Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 10
Chapter 17 — सृष्टिविषयकवर्णनम्
An Account Concerning Creation
तदण्डमकरोत् द्वैधन्दिवं भुवमथापि च तयोः शकलयोर्मध्ये आकाशमसृजत् प्रभुः
tadaṇḍamakarot dvaidhandivaṃ bhuvamathāpi ca tayoḥ śakalayormadhye ākāśamasṛjat prabhuḥ
پھر ربّ نے اُس کائناتی انڈے کو دو حصّوں میں چیر دیا—ایک آسمان اور دوسرا زمین۔ اُن دونوں حصّوں کے درمیان اس نے آکاش (فضا) کو پیدا کیا۔
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic cosmology to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Cosmology","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Teaches the structural partition of the cosmos (dyu and bhu) and the emergence of ākāśa as the ‘between’, useful for cosmological mapping and elemental pedagogy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Splitting of the Brahmāṇḍa into Heaven and Earth; Creation of Ākāśa","lookup_keywords":["brahmāṇḍa split","dyu (heaven)","bhu (earth)","ākāśa","cosmic structure"],"quick_summary":"The Lord divides the cosmic egg into two halves—heaven and earth—and creates ākāśa as the intervening expanse, establishing the basic vertical cosmography."}
Alamkara Type: Vibhāvanā (imaginative construction of cosmic architecture)
Concept: The cosmos is intelligible as structured domains; ākāśa functions as the enabling ‘between’ that allows separation, movement, and later sound/communication.
Application: Use as a conceptual model for teaching pañca-bhūta progression and for contemplative ‘space-awareness’ (ākāśa-bhāvanā).
Khanda Section: Cosmogony / Sarga (Creation of the cosmos; Brahmāṇḍa-vidyā)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The golden cosmic egg cleaves into two luminous hemispheres—upper as heaven, lower as earth—while a clear, expansive blue space appears between them as ākāśa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic symmetrical split of a golden oval, upper half with celestial motifs, lower with earthy tones, central band of deep blue ākāśa, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, two gilded hemispheres with embossed gold, central sapphire-blue space, ornate borders, symbolic clouds above and mountains below.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, schematic cosmology plate: labeled upper ‘diva’, lower ‘bhu’, middle ‘ākāśa’, clean composition with soft colors and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, precise geometric split of the egg, delicate gradations for sky-space, fine gold accents, marginal annotations in calligraphic panels."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तदण्डमकरोत् = तदण्डम् + अकरोत्; द्वैधन्दिवम् = द्वैधी + दिवम् (पाठे ‘द्वैधं’ इति रूपान्तरं सम्भवति); भुवमथापि = भुवम् + अथ + अपि; आकाशमसृजत् = आकाशम् + असृजत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 17 (aṇḍa and bhūta-sṛṣṭi sequence); Agni Purana sections on pañca-bhūta and loka-vibhāga
FAQs
Cosmological knowledge (sarga-vidyā): it outlines the structural formation of the cosmos—heaven and earth arising from the divided brahmāṇḍa, with ākāśa established as the intervening expanse.
It supplies a foundational cosmography used across Purāṇic disciplines—linking metaphysics (origins), elemental theory (ākāśa), and later applied sections (ritual space, temple cosmograms, and doctrinal frameworks) into a single reference system.
Contemplating creation as an ordered act of the Lord supports dharmic worldview and devotion: it frames the universe as purposeful, encouraging reverence, humility, and alignment of action (karma) with cosmic order (ṛta/dharma).