Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 51
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
विष्णुर्हस्तं ततो मूर्ध्नि दत्वा ध्यात्वा तु वैष्णवम् एवमेकं बहून् वापि जनित्वा ध्यानयोगतः
viṣṇurhastaṃ tato mūrdhni datvā dhyātvā tu vaiṣṇavam evamekaṃ bahūn vāpi janitvā dhyānayogataḥ
随后，毗湿奴将手置于头顶，观想毗湿奴系（Vaiṣṇava）的形相/真言；由禅定瑜伽之修持，如是能生起或一现，乃至多现。
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s discourse framework)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Meditative emanation (sṛṣṭi-kalpa) practice: visualize Viṣṇu’s anugraha (hand on crown) and generate one or many forms/mantra-manifestations through dhyāna-yoga.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vaiṣṇava dhyāna: śiras-sparśa anugraha and meditative emanation","lookup_keywords":["vaiṣṇava-dhyāna","śiras-sparśa","anugraha","sṛṣṭi-kalpa","bahu-rūpa"],"quick_summary":"By meditating on the Vaiṣṇava principle with Viṣṇu’s hand placed on the crown, the practitioner contemplates the arising of one or many manifestations through disciplined dhyāna-yoga."}
Concept: Emanation through contemplation: the one Vaiṣṇava reality can be meditated as producing one or many forms; grace (anugraha) is symbolized by crown-touch (śiras-sparśa).
Application: In visualization practice, begin with Viṣṇu’s anugraha at the crown, then expand the single form into multiple protective/ritual forms (or mantra-forms) without losing unity-awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava Dhyana–Srishti-kalpa / Meditative Emanation Practice)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Viṣṇu standing or seated, gently placing his hand on a devotee’s crown; from the devotee’s meditative aura arise one or many luminous Vaiṣṇava forms or mantra-syllable bodies, arranged like emanating reflections.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Viṣṇu with four arms and bright halo, hand extended to touch the devotee’s head, multiple small Viṣṇu-forms radiating outward in concentric arcs, rich reds/greens and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Viṣṇu with gold-embossed ornaments, devotee kneeling, crown-touch blessing, multiple miniature Viṣṇu icons emerging in gold-backed aura, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean composition showing one-to-many emanation: single Viṣṇu above, multiple forms below in orderly rows, soft pastel shading, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant palace-garden setting, Viṣṇu rendered with delicate detailing, blessing gesture on crown, emanated forms as translucent repeats, fine borders and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇurhastaṃ → viṣṇuḥ + hastam; vāpi → vā + api; dhyānayogataḥ → dhyāna-yogataḥ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (sṛṣṭi-kalpa and dhyāna-yoga sequences)
FAQs
It teaches a Vaiṣṇava dhyāna-yoga procedure: placing the hand on the crown of the head and meditating on the Vaiṣṇava principle (form/mantra) to generate a desired manifestation—single or multiple—through focused visualization.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a practical yogic-ritual technique (dhyāna as a method of effecting results), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa compiles applied disciplines—mantra, visualization, and worship-technology—alongside theology.
The instruction emphasizes disciplined meditation on Viṣṇu as a purifying, concentrative practice that aligns the practitioner with a Vaiṣṇava divine power, implying spiritual refinement and siddhi-like efficacy through controlled dhyāna.