Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 1
Adhyaya 165 — नानाधर्माः
Various Dharmas
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे नवग्रहहोमो नाम चतुःषष्ट्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ पञ्चषष्त्यधिकशततमो ऽध्यायः नानाधर्माः अग्निर् उवाच ध्येय आत्मा स्थितो यो ऽसौ हृदये दीपवत् प्रभुः अनन्यविषयं कृत्वा मनो बुद्धिस्मृतीन्द्रियं
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe navagrahahomo nāma catuḥṣaṣṭyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha pañcaṣaṣtyadhikaśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ nānādharmāḥ agnir uvāca dhyeya ātmā sthito yo 'sau hṛdaye dīpavat prabhuḥ ananyaviṣayaṃ kṛtvā mano buddhismṛtīndriyaṃ
Sa gayon, sa Agni Mahāpurāṇa nagtatapos ang ika-164 na kabanata na tinatawag na “Navagraha-homa” (ang ritwal na paghahandog sa siyam na planeta). Ngayon ay nagsisimula ang ika-165 na kabanata, “Iba’t ibang Dharma.” Sinabi ni Agni: “Ang Sarili (Ātman), ang Panginoon na nananahan sa puso na tila isang lampara, ang dapat pagnilayan—gawing iisa ang tuon ng isip, talino, alaala, at mga pandama, na walang ibang paksa.”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Meditation instruction: focus inner faculties on the heart-dwelling Self ‘like a lamp’ to cultivate dhyāna and steadiness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hṛdaya-dīpa-dhyāna (meditation on the lamp-like Self in the heart)","lookup_keywords":["dhyāna","ātman","hṛdaya","dīpavat","ekāgratā"],"quick_summary":"Teaches a meditative method: contemplate the Lord/Self in the heart like a steady lamp, making mind, intellect, memory, and senses one-pointed."}
Alamkara Type: Upamā (dīpavat—‘like a lamp’ simile)
Concept: Antar-dhyāna: the immanent Self/Lord as inner light; ekāgratā of antahkaraṇa and indriyas.
Application: Daily seated meditation: withdraw senses, steady breath, visualize a steady lamp in the heart, return attention whenever it wanders.
Khanda Section: Dharma & Yoga (Nānā-dharmāḥ / Spiritual disciplines and meditative practice)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation, eyes half-closed, with a subtle luminous lamp-flame depicted within the heart region, symbolizing the Self; senses and thoughts shown as calmed streams converging inward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: meditating sage in padmāsana, stylized heart-lotus with a small flame, minimal background, warm ochres and reds, bold contours conveying stillness.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: saintly figure with gold-leaf aura, heart-flame rendered with gilded highlight, ornate border, devotional yet meditative mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional yoga posture, transparent chest showing heart-flame, annotations-like clarity, delicate shading and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: contemplative ascetic in a quiet chamber, soft light, a symbolic flame motif over the heart, detailed textiles and subdued palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (y-sandhi before vowel); ऽध्यायः = अध्यायः (avagraha after o); अग्निर् = अग्निः (visarga before vowel); यो ऽसौ = यः + असौ; बुद्धिस्मृतीन्द्रियं = बुद्धि + स्मृति + इन्द्रियम् (समाहार-द्वन्द्व).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 165 (Nānā-dharmāḥ opening; yoga/dhyāna instructions); Agni Purana mantra/tantra-yoga related chapters (where dhyāna precedes japa/homa)
FAQs
It teaches Atman-dhyāna (meditation on the Self) by making mind, intellect, memory, and senses ananya-viṣaya—fixed on a single object—on the inner “lamp-like” Lord in the heart.
It explicitly transitions from a ritual-technical topic (Navagraha-homa) to an inner discipline (yogic meditation), showing how the Agni Purana spans both external rites and internal sādhanā within its broad dharma compendium.
Single-pointed meditation on the heart-dwelling Self is presented as a purifying discipline that steadies the faculties, supporting liberation-oriented insight rather than outwardly scattered karmic engagement.