Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 11
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
शिरो धीरञ्च कारञ्च कण्ठं चाधोमुखे स्मरेत् ध्यायेदच्छिन्नचिन्तात्मा भुयो भूतेन चात्मना
śiro dhīrañca kārañca kaṇṭhaṃ cādhomukhe smaret dhyāyedacchinnacintātmā bhuyo bhūtena cātmanā
Que ele recorde (visualize) a cabeça, as sílabas dhī e kā, e também a garganta, voltadas para baixo. Com a mente cuja contemplação é ininterrupta, que medite repetidas vezes, identificando o Si mesmo com o princípio elemental (bhūta).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in a practical dhyāna/nyāsa sequence)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Guided dhyāna with mantra-nyāsa: placing/remembering specific syllables (dhī, kā) at head and throat with a downward-facing visualization to stabilize attention and align the practitioner with bhūta-tattva contemplation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhyāna with dhī-kā bīja-smaraṇa at śiras and kaṇṭha (adhomukha-bhāvanā)","lookup_keywords":["dhyāna","nyāsa","dhī","kā","adhomukha"],"quick_summary":"A stepwise visualization: remember head and throat loci with specified syllables, maintain unbroken contemplation, and repeatedly identify the Self with the elemental principle for inner steadiness."}
Concept: Akhaṇḍa-cintā (unbroken contemplation) and tattvātmatā (identification with bhūta-tattva) as a method of inner purification and stabilization of mind.
Application: Use repeated, steady visualization with mantra-syllable placement to reduce distraction and cultivate a stable meditative identity aligned with elemental reality.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Tantra (Dhyana / Mantra-nyasa and inner visualization practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation, attention moving to head and throat; luminous syllables ‘dhī’ and ‘kā’ appear as seed-letters at those centers, with a downward-facing inner current; the practitioner’s aura merges with elemental textures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal yogin with stylized nāḍī lines, bright golden bīja-akṣaras at head and throat, cool blue downward flow, minimal temple interior backdrop","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold embossing for bīja letters and halo, deep jewel tones, yogin seated on a lotus mat, subtle downward arrow-like flow rendered as ornate ribbon","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic: head and throat highlighted, clear Devanagari bīja glyphs, gentle shading, calm face, clean background for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined interior with carpet, yogin in profile, delicate calligraphic ‘dhī’ and ‘kā’ floating near head and throat, translucent downward stream, fine border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धीरञ्च = धीरम् + च; कारञ्च = कारम् + च; चाधोमुखे = च + अधोमुखे; ध्यायेदच्छिन्नचिन्तात्मा = ध्यायेत् + अच्छिन्नचिन्तात्मा; चात्मना = च + आत्मना.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 370s (yoga-dhyāna and mantra contexts around this passage); Agni Purana mantra/stotra sections (bīja and nyāsa usage in adjacent materials)
FAQs
It teaches a dhyāna/nyāsa-style visualization: placing attention on the head and throat while recollecting specific seed-syllables (“dhī”, “kā”), maintaining uninterrupted contemplation, and repeatedly merging awareness with the bhūta (elemental principle).
Beyond myth and devotion, it preserves practical yogic-tantric technique—mantra syllables, bodily loci (head/throat), and a defined meditative method—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied spiritual technologies alongside other sciences.
Unbroken meditation with mantra-visualization is presented as a means to steady the mind and refine identity from ordinary self-sense toward elemental and ultimately spiritual self-recognition, supporting purification and concentration (dhyāna-siddhi).