Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं ध्यायेदोङ्कारमीश्वरं कदम्बगोलकाकारं तारं रूपमिव स्थितं
aṅguṣṭhamātramamalaṃ dhyāyedoṅkāramīśvaraṃ kadambagolakākāraṃ tāraṃ rūpamiva sthitaṃ
Следует созерцать безупречного Владыку как Оṅкару — величиной с большой палец, в образе священной Тāры (Пранавы), словно пребывающего в шаровидной форме, подобной бутону кадамбы.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Praṇava-dhyāna: fixing attention on a compact, pure Oṃ-form as an ālambana (support) for concentration and japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Oṅkāra-dhyāna (aṅguṣṭha-mātra, kadamba-golaka-rūpa)","lookup_keywords":["Omkara-dhyana","aṅguṣṭha-mātra","tāra praṇava","kadamba-golaka","ālambana"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the Lord as the stainless Oṃ, visualized as thumb-sized and spherical like a kadamba bud; this compact form serves as a stable support for one-pointedness."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Concept: Praṇava as Īśvara’s accessible form (bīja/ālambana) for dhyāna leading toward subtler realization.
Application: Use a small, clearly bounded mental image of Oṃ to reduce distraction and deepen absorption.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Upasana (Pranava-Dhyana / Omkara-Upasana)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator visualizes a small, stainless, spherical Oṃ—like a kadamba bud—glowing steadily before the inner gaze.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in simple ochre cloth, dark green background, central luminous white-gold Oṃ as a small kadamba-bud sphere, subtle halo, minimal ornament, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich red backdrop, gold leaf halo, stylized Oṃ as a small spherical kadamba-bud motif in front of the meditating figure, embossed gold highlights, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional composition: thumb-sized Oṃ-sphere shown with scale cue (aṅguṣṭha), soft gradients, calm palette, annotated feel without text.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with a yogi on a carpet, delicate shading, a tiny luminous Oṃ-sphere hovering, botanical kadamba buds echoing the simile, refined detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं = अङ्गुष्ठमात्रम् अमलम्; ध्यायेदोङ्कारमीश्वरं = ध्यायेत् ओङ्कारम् ईश्वरम्; कदम्बगोलकाकारं = कदम्ब-गोलक-आकारम्; रूपमिव = रूपम् इव
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.25; Agni Purana 373.26
FAQs
It teaches a precise visualization method for Praṇava-upāsanā: meditate on Om (Oṅkāra) as Īśvara, conceived as pure and thumb-sized, with a rounded kadamba-bud-like spherical form—i.e., a specific dhyāna (mental iconography) for mantra practice.
Alongside law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves practical sādhanā-technology—mantra and meditation procedures (dhyāna-lakṣaṇa). This verse exemplifies its inclusion of yogic visualization details as a standalone, actionable spiritual discipline.
Meditating on the stainless Praṇava as Īśvara is presented as a purifying upāsanā: it steadies the mind, aligns the practitioner with the saving principle (Tāra), and supports inner purification and liberation-oriented merit through focused contemplation.