Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 22
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
विष्णुधर्मश् च तत्कन्दमिति पद्मं विचिन्तयेत् तद्धर्मज्ञानवैराग्यं शिवैश्वर्यमयं परं
viṣṇudharmaś ca tatkandamiti padmaṃ vicintayet taddharmajñānavairāgyaṃ śivaiśvaryamayaṃ paraṃ
کنول کا دھیان کرتے ہوئے یوں سمجھے: “اس کا کَند وِشنو اور دھرم ہے۔” اسی سے دھرم، معرفت اور ویراغیہ پیدا ہوتے ہیں—جو برتر اور شِو کے ایشوریہ سے معمور ہیں۔
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Teaches mantra-nyāsa style contemplation: assign Viṣṇu and Dharma to the lotus-bulb (kanda) and contemplate the arising of dharma, jñāna, vairāgya culminating in Śiva-aiśvarya—integrating sectarian principles within a single inner ritual map.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kanda-nyāsa: Viṣṇu–Dharma in the bulb; emergence of Dharma–Jñāna–Vairāgya into Śiva-aiśvarya","lookup_keywords":["kanda-nyāsa","viṣṇu-dharma","padma-vicintana","jñāna-vairāgya","śiva-aiśvarya"],"quick_summary":"Place Viṣṇu and Dharma in the lotus-bulb as the root principle; contemplate dharma, knowledge, and dispassion arising from it, culminating in the supreme lordly power identified with Śiva."}
Concept: Tattva-samanvaya (harmonizing Viṣṇu and Śiva principles) through an inner causal sequence: dharma → jñāna → vairāgya → para-aiśvarya.
Application: During japa/dhyāna, mentally install (nyāsa) foundational dharma in the ‘root’ (kanda), then contemplate ethical living, insight, and detachment as the ascending path to supreme lordship/realization.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Dhyana–Tantric Padma (Lotus) Visualization / Mantra-nyasa (Subtle-body contemplation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A lotus with its bulb labeled ‘Viṣṇu-dharma’; from it rise three luminous streams labeled dharma, jñāna, vairāgya, culminating in a radiant crown labeled ‘Śiva-aiśvarya’.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic lotus diagram with traditional ornament, bulb region bearing Viṣṇu emblems (conch/disc subtly), upper radiance with Śiva aura (crescent/third-eye motif abstract), flowing bands for dharma-jñāna-vairāgya.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed lotus with Viṣṇu symbols at the base, ascending gold rays marked dharma/jñāna/vairāgya, top radiance with Śiva-like luster, rich jewel tones and sacred symmetry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: lotus cross-section with neat labels, base icon of Viṣṇu, top iconographic glow for Śiva-aiśvarya, clean lines and soft shading for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined allegorical diagram: lotus with calligraphed labels, subtle Viṣṇu and Śiva motifs integrated, delicate color washes, emphasis on conceptual ascent."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्णु-धर्मः + च → विष्णुधर्मश् च (विसर्ग-सन्धि); तत्-कन्दम् + इति → तत्कन्दमिति; तत्-धर्म-ज्ञान-वैराग्यम् (समास/समाहार)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.21 (petals as aṇimā-ādi; jñāna-vairāgya); Agni Purana 373.23 (central flame in karnikā)
FAQs
It teaches padma-dhyāna: a lotus-visualization where the kanda (bulb/root) is identified with Viṣṇu and Dharma, and the meditator contemplates the arising of dharma, jñāna, and vairāgya culminating in Śiva’s aiśvarya.
It integrates multiple domains—devatā-tattva (Viṣṇu/Śiva theology), dharma (normative sacred law), and yoga/meditation technique (padma visualization)—showing how the Agni Purana catalogs practical sādhanā alongside doctrinal teaching.
By grounding meditation in dharma and directing it toward knowledge and dispassion, the practice is framed as a path to supreme auspicious sovereignty (śivaiśvarya), i.e., inner mastery and liberation-oriented merit.