Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 21
Chapter 371 — Yama-Niyama and Praṇava-Upāsanā (Oṅkāra) as Brahma-vidyā
शारीरं देवपूजादि सर्वदन्तु त्रिधा तपः प्रणवाद्यास्ततो वेदाः प्रणवे पर्यवस्थिताः
śārīraṃ devapūjādi sarvadantu tridhā tapaḥ praṇavādyāstato vedāḥ praṇave paryavasthitāḥ
शारीरं देवपूजादि च सर्वदन्तु त्रिधा तपः। प्रणवाद्यास्ततो वेदाः प्रणवे पर्यवस्थिताः॥
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Classify and practice tapas as bodily/ritual discipline and ground Vedic study in pranava-centered recitation and contemplation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Trividha Tapas and Pranava as Veda-mula","lookup_keywords":["trividha-tapas","deva-puja","pranava","omkara","veda-mula"],"quick_summary":"Tapas is taught as threefold, with bodily austerity exemplified by deva-puja. The Vedas are said to begin in and be established upon the Pranava (Oṃ), making Oṃ-upasana foundational to study and ritual."}
Concept: Pranava as the root/support of Vedic revelation; tapas as structured discipline.
Application: Begin japa/adhyayana with Oṃ, maintain bodily discipline through worship and regulated conduct as part of tapas.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tapas and Pranava-Vidya (Ritual discipline and Vedic foundation)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A disciplined practitioner performs deva-puja before a small altar while a luminous Oṃ symbol appears above, indicating the Vedas rooted in pranava.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, ochre-red background, a seated rishi performing deva-puja with lamp and flowers, radiant white-gold Oṃ above, stylized palm-leaf Vedas, serene shanta mood, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Oṃ in embossed gold leaf halo, rishi at puja with brass lamp and kalasha, rich reds and greens, temple arch framing, devotional yet instructional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, rishi demonstrating puja steps, labeled tri-fold tapas motif (body-speech-mind) subtly indicated, soft pastel palette, emphasis on clarity and pedagogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-rishi in a pavilion with manuscripts, small shrine and offerings, calligraphic Oṃ in the sky, delicate detailing, subdued contemplative palette"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: devapūjādi = deva-pūjā-ādi; praṇavādyāḥ = praṇava-ādyāḥ; paryavasthitāḥ = pari-ava-sthā + kta.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on tapas and pranava-upasana (same khanda); Agni Purana: Mantra-shastra portions on Oṃ and nyasa (related chapters)
FAQs
It classifies tapas as threefold and identifies bodily tapas through practices like deva-pūjā (ritual worship), while stating that the Vedas are rooted in the Pranava (Oṃ), highlighting Oṃ as the foundational mantra for Vedic recitation and discipline.
It compresses two core domains—ritual praxis (puja as a form of tapas) and mantra-vedānta/Vedic theory (the Pranava as the Vedic ground)—showing how the Agni Purana catalogs practical observance alongside doctrinal principles.
By framing worship as tapas and placing the Vedas within Oṃ, the verse presents disciplined worship and Pranava-centered recitation as purifying acts that stabilize religious merit and inner concentration.