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
随后，主将那宇宙之卵分裂为二——为天与地——并在两半之间，至尊创造了虚空（ākāśa）。
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).