Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 381 — यमगीता
Yama-gītā
यज्ञेशं यज्ञपुरुषं केचिदिच्छन्ति तत्परं केचिद्विष्णुं हरं केचित् केचिद् ब्रह्माणमीश्वरं
yajñeśaṃ yajñapuruṣaṃ kecidicchanti tatparaṃ kecidviṣṇuṃ haraṃ kecit kecid brahmāṇamīśvaraṃ
அந்த உயர்ந்த தத்துவத்தில் பற்றுடைய சிலர் அவரை யஜ்ஞேசன், யஜ்ஞபுருஷன் என நாடுகின்றனர்; சிலர் விஷ்ணு எனவும், சிலர் ஹரன் (சிவன்) எனவும், சிலர் பிரம்மா எனும் ஈசன் எனவும் கூறுகின்றனர்.
Lord Agni (narrating the Agni Purana’s doctrinal summary to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Cultivate sectarian harmony and theological inclusivism: understand diverse deity-forms (yajña-puruṣa, Viṣṇu, Śiva, Brahmā) as approaches to the same Highest Reality.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"One Supreme Sought as Yajñesha, Vishnu, Hara, or Brahma","lookup_keywords":["yajñeśa","yajñapuruṣa","viṣṇu","hara","brahmā"],"quick_summary":"The Highest is approached through multiple divine identifications—especially as the Lord embodied in sacrifice—supporting unity behind varied worship forms."}
Alamkara Type: Paryāya (synonymic naming) / Samuccaya (accumulation)
Concept: Eka-tattva with aneka-upāsanā: one Supreme Reality is sought through different devatā-forms, including the sacrificial person.
Application: In worship and inter-tradition dialogue, affirm chosen iṣṭa-devatā while recognizing other forms as valid approaches to the same Supreme.
Khanda Section: Bhakti & Tattva (Devata-svarupa and Yajna-theology)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacrificial altar with priests; above the fire appears Yajñapuruṣa, while surrounding panels show Viṣṇu, Śiva, and Brahmā as alternate visions of the same Supreme.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: vivid yajña scene with stylized vedi and agni, Yajñapuruṣa emerging in divine form, side medallions of Viṣṇu, Śiva, Brahmā, ornate borders, serene theological unity","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Yajñapuruṣa above altar with gold leaf radiance, flanked by Viṣṇu and Śiva, Brahmā above, rich jewel tones, embossed ornaments emphasizing divinity-in-ritual","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional composition showing yajña layout and a labeled depiction of Yajñapuruṣa, with smaller framed icons of Viṣṇu/Hara/Brahmā indicating alternate upāsanā","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly-sacrificial pavilion, delicate flames, ethereal Yajñapuruṣa in translucent aura, refined portraits of the triad in margins, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: केचिदिच्छन्ति = केचित् + इच्छन्ति; तत्परं = तत् + परम्; केचिद्विष्णुं = केचित् + विष्णुम्; ब्रह्माणमीश्वरं = ब्रह्माणम् + ईश्वरम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 381.19 (names like Indra, Sun, Moon, Time as Viṣṇu); Agni Purana 381.20-21 (means to mokṣa: dāna, tīrtha, dhyāna, vrata)
FAQs
It conveys yajña-tattva: the deity of the sacrifice can be understood as Yajñeśa/Yajñapuruṣa—God immanent in the ritual—while the same Supreme is also invoked through different deity-names (Viṣṇu, Hara, Brahmā) depending on the practitioner’s tradition.
It functions as a doctrinal bridge between ritual practice (yajña) and theology (īśvara-svarūpa), cataloging multiple mainstream identifications of the Supreme used across Vedic and Purāṇic worship systems.
It emphasizes focused devotion (tatparatā) and legitimizes sincere worship through diverse forms, presenting sectarian names as approaches to one Lord—supporting inner unity and steadiness of faith in ritual and devotion.