Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 43
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
शिष्यानात्मनि संयोज्य अविद्याकर्मबन्धनैः लिङ्गानुवृत्तश् चैतन्यं सह लिङ्गेन पाशितम्
śiṣyānātmani saṃyojya avidyākarmabandhanaiḥ liṅgānuvṛttaś caitanyaṃ saha liṅgena pāśitam
以无明与业的系缚将弟子系于自我（Ātman）之后，随逐灵身（liṅga，微细身）的觉知亦与该灵身一同被缚。
Lord Agni (narrating puranic instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Discriminative self-inquiry (viveka) to recognize how avidya and karma bind consciousness to the subtle body, supporting practices aimed at liberation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Avidyā–Karma Bandhana and Liṅga-śarīra Anuvṛtti","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-śarīra","avidyā","karma-bandhana","caitanya","mokṣa"],"quick_summary":"Bondage is explained as consciousness appearing to follow the subtle body due to ignorance and karmic bonds. Liberation requires undoing this mis-identification through knowledge and detachment."}
Concept: Caitanya appears bound by avidyā and karma through association with the liṅga-śarīra; bondage is superimposed, not intrinsic to the Self.
Application: Practice ātma-vicāra and vairāgya: observe thoughts/saṃskāras as liṅga-śarīra functions and rest as sākṣin (witness), weakening karmic identification.
Khanda Section: Moksha-dharma / Atma-jnana (Bondage and liberation; linga-sharira doctrine)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A teacher points to the luminous Self while a translucent subtle-body silhouette (liṅga-śarīra) is shown bound by chains labeled avidyā and karma; consciousness appears tethered to it.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, ochre-green palette, guru and disciples seated, a radiant ātman-lotus at the heart, a faint liṅga-śarīra outline wrapped in stylized chains marked 'avidyā' and 'karma', serene temple interior, flat decorative motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central golden haloed Self-symbol (lotus/flame), embossed gold chains around a subtle-body figure, guru in traditional attire instructing disciples, rich reds and greens, ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework, instructional composition: labeled elements 'ātman', 'caitanya', 'liṅga', 'avidyā', 'karma', soft shading, calm contemplative faces","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly guru-disciple scene, delicate rendering of a translucent subtle body with fine chain links, marginal annotations, subdued pastel background, emphasis on psychological bondage"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Ahir Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śiṣyānātmani → śiṣyān ātmani; liṅgānuvṛttaś → liṅgānuvṛttaḥ; avidyākarmabandhanaiḥ treated as tatpuruṣa compound.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (Mokṣa-dharma/Ātma-jñāna sequence on liṅga-śarīra and bandha-mokṣa)
FAQs
It teaches the technical doctrine of liṅga-śarīra (subtle body): consciousness becomes conditioned by the subtle body and is bound by avidyā and karmic bonds, explaining the mechanism of bondage underlying saṃsāra.
Beyond rituals and dharma, the Agni Purana also systematizes metaphysical psychology—avidyā, karma, subtle body, and consciousness—integrating Vedāntic/Sāṃkhya-like categories into a broad puranic compendium.
It highlights that bondage is not merely external fate: ignorance and karmic residues tether awareness to the subtle apparatus of identity; liberation therefore requires knowledge (vidyā) that severs avidyā and exhausts karma.