Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 7
Āsana–Prāṇāyāma–Pratyāhāra
Posture, Breath-control, and Withdrawal of the Senses
नासिकापुटमङ्गुल्या पीड्यैव च परेण च आदरं रेचयेद्वायुं रेचनाद्रेचकः स्मृतः
nāsikāpuṭamaṅgulyā pīḍyaiva ca pareṇa ca ādaraṃ recayedvāyuṃ recanādrecakaḥ smṛtaḥ
వేలితో ఒక నాసారంధ్రాన్ని నొక్కి, మరొకదానివల్ల జాగ్రత్తగా వాయువును బయటకు విడిచాలి; ఇది రేచన (విసర్జన) కాబట్టి దీనిని ‘రేచక’ అంటారు।
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as typical of the Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Ayurveda","practical_application":"Technique of recaka: alternate-nostril control by pressing one nostril and carefully exhaling through the other.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Recaka—controlled exhalation with nostril regulation","lookup_keywords":["recaka","nāḍī-śodhana","nāsikā-puṭa","aṅgulī","exhalation"],"quick_summary":"Recaka is defined as careful expulsion of breath, performed by closing one nostril with a finger and exhaling through the other."}
Dosha: Vata
Concept: Breath becomes an object of disciplined action; naming (recaka) follows function (recanā/expulsion).
Application: Train exhalation length and smoothness while maintaining finger control and attention; cultivate non-jerky, silent outflow.
Khanda Section: Yoga-Pranayama (Ayurveda / Hatha-yoga techniques within encyclopedic instruction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated, one hand raised to the nose, finger pressing one nostril while exhaling through the other—depicting recaka as careful breath expulsion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal seated yogin, clear hand-to-nose gesture, stylized airflow line exiting one nostril, earthy pigments, temple wall aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ornate border with gold leaf, yogin with highlighted hand gesture at nostril, subtle gold breath stream motif, calm sacred setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional clarity: close-up emphasis on finger placement on nostril, soft colors, minimal background, annotated feel without text","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine finger articulation, delicate breath line, yogin on patterned rug, intimate indoor scene with precise detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रेचयेत्+वायुम् → रेचयेद्वायुं; रेचनात्+रेचकः → रेचनाद्रेचकः (त्→द्);
Related Themes: Agni Purana 372.6 (definition of prāṇāyāma); Agni Purana 372.8 (pūraka); Agni Purana 372.9 (kumbhaka)
FAQs
It defines the prāṇāyāma limb called recaka: controlled exhalation performed by closing one nostril with a finger and expelling the breath attentively through the other.
Alongside rituals, cosmology, and governance, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves practical yogic/physiological instruction—here, a precise operational definition of a breath-technique used in yoga and health disciplines.
Recaka, practiced with care, is traditionally treated as a purifying discipline that steadies prāṇa and mind, supporting inner cleanliness (śuddhi) and readiness for mantra, meditation, and worship.