Agni Purana — Avatara-lila, Shloka 11
Granthaprasthāvanā (Preface): Sāra of Knowledge, Twofold Brahman, and the Purpose of Avatāras
कालाग्निरूपिणम् विष्णुं ज्योतिर्ब्रह्म परात्परम् मुनिभिः पृष्टवान् देवं पूजितं ज्ञानकर्मभिः
kālāgnirūpiṇam viṣṇuṃ jyotirbrahma parātparam munibhiḥ pṛṣṭavān devaṃ pūjitaṃ jñānakarmabhiḥ
Мудрецы вопрошали того Бога — Вишну, имеющего образ Огня Времени (калагни), высшего Света-Брахмана, превосходящего даже превосходящее; и почитаемого как через духовное знание, так и через священное деяние (карму).
Sūta (narrative voice introducing the sages’ inquiry; Purāṇic framing before Agni’s instruction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Frames Purāṇic study as both jñāna (insight) and karma (ritual/ethical action) directed to the same Supreme; useful as an invocation for recitation and for aligning practice with doctrine.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Viṣṇu as Kālāgni and Jyotirbrahman; worship by Jñāna and Karma","lookup_keywords":["kālāgni","jyotirbrahman","viṣṇu-tattva","jñāna-karma","pūjā"],"quick_summary":"Identifies Viṣṇu as the supreme Light-Brahman appearing as Time-Fire (kālāgni) and establishes a twofold mode of worship: knowledge and sacred action."}
Alamkara Type: Virodha (apparent paradox) / Atiśayokti (hyperbolic transcendence)
Concept: Non-dual supremacy of the Lord as Brahman (jyotiḥ) who also manifests as cosmic Time (kāla) and is approachable by both jñāna and karma.
Application: Integrate study/meditation with disciplined ritual and duty; treat both as complementary approaches to the same Reality.
Khanda Section: Agni–Vishnu-tattva and Purana-prashna (Invocation & doctrinal framing)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A circle of sages seated in a forest hermitage, questioning a radiant Viṣṇu whose aura blazes like the fire of Time; offerings and scriptures indicate worship by knowledge and ritual.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated rishis in saffron, palm-leaf manuscripts, luminous Viṣṇu with fiery halo (kālāgni aura), deep reds and ochres, stylized lotuses, sacred fire altar in foreground","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with brilliant gold-leaf prabhāmaṇḍala like flames, sages in reverent poses, ornate arch, rich jewel tones, embossed gold detailing on halo and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, soft shading, hermitage setting with yajña-kuṇḍa, sages holding śāstra, Viṣṇu depicted as radiant light with subtle flame motifs, instructional calm composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed forest āśrama, rishis in conversation, a luminous divine figure with flame-like nimbus, delicate foliage, fine textiles, balanced courtly composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्योतिर्ब्रह्म = ज्योतिः + ब्रह्म; परात्परम् = परात् + परम्; ज्ञानकर्मभिः = ज्ञान + कर्मभिः (द्वन्द्वसमास).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: Purāṇa-lakṣaṇa and vidyā-varga sections (opening adhyāyas); Agni Purāṇa: chapters on jñāna-yoga and mokṣa-dharma themes (later philosophical portions)
FAQs
It presents the Agni Purana’s core doctrinal method: worship of the Supreme (Viṣṇu as luminous Brahman) is fulfilled through a combined discipline of jñāna (right knowledge/realization) and karma (prescribed sacred rites and duties).
By explicitly pairing jñāna and karma, the verse signals the text’s integrative scope—linking metaphysics (Brahman, transcendence), cosmology (kālāgni), and practical religion (pūjā/ritual action), a hallmark of the Agni Purana’s multi-disciplinary instruction.
It teaches that liberation-oriented understanding (jñāna) and meritorious duty-bound practice (karma) are not opposed; together they sanctify worship and align the practitioner with the Supreme who governs time, dissolution, and ultimate transcendence.