Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 12
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
स्फुरच्छीकरसंस्मर्शप्रभूते हिमगामिभिः धाराभिरखिलं विश्वमापूर्य भुवि चिन्तयेत्
sphuracchīkarasaṃsmarśaprabhūte himagāmibhiḥ dhārābhirakhilaṃ viśvamāpūrya bhuvi cintayet
स्फुरच्छीकरसंस्पर्शप्रभूतैर्हिमगामिभिः। धाराभिरखिलं विश्वमापूर्य भुवि चिन्तयेत्॥
Lord Agni (Agni Purana’s primary narrator, instructing the sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Bhāvanā (creative visualization) for purification: imagining the world flooded by cool, snow-like streams with sparkling spray to induce inner cooling, clarity, and cleansing of subtle impressions.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hima-dhārā-plāvana-bhāvanā (cooling flood visualization)","lookup_keywords":["bhāvanā","hima","dhārā","śītalīkaraṇa","śuddhi"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the whole world as inundated by cool, snow-moving streams; the sensory vividness (spray, shimmer) supports a felt sense of purification and mental cooling."}
Dosha: Pitta
Alamkara Type: Rupaka
Concept: Mind can be purified through sustained, sensory-rich contemplation; the ‘world-flood’ image dissolves boundaries and washes saṃskāras.
Application: Use cooling, expansive imagery during meditation to counter inner heat, restlessness, and narrow self-sense; maintain continuity until the felt sense of cleansing stabilizes.
Khanda Section: Yoga-Dhyana / Bhavana (Meditative Visualization within ritual-purificatory practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The earth-world seen from a human vantage, completely flooded by countless cool, snow-like streams; sparkling droplets flash in the air, creating a luminous mist of purification over landscapes and beings.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized rivers and cascading streams in pale blues and whites, shimmering spray rendered as dotted highlights, the whole landscape washed clean, serene palette and symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents for sparkling droplets, layered blue-white streams covering the earth, ornate borders, divine purity atmosphere without specific deity focus","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean illustrative landscape with multiple flowing channels, emphasis on clarity and cooling tones, fine brushwork for spray droplets, calm horizon","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed terrain—fields, trees, small figures—overlaid with translucent blue-white water sheets and fine stippled spray, delicate cloud bands, refined border"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्फुरच्छीकर... = स्फुरत् + शीकर... (t + ś → cch); विश्वमापूर्य = विश्वम् + आपूर्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 374 (sequence of dhyāna/bhāvanā steps); Agni Purana yoga-related passages on visualization and inner purification
FAQs
A bhāvanā (guided visualization) method: the practitioner mentally floods the world with cool, purifying streams filled with sparkling spray, used as a contemplative purification technique.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana catalogs practical disciplines—here, a precise meditative procedure (dhyāna/bhāvanā) that functions like a ritual tool for purification, showing its coverage of yoga and applied spiritual techniques.
The imagery of cool, cleansing torrents symbolizes washing away inner heat, agitation, and impurity; sustained contemplation is framed as a purificatory act that supports mental clarity and reduction of karmic taint.