Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 44
अध्याय ३८० — गीतासारः
The Essence of the Gītā
श्रद्धामन्त्रादिविध्युक्तं तपः शारीरमुच्यते देवादिपूजाहिंसादि वाङ्मयं तप उच्यते
śraddhāmantrādividhyuktaṃ tapaḥ śārīramucyate devādipūjāhiṃsādi vāṅmayaṃ tapa ucyate
Аскеза (tapas), совершаемая согласно вере (śraddhā), мантрам и предписанным правилам, называется телесной (śārīra) тапас. Почитание богов и тому подобное, ненасилие (ahiṃsā) и связанные с этим дисциплины называются словесной (vāṅmaya) тапас.
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Classify and practice tapas correctly: bodily austerity must be grounded in faith, mantra, and rule; verbal discipline includes worship, non-violence, and regulated speech/commitments.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Tapas-bheda: Śārīra Tapas and Vāṅmaya Tapas (with Śraddhā–Mantra–Vidhi)","lookup_keywords":["tapas sharira","vangmaya tapas","shraddha","mantra","ahimsa"],"quick_summary":"Tapas is organized into bodily and verbal forms: bodily austerity is defined by faithful, mantra-supported, rule-bound practice; verbal tapas includes worship and disciplines such as ahiṃsā and regulated expression."}
Concept: Tapas is not mere hardship; it is structured practice aligned with śraddhā, mantra, and vidhi, and includes both bodily regulation and verbal/ethical discipline.
Application: Design a sustainable tapas regimen: bodily—regulated fasting/sleep/posture with mantra and rule; verbal—truthful, non-harming speech, daily pūjā, and commitments that reduce violence in word and deed.
Khanda Section: Dharma-shastra / Tapas (Austerity) Classification
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined ascetic scene: one figure practicing bodily austerity with mantra and rule; another demonstrating verbal tapas through worship and non-violent, restrained speech.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel scene: left—ascetic seated in meditation with japa-mālā, simple diet vessel, posture indicating śārīra tapas; right—devotee performing pūjā at a small shrine, hands in añjali, speech restrained, ahiṃsā symbolized by protecting animals; ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central rishi with halo holding japa-mālā and scripture (mantra-vidhi), side vignette of deity pūjā with lamps and flowers, inscriptions for śārīra and vāṅmaya tapas, rich red and gold palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional depiction: labeled elements—śraddhā, mantra, vidhi—feeding into śārīra tapas; and pūjā, ahiṃsā, disciplined speech feeding into vāṅmaya tapas; fine linework, calm colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, hermitage setting: a sage instructs students—one practicing regulated austerity, another reciting hymns and performing worship; detailed foliage, water pot, manuscripts, calligraphic labels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śraddhāmantrādividhyuktaṃ = śraddhā-mantra-ādi-vidhi-yuktam; śārīramucyate = śārīram + ucyate; devādipūjāhiṃsādi = deva-ādi-pūjā-hiṃsā-ādi; vāṅmayaṃ = vāk + maya (phonetic change to vāṅ-).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on vrata and niyama (discipline); Agni Purana mantra and pūjā procedures supporting tapas
FAQs
It classifies tapas by mode of practice: śārīra tapas as disciplined bodily observance grounded in śraddhā, mantra, and vidhi; and vāṅmaya tapas as speech-based/expressed discipline exemplified by deva-pūjā and ahiṃsā-type vows.
By systematizing spiritual practice into technical categories (bodily vs. verbal austerity) and tying them to concrete observances (mantra-vidhi, worship, non-violence), it functions like a compact dharma manual within the Purana’s wide-ranging knowledge framework.
It emphasizes that austerity is not mere hardship but regulated discipline: faith and correct procedure sanctify bodily practice, while worship and non-harming purify conduct and speech, supporting merit (puṇya) and inner purification.