Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 23
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
ज्ञात्वा पद्मासनं सर्वं सर्वदुःखान्तमाप्नुयात् तत्पद्मकर्णिकामध्ये शुद्धदीपशिखाकृतिं
jñātvā padmāsanaṃ sarvaṃ sarvaduḥkhāntamāpnuyāt tatpadmakarṇikāmadhye śuddhadīpaśikhākṛtiṃ
பத்மாசனத்தை முழுமையாக அறிந்து (சாதித்து) எல்லாத் துயரங்களின் முடிவை அடைகிறான். அந்தத் தாமரையின் கர்ணிகை நடுவில் விளக்கின் சுடர்போன்ற தூய ரூபத்தைத் தியானிக்க வேண்டும்.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in a didactic sequence on yoga/dhyāna)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Combines yogic mastery (padmāsana) with inner visualization: steadiness of posture as a means to duḥkha-nirodha, then focusing on a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus center for dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padmāsana-siddhi and Dīpa-śikhā-dhyāna in the lotus center","lookup_keywords":["padmāsana","sarva-duḥkha-anta","karnikā-madhya","dīpa-śikhā-ākṛti","śuddha-dhyāna"],"quick_summary":"Perfecting lotus posture supports the ending of suffering through stable meditation; then visualize a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus’s central pericarp as the focal point for absorption."}
Concept: Duḥkha-anta through disciplined posture and one-pointed inner light meditation; bodily steadiness supports mental cessation.
Application: Practice padmāsana safely and steadily; then fix attention on an imagined steady lamp-flame at the lotus center to cultivate dhāraṇā → dhyāna → samādhi.
Khanda Section: Yoga-vidya (Dhyana and inner visualization practices)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in perfect padmāsana; within a stylized lotus at the heart/inner altar, a steady, pure lamp-flame glows at the center, symbolizing focused consciousness and the end of suffering.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, yogin in padmāsana with serene face, stylized inner lotus shown as a symbolic overlay, central lamp-flame glowing white-gold, calm shanta palette with traditional mural ornament.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, yogin seated on lotus, heavy gold work around a central flame motif, embossed halo, rich maroon background, the flame rendered as a jewel-like tejas in the lotus pericarp.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional yoga scene: correct padmāsana alignment, subtle depiction of inner lotus at chest with a small steady flame, fine lines and soft colors for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined yogin portrait in padmāsana in a quiet chamber, a symbolic lotus-and-flame motif delicately painted at the center, precise detailing and subdued tones."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्व-दुःख-अन्तम् + आप्नुयात् → सर्वदुःखान्तमाप्नुयात्; तत्-पद्म-कर्णिका-मध्ये (समास); शुद्ध-दीप-शिखा-आकृतिम् (समास)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.19 (śuddha-dhyeya); Agni Purana 373.20 (padma form); Agni Purana 373.21-22 (symbolic lotus mapping; dharma-jñāna-vairāgya)
FAQs
It teaches a yogic method: mastery of padmāsana combined with dhyāna—visualizing a pure lamp-flame form in the lotus’s central core (a subtle inner focal-point).
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yoga and meditation instructions—here giving an applied dhyāna technique linked to a specific āsana and visualization.
The verse frames padmāsana and inner flame-contemplation as a soteriological practice: it is said to lead to sarva-duḥkha-anta—cessation of suffering—through purification and one-pointed awareness.