Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 28
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
अङ्गैः पञ्चभिरध्वानं निखिलं विकृतिक्रमात् तन्मात्रात्मनि संहृत्य मायासूत्रे पशोस्तनौ
aṅgaiḥ pañcabhiradhvānaṃ nikhilaṃ vikṛtikramāt tanmātrātmani saṃhṛtya māyāsūtre paśostanau
ஐந்து அங்கங்களால், வெளிப்பட்ட மாற்றங்களின் (விக்ருதி) வரிசைப்படி முழு அத்வானம் (பாதை) படிப்படியாகச் சுருக்கப்பட வேண்டும்; அதை தன்மாத்திரங்களின் சாரத்தில் லயப்படுத்தி, பசு (பந்தப்பட்ட ஜீவன்) உடலில் உள்ள மாயா-சூத்திரத்தில் நிறுவ வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Perform laya/saṃhāra (reabsorption) in inner practice: withdraw the adhvan (cosmic path of categories/mantras) through five aṅgas, dissolving gross-to-subtle into tanmātras and stabilizing awareness on the Māyā-sūtra within the paśu-body.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Adhvā-saṃhāra by Pañcāṅga: Vikṛti-krama to Tanmātra and Māyā-sūtra","lookup_keywords":["adhvan","saṃhāra","vikṛti-krama","tanmātra","māyā-sūtra","paśu"],"quick_summary":"A stepwise inner reabsorption is taught: gather the manifested path back in the reverse/ordered sequence of modifications, dissolve into tanmātras, and place it upon the Māyā-thread within embodied limitation. It functions as a yogic-tantric method for internal ritual and deconditioning."}
Concept: Laya of tattvas/adhvans: the bound self (paśu) can retrace manifestation back to subtle causes, recognizing Māyā as the binding thread.
Application: Use a structured internal sequence (five aṅgas) for pratyāhāra-like withdrawal and tattva-laya during japa, nyāsa, or dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tantra / Sāṃkhya-Tattva (Adhvā and Tattva-saṃhāra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation visualizes the cosmos retracting inward: layers of elements and senses fold back into subtle tanmātras, converging into a luminous thread (māyā-sūtra) running through the spine; the body is shown as the field of paśu-boundness being transformed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, meditating yogin with stylized inner channels, concentric elemental bands (earth-water-fire-air-ether) dissolving into finer colored rings (tanmātras), a bright vertical sūtra line, minimal background, serene expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central yogin with gold halo, surrounding lotus rings labeled as tattvas, outer rings fading inward to subtle tanmātras, a gold-thread motif (sūtra) through the body, ornate border and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional visualization: cross-section of seated yogin with subtle-body thread, arrows showing vikṛti-krama reabsorption into tanmātras, soft colors, fine inscriptions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a saint in a quiet chamber, delicate diagrammatic clouds representing tattvas collapsing into a thin luminous thread, precise detailing of garments and carpet, subtle calligraphy annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcabhiḥ+adhvānam→pañcabhiradhvānam (visarga before vowel becomes r); tanmātra+ātmani→tanmātrātmani (ā + ā contraction); paśoḥ+tanau kept separate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27.29 (tattva list used for vikṛti-krama); Agni Purana 27.30 (twelvefold self meditation in sūtra)
FAQs
It teaches a Tantric–Sāṃkhya method of saṃhāra (reabsorption): withdrawing the entire adhvan (graded path of principles/worlds) in reverse through the sequence of evolutes (vikṛtis), merging them into the tanmātras and finally stabilizing awareness on the Māyā-sūtra within the practitioner (paśu).
Alongside rituals and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves technical cosmology and yogic-tantric praxis—here presenting a structured map (adhvan, vikṛti, tanmātra, māyā) and a practical contemplative procedure for inner dissolution, reflecting its wide-ranging, systematizing scope.
By reversing identification with manifested evolutes and reabsorbing them into subtler causes, the bound soul (paśu) loosens karmic entanglement and approaches inner purification and liberation-oriented insight through disciplined withdrawal (saṃhāra).