Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Vidyā-viśodhana-vidhāna
Procedure for Purifying Mantra-Vidyā
विषयो रूपमेवैकमिन्द्रिये पादचक्षुषी शब्दः स्पर्शश् च रूपञ्च त्रय एते गुणाः स्मृताः
viṣayo rūpamevaikamindriye pādacakṣuṣī śabdaḥ sparśaś ca rūpañca traya ete guṇāḥ smṛtāḥ
เท้าและตา—อินทรีย์ทั้งสองนี้มีอารมณ์คือ “รูป” เท่านั้น; ส่วนเสียง สัมผัส และรูป—ทั้งสามนี้เป็นคุณ (สิ่งที่อินทรีย์รับรู้) ตามที่คัมภีร์สืบจำไว้.
Lord Agni (teaching in the Agni Purana’s didactic dialogue, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Indriya–viṣaya-viveka for meditation and self-observation: distinguishing sense-organs, their objects, and perceived guṇas to reduce confusion in pratyāhāra and dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Indriya–Viṣaya–Guṇa: mapping of senses to objects/qualities","lookup_keywords":["indriya","viṣaya","guṇa","rūpa","śabda-sparśa"],"quick_summary":"The verse gives a compact classificatory rule for how sense-organs relate to their objects and the guṇas apprehended (sound, touch, form). Useful as a checklist in yogic analysis of perception."}
Concept: Indriya–viṣaya–guṇa viveka (discrimination of sensory apparatus, objects, and perceived qualities).
Application: Use as a pratyāhāra aid: when a perception arises, label it as śabda/sparśa/rūpa and trace it to the relevant indriya, weakening identification with the experience.
Khanda Section: Sankhya–Yoga / Indriya–Guna-Viveka (Sense-organs and their objects; enumerative metaphysics)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A didactic scene of a teacher pointing to a chart of sense-organs and their objects/qualities—sound, touch, and form—shown as subtle symbols entering the senses.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, guru in saffron teaching indriya–viṣaya chart, stylized icons for śabda (conch sound waves), sparśa (hand/air), rūpa (lotus/eye), flat colors, ornate borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, seated rishi with palm-leaf manuscript, gold-leaf halo, symbolic emblems for sound-touch-form around him, rich reds and greens, embossed gold detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram aesthetic, clean lines, labeled senses and objects in Sanskrit, soft shading, traditional attire, calm classroom setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar in a courtly study presenting a folio with sensory taxonomy, delicate linework, muted palette, fine architectural interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rūpamevaikamindriye → rūpam eva ekam indriye; pādacakṣuṣī treated as dvandva (pāda + cakṣuṣī); sparśaś ca → sparśaḥ ca; rūpañ ca → rūpam ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 86 (Sāṅkhya–Yoga / indriya-guṇa-viveka section)
FAQs
It teaches indriya–viṣaya mapping: which sense-faculties connect to which perceptible qualities—useful for Sāṅkhya/Yoga-style analysis of perception and restraint (indriya-nigraha).
Beyond ritual and myth, the Agni Purana also preserves systematic philosophical classifications (senses, objects, qualities), showing its compendium-like coverage of metaphysics alongside practical disciplines.
By identifying sense-objects and their qualities, a practitioner can better regulate sensory engagement, supporting detachment and mental purity—foundational for karma-reduction and meditative clarity.