Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 24
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं ध्यायेदोङ्कारमीश्वरं कदम्बगोलकाकारं तारं रूपमिव स्थितं
aṅguṣṭhamātramamalaṃ dhyāyedoṅkāramīśvaraṃ kadambagolakākāraṃ tāraṃ rūpamiva sthitaṃ
พึงเพ่งฌานพระผู้เป็นเจ้าอันบริสุทธิ์ไร้มลทินเป็น “โองการ” ขนาดเท่านิ้วหัวแม่มือ เป็นรูป “ตาระ” (ปรณวะ) ประหนึ่งสถิตในรูปทรงกลมดุจดอกตูมกะดัมพะ
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Praṇava-dhyāna: fixing attention on a compact, pure Oṃ-form as an ālambana (support) for concentration and japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Oṅkāra-dhyāna (aṅguṣṭha-mātra, kadamba-golaka-rūpa)","lookup_keywords":["Omkara-dhyana","aṅguṣṭha-mātra","tāra praṇava","kadamba-golaka","ālambana"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the Lord as the stainless Oṃ, visualized as thumb-sized and spherical like a kadamba bud; this compact form serves as a stable support for one-pointedness."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā
Concept: Praṇava as Īśvara’s accessible form (bīja/ālambana) for dhyāna leading toward subtler realization.
Application: Use a small, clearly bounded mental image of Oṃ to reduce distraction and deepen absorption.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Upasana (Pranava-Dhyana / Omkara-Upasana)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditator visualizes a small, stainless, spherical Oṃ—like a kadamba bud—glowing steadily before the inner gaze.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, seated yogi in simple ochre cloth, dark green background, central luminous white-gold Oṃ as a small kadamba-bud sphere, subtle halo, minimal ornament, sacred calm.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich red backdrop, gold leaf halo, stylized Oṃ as a small spherical kadamba-bud motif in front of the meditating figure, embossed gold highlights, devotional symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional composition: thumb-sized Oṃ-sphere shown with scale cue (aṅguṣṭha), soft gradients, calm palette, annotated feel without text.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate interior with a yogi on a carpet, delicate shading, a tiny luminous Oṃ-sphere hovering, botanical kadamba buds echoing the simile, refined detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अङ्गुष्ठमात्रममलं = अङ्गुष्ठमात्रम् अमलम्; ध्यायेदोङ्कारमीश्वरं = ध्यायेत् ओङ्कारम् ईश्वरम्; कदम्बगोलकाकारं = कदम्ब-गोलक-आकारम्; रूपमिव = रूपम् इव
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.25; Agni Purana 373.26
FAQs
It teaches a precise visualization method for Praṇava-upāsanā: meditate on Om (Oṅkāra) as Īśvara, conceived as pure and thumb-sized, with a rounded kadamba-bud-like spherical form—i.e., a specific dhyāna (mental iconography) for mantra practice.
Alongside law, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves practical sādhanā-technology—mantra and meditation procedures (dhyāna-lakṣaṇa). This verse exemplifies its inclusion of yogic visualization details as a standalone, actionable spiritual discipline.
Meditating on the stainless Praṇava as Īśvara is presented as a purifying upāsanā: it steadies the mind, aligns the practitioner with the saving principle (Tāra), and supports inner purification and liberation-oriented merit through focused contemplation.