Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 28
Dīkṣāvidhi-kathana
Explanation of the Rite of Initiation
अङ्गैः पञ्चभिरध्वानं निखिलं विकृतिक्रमात् तन्मात्रात्मनि संहृत्य मायासूत्रे पशोस्तनौ
aṅgaiḥ pañcabhiradhvānaṃ nikhilaṃ vikṛtikramāt tanmātrātmani saṃhṛtya māyāsūtre paśostanau
以五支分，应依显现之变异（vikṛti）的次第，逐步收摄全体“道程”（adhvan）。将其融摄于诸 tanmātra（微细元素）之自性后，（当安置）于 Māyā-sūtra（幻力之线）之上，即在 paśu（被缚之灵魂）的身中。
Lord Agni (teaching to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Philosophy","practical_application":"Perform laya/saṃhāra (reabsorption) in inner practice: withdraw the adhvan (cosmic path of categories/mantras) through five aṅgas, dissolving gross-to-subtle into tanmātras and stabilizing awareness on the Māyā-sūtra within the paśu-body.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Adhvā-saṃhāra by Pañcāṅga: Vikṛti-krama to Tanmātra and Māyā-sūtra","lookup_keywords":["adhvan","saṃhāra","vikṛti-krama","tanmātra","māyā-sūtra","paśu"],"quick_summary":"A stepwise inner reabsorption is taught: gather the manifested path back in the reverse/ordered sequence of modifications, dissolve into tanmātras, and place it upon the Māyā-thread within embodied limitation. It functions as a yogic-tantric method for internal ritual and deconditioning."}
Concept: Laya of tattvas/adhvans: the bound self (paśu) can retrace manifestation back to subtle causes, recognizing Māyā as the binding thread.
Application: Use a structured internal sequence (five aṅgas) for pratyāhāra-like withdrawal and tattva-laya during japa, nyāsa, or dhyāna.
Khanda Section: Yoga–Tantra / Sāṃkhya-Tattva (Adhvā and Tattva-saṃhāra)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin seated in meditation visualizes the cosmos retracting inward: layers of elements and senses fold back into subtle tanmātras, converging into a luminous thread (māyā-sūtra) running through the spine; the body is shown as the field of paśu-boundness being transformed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, meditating yogin with stylized inner channels, concentric elemental bands (earth-water-fire-air-ether) dissolving into finer colored rings (tanmātras), a bright vertical sūtra line, minimal background, serene expression.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central yogin with gold halo, surrounding lotus rings labeled as tattvas, outer rings fading inward to subtle tanmātras, a gold-thread motif (sūtra) through the body, ornate border and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional visualization: cross-section of seated yogin with subtle-body thread, arrows showing vikṛti-krama reabsorption into tanmātras, soft colors, fine inscriptions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a saint in a quiet chamber, delicate diagrammatic clouds representing tattvas collapsing into a thin luminous thread, precise detailing of garments and carpet, subtle calligraphy annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pañcabhiḥ+adhvānam→pañcabhiradhvānam (visarga before vowel becomes r); tanmātra+ātmani→tanmātrātmani (ā + ā contraction); paśoḥ+tanau kept separate.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 27.29 (tattva list used for vikṛti-krama); Agni Purana 27.30 (twelvefold self meditation in sūtra)
FAQs
It teaches a Tantric–Sāṃkhya method of saṃhāra (reabsorption): withdrawing the entire adhvan (graded path of principles/worlds) in reverse through the sequence of evolutes (vikṛtis), merging them into the tanmātras and finally stabilizing awareness on the Māyā-sūtra within the practitioner (paśu).
Alongside rituals and dharma, the Agni Purāṇa also preserves technical cosmology and yogic-tantric praxis—here presenting a structured map (adhvan, vikṛti, tanmātra, māyā) and a practical contemplative procedure for inner dissolution, reflecting its wide-ranging, systematizing scope.
By reversing identification with manifested evolutes and reabsorbing them into subtler causes, the bound soul (paśu) loosens karmic entanglement and approaches inner purification and liberation-oriented insight through disciplined withdrawal (saṃhāra).