Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
खाण्डिक्यजनकायाह योगं केशिध्वजः पुरा अनात्मन्यात्मबुद्धिर्या आत्मस्वमिति या मतिः
khāṇḍikyajanakāyāha yogaṃ keśidhvajaḥ purā anātmanyātmabuddhiryā ātmasvamiti yā matiḥ
पुरा केशिध्वजः खाण्डिक्यजनकाय योगं प्राह—या अनात्मनि आत्मबुद्धिः, तथा ‘आत्मस्वम्’ इति या मतिः, सा मूलभ्रान्तिः।
Lord Agni (narrating an older instruction of Keśidhvaja to Janaka)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga–Jnana","practical_application":"Practice self-inquiry by detecting and dropping the two core superimpositions—‘I am the body’ and ‘mine’—as the entry-point to Yoga and liberation-oriented discrimination.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yoga teaching of Keśidhvaja to Janaka—ātma-buddhi in anātman and ‘mamatā’ as error","lookup_keywords":["Keshidhvaja Janaka","anatmani atma-buddhi","mamatva","adhyasa","yoga jnana"],"quick_summary":"The foundational mistake is adhyāsa: taking the non-self as Self and generating possessiveness (‘mine’). Yoga begins with recognizing and undoing this misidentification."}
Concept: Adhyāsa (superimposition) of ātman on anātman and mamatā (‘mine-ness’) is the root cognitive error to be removed by yoga-jñāna.
Application: Daily practice: observe ‘I’ thoughts and ‘mine’ thoughts; reframe as ‘body/mind phenomena’ and ‘temporary relations’; cultivate witness-awareness and non-possessiveness.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Jnana (Moksha-dharma / Adhyatma: teachings on Yoga and Self-knowledge)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: Kingdom
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher-sage Keśidhvaja instructs King Janaka; two translucent overlays appear on a human figure: one labeled ‘I am the body’ and another ‘mine’, being peeled away to reveal the inner Self as steady light.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Janaka in royal attire seated respectfully before sage Keśidhvaja, symbolic veils labeled aham/mama being lifted from a figure, warm temple palette, stylized gestures of teaching (vyākhyāna mudrā)","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, guru-disciple scene with gold halo around the guru, Janaka with folded hands, embossed gold for the revealed inner light, decorative palace-pillars framing the teaching","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear pedagogic composition: guru pointing to a diagram of ‘ātman vs anātman’, subtle facial expressions, fine lines, calm interior setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace garden discourse: sage and king on carpets, attendants at distance, allegorical scroll showing ‘I’ and ‘mine’ being crossed out, intricate textiles and flora"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: खाण्डिक्यजनकायाह = खाण्डिक्यजनकाय + आह; अनात्मन्यात्मबुद्धिर्या = अनात्मनि + आत्मबुद्धिः + या; आत्मस्वमिति = आत्मस्वम् + इति
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.16–17 (avidya/moha and ‘I am this body’ expansion)
FAQs
It imparts Yoga-vidyā as a diagnostic principle: the root bondage is misapprehension—taking the non-Self as the Self and generating the possessive notion ‘mine’.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves concise Advaita/Sāṅkhya-style Yoga psychology—here summarizing the core epistemic error (ātma-anātma adhyāsa) that Yoga aims to remove.
By abandoning the false ‘I’ and ‘mine’ superimposition, attachment and karma-producing clinging diminish, supporting detachment (vairāgya) and progress toward liberation (mokṣa).