन्तर्यामी ऋषिः स्मृतः देवता परमात्मास्य नियोगो भुक्तिमुक्तये
chando 'sya devī gāyatrī antaryāmī ṛṣiḥ smṛtaḥ devatā paramātmāsya niyogo bhuktimuktaye
O metro (chandas) deste mantra é a divina Gāyatrī; o Ṛṣi é lembrado como Antaryāmin; sua deidade regente é o Paramātman (Si supremo). Sua aplicação (viniyoga) é para alcançar tanto o gozo mundano quanto a libertação.
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual-mantric identifiers in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode, traditionally to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Mantra-viniyoga framing for upāsanā: identify chandas, ṛṣi, devatā, and purpose (bhukti-mukti) before japa/nyāsa to ensure correct ritual deployment and focused intent.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Mantra-Aṅga: Chandas–Ṛṣi–Devatā–Viniyoga (Gāyatrī/Paramātman Upāsanā)","lookup_keywords":["chandas","ṛṣi","devatā","viniyoga","gāyatrī"],"quick_summary":"Before practice, specify the mantra’s meter (Gāyatrī), seer (Antaryāmin), deity (Paramātman), and application (for bhukti and mukti) to align recitation with its intended spiritual function."}
Alamkara Type: Saṅkhyā/Anukrama (enumerative listing)
Concept: Upāsanā becomes effective when grounded in proper mantra-nyāya: chandas-ṛṣi-devatā-viniyoga remembrance, with the highest devatā understood as Paramātman/Antaryāmin.
Application: Begin japa by mentally stating: ‘asya mantrasya… chandaḥ… ṛṣiḥ… devatā… viniyogaḥ…’; keep the stated aim (bhukti/mukti) steady to prevent scattered practice.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-nyasa, Gayatri/Upasana Vidhi)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A practitioner preparing for japa, holding a mālā, with a small ritual diagram listing chandas, ṛṣi, devatā, viniyoga; subtle presence of Paramātman as inner light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated upāsaka with mālā, palm-leaf manuscript showing ‘chandas-ṛṣi-devatā-viniyoga’, soft halo indicating Antaryāmin, temple interior motifs, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, upāsaka with mālā and manuscript, gold-embossed headings ‘Gāyatrī, Antaryāmin, Paramātman’, ornate frame, rich colors, devotional solemnity.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: clear manuscript panel with the four mantra-aṅgas, practitioner in neat posture, minimal background, emphasis on legibility and method.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-devotee in a study with manuscript and rosary, fine calligraphy panels for chandas/ṛṣi/devatā/viniyoga, subdued palette, intimate focus."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: chando 'sya = chandaḥ + asya; paramātmāsya = paramātmā + asya; bhuktimuktaye = bhukti + muktaye (dvandva compounded).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 371.30 (nyāsa/kavaca assignments); Agni Purana mantra-vidhi and pūjā-vidhi sections elsewhere in the text
FAQs
It gives the mantra-identifiers used in japa/nyāsa—chandas (meter), ṛṣi (seer), devatā (presiding deity), and viniyoga (ritual application)—specifying that this mantra is employed for both bhukti (worldly aims) and mukti (liberation).
By preserving the practical ritual grammar of mantra-prayoga (how a mantra is formally ‘indexed’ and applied), it documents a technical layer of Hindu liturgy alongside the Purana’s wider coverage of worship, doctrine, and spiritual goals.
Declaring Paramātman as the devatā and Antaryāmin as the guiding principle frames the practice as inner-realization oriented, promising integrated results—purification and merit leading to prosperity (bhukti) and ultimately liberation (mukti).