Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 14
Chapter 367 — नित्यनैमीत्तिकप्राकृतप्रलयाः
The Nitya, Naimittika, and Prākṛta Dissolutions
आत्ममायामयीं दिव्यां योगनिद्रां समास्थितः आत्मानं वसिदेवाख्यं चिन्तयन्मधुसूदनः
ātmamāyāmayīṃ divyāṃ yoganidrāṃ samāsthitaḥ ātmānaṃ vasidevākhyaṃ cintayanmadhusūdanaḥ
Madhusūdana, đi vào giấc ngủ Du-già (Yoga-nidrā) thiêng liêng vốn do chính māyā của Ngài cấu thành, đã quán niệm về tự ngã của Ngài, được gọi là Vāsudeva.
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic theology to Vasiṣṭha, chapter-context typical of Agni Purāṇa)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Explains Yoga-nidrā as the Lord’s own māyā and self-contemplation as Vāsudeva; used for theological meditation, mantra-japa visualization, and understanding māyā as divine power rather than mere illusion.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Yoga-nidrā as Ātma-māyā; Vāsudeva self-contemplation","lookup_keywords":["yoga-nidrā","ātma-māyā","madhusūdana","vāsudeva","svātma-cintana"],"quick_summary":"The Lord enters divine yogic sleep constituted of His own māyā and contemplates Himself as Vāsudeva. The teaching frames pralaya-rest as conscious, self-luminous sādhanā-like absorption."}
Alamkara Type: Paradox (Virodha-ābhāsa)
Concept: Īśvara’s māyā is self-possessed power; Yoga-nidrā is conscious absorption; Vāsudeva denotes the supreme self-ground.
Application: Meditation cue: contemplate the Self as witness even in 'sleep'; for devotees, visualize Vāsudeva as inner substratum during deep rest and japa.
Khanda Section: Avatara & Yoga-Nidra Narrative (Vaishnava Cosmology / Devotional-Theology)
Primary Rasa: Śānta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu/Madhusūdana rests in yogic sleep, surrounded by a subtle aura of māyā; the posture suggests inward contemplation of Vāsudeva—an inner radiance rather than external action.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: reclining Viṣṇu with half-closed eyes, soft halo patterns indicating māyā, minimal attendants, emphasis on calm facial expression and symbolic lotus motifs for inner contemplation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: serene Viṣṇu with gold halo and ornaments, māyā depicted as translucent veil-like patterns, rich textile detailing, devotional stillness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: meditative instructional painting—Viṣṇu in repose with subtle concentric aura lines labeled 'yoga-nidrā' and 'ātma-māyā', gentle palette and fine brushwork","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intimate cosmic chamber over ocean, Viṣṇu reclining with contemplative expression, delicate translucent veils representing māyā, restrained composition emphasizing inwardness"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आत्ममायामयीं → आत्म-माया-मयीम्; वसिदेवाख्यं (IAST vasidevākhyaṃ) → वसुदेव-आख्यम् (expected reading); चिन्तयन्मधुसूदनः → चिन्तयन् + मधुसूदनः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 367.13 (Hari on Śeṣa); Agni Purana 367.15 (awakening and creation)
FAQs
It conveys yogic–theological knowledge: Yoga-nidrā as a controlled divine trance/state rooted in the Lord’s own māyā, used for inner contemplation (cintana) of the supreme identity (Vāsudeva).
Alongside ritual and practical disciplines elsewhere, this chapter preserves a precise metaphysical vocabulary—māyā, yoga-nidrā, and Vāsudeva-tattva—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of cosmology and yogic doctrine in addition to applied śāstras.
It frames liberation-oriented practice as contemplative recognition of the supreme Self (Vāsudeva), implying that devotion and meditation on the Lord’s true nature purify cognition and align the practitioner with the highest reality.