Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 15
Chapter 374 — ध्यान (Dhyāna) — Colophon & Transition to Dhāraṇā
धारयेद्वारुणीं मन्त्रो तुष्ट्यर्थं चाप्यतन्त्रितः वारुणीधारणा प्रोक्ता ऐशानीधारणां शृणु
dhārayedvāruṇīṃ mantro tuṣṭyarthaṃ cāpyatantritaḥ vāruṇīdhāraṇā proktā aiśānīdhāraṇāṃ śṛṇu
Người hành trì thần chú, không để tâm tán loạn, nên thực hành Vāruṇī-dhāraṇā để cầu sự hoan hỷ và gia hộ. Vāruṇī-dhāraṇā đã được giảng; nay hãy lắng nghe Āiśānī-dhāraṇā.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Directional/elemental dhāraṇā (visualization) as part of pūjā to propitiate the corresponding śakti and stabilize attention before further nyāsa/dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vāruṇī-dhāraṇā and transition to Āiśānī-dhāraṇā","lookup_keywords":["Vāruṇī dhāraṇā","Āiśānī dhāraṇā","diśā-śakti","tantra pūjā","ekāgratā"],"quick_summary":"Perform the Vāruṇī dhāraṇā with undistracted focus for propitiation; having completed it, proceed to the Āiśānī dhāraṇā in the sequence of directional/elemental contemplations."}
Concept: Ekāgratā (undistractedness) and krama (sequenced practice) in dhāraṇā for devatā-tarpaṇa/tuṣṭi.
Application: Use a fixed sequence of dhāraṇās; maintain attention without vikshepa to make visualization effective and to prepare for deeper dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra-dhāraṇā (Ritual visualizations and elemental/diśā-śakti dhāraṇās)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mantra-practitioner seated in steady posture, eyes half-closed, performing a water/Varuṇa-associated visualization (Vāruṇī dhāraṇā), then turning attention toward the Īśāna (northeast) śakti for the next dhāraṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, yogin in padmāsana on a lotus seat, cool blue-green water aura signifying Vāruṇī, subtle Varuṇa motifs (makara, pāśa) in the background, then a luminous northeast corner marked by Īśāna symbolism, flat colors, bold outlines, sacred ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central seated sādhaka with ornate halo, gold-leaf accents on lotus and ritual vessels (kalaśa), shimmering blue water field for Vāruṇī, northeast quadrant highlighted with gold radiance for Āiśānī, rich reds and greens, temple interior setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional composition showing sequence: panel 1 Vāruṇī dhāraṇā (water aura, calm face), panel 2 Āiśānī dhāraṇā (northeast light), delicate linework, soft shading, labeled directional markers","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined courtly atelier style, a yogin in a quiet pavilion by a water tank symbolizing Vāruṇī, attendants absent to emphasize undistractedness, then a compositional shift toward the northeast with a pale luminous wash, intricate borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Kalyan","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: धारयेद्वारुणीम् = धारयेत् + वारुणीम्; चाप्यतन्त्रितः = च + अपि + अतन्त्रितः; ऐशानीधारणाम् = ऐशानी + धारणाम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 374 (dhāraṇā-krama sections: Vāruṇī, Āiśānī and related diśā/mahābhūta dhāraṇās)
FAQs
It prescribes a focused (atantrita) practice of Vāruṇī dhāraṇā—an elemental/diśā-śakti visualization linked to Varuṇa—done specifically for tuṣṭi (propitiation), and it transitions to the next practice: Āiśānī dhāraṇā.
By cataloging step-by-step dhāraṇā sequences (Vāruṇī followed by Āiśānī), it demonstrates the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical mantra-sādhana and ritual-technology alongside its many other domains—making it a procedural manual as well as a narrative Purāṇa.
The verse emphasizes disciplined attention in practice and frames dhāraṇā as a means of divine satisfaction (tuṣṭi), implying purification and favorable spiritual outcomes through properly performed, undistracted mantra-based visualization.