Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 44
Adhyāya 379 — अद्वैतब्रह्मविज्ञानम्
Advaita-brahma-vijñāna
जन्मवृद्ध्यादिरहित आत्मा सर्वगतो ऽव्ययः परं ज्ञानमयो ऽसङ्गी गुणजात्यादिभिर्विभुः
janmavṛddhyādirahita ātmā sarvagato 'vyayaḥ paraṃ jñānamayo 'saṅgī guṇajātyādibhirvibhuḥ
آتما پیدائش، بڑھوتری وغیرہ سے پاک ہے؛ وہ ہر جگہ موجود اور غیر فانی ہے—اعلیٰ، علمِ محض، بے تعلق، اور گُن، ذات وغیرہ کی قید سے ماورا؛ وہ ہمہ گیر ہے۔
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vashistha in the Agni Purana’s didactic frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Vedanta","practical_application":"A definitional checklist for ātman-lakṣaṇa used in self-inquiry: negate change (birth/growth), affirm imperishability, consciousness-nature, non-attachment, and non-limitation by social/phenomenal categories.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ātma-lakṣaṇa: ajanmā avyayaḥ jñānamayaḥ asaṅgī","lookup_keywords":["ātman","ajanma","avyaya","jñānamaya","asaṅga"],"quick_summary":"The Self is described as unborn, free from growth and change, all-pervading and imperishable, of the nature of consciousness, unattached, and not bounded by qualities or social classifications. This serves as a practical template for neti-neti contemplation."}
Concept: Ātman as changeless consciousness (jñānamaya), all-pervading (sarvagata), imperishable (avyaya), unattached (asaṅga), beyond guṇa and jāti upādhis.
Application: Apply as a daily nididhyāsana: observe bodily/mental changes as non-self; rest in the witnessing awareness that is not qualified by status, traits, or roles.
Khanda Section: Moksha-jnana / Vedanta (Atma-Brahma-lakshana: definitions of the Self)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A meditating ascetic sits unmoving while around him scenes of birth, growth, and decay pass like a panorama—signifying the Self as unchanged witness.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central yogin in dhyāna with calm face, surrounding circular vignettes of childhood-youth-old age fading outward, a steady inner flame at the heart symbolizing jñānamaya ātman","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, meditating sage with gold halo, outer ring of life-stages rendered as smaller panels, heavy gold work emphasizing the imperishable center, lotus motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional concentric composition: center ‘Ātman’ as luminous point, outer rings labeled janma/vṛddhi/vikāra, fine lines and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, garden setting with a still ascetic, time-passing motifs (changing seasons, aging figures) around, delicate shading to show the witness unaffected"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वगतो ऽव्ययः = सर्वगतः + अव्ययः; ज्ञानमयो ऽसङ्गी = ज्ञानमयः + असङ्गी; गुणजात्यादिभिर्विभुः = गुणजात्यादिभिः + विभुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Vedānta-lakṣaṇa passages defining Brahman/Ātman (near 379.43)
FAQs
It imparts Vedantic ātma-lakṣaṇa (a technical definition of the Self): the Self is changeless, all-pervading, consciousness-natured, and unattached—guiding discrimination (viveka) rather than ritual procedure.
Alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana also preserves mokṣa-śāstra material; this verse exemplifies its Vedanta-style metaphysical cataloging of the Self’s attributes as part of its wide-ranging knowledge system.
Meditating on the Self as birthless, unattached consciousness weakens identification with body and social/psychological labels (guṇa, jāti, etc.), supporting detachment and liberation-oriented understanding (jñāna leading toward mokṣa).