Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 27
Chapter 378: Brahma-jñāna
Knowledge of Brahman
वशीकृतैस्ततः कुर्यात् स्थितं चेतः शुभाश्रये आश्रयश्चेतसो ब्रह्म मूर्तञ्चामूर्तकं द्विधा
vaśīkṛtaistataḥ kuryāt sthitaṃ cetaḥ śubhāśraye āśrayaścetaso brahma mūrtañcāmūrtakaṃ dvidhā
随后，既已调伏诸根，当令其心安住于吉祥所缘。心之所依为梵（Brahman），分为二类：有相（显现）与无相（未显现）。
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Philosophy","secondary_vidya":"Yoga","practical_application":"Choose an auspicious support (ālambana) for dhyana after sense-control; contemplate Brahman either with form (saguna/murta) or without form (nirguna/amurta) according to aptitude.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Ālambana for Dhyāna: Brahman as Murta and Amurta","lookup_keywords":["dhyana-alambana","shubha-ashraya","murta-brahman","amurta-brahman","saguna-nirguna"],"quick_summary":"After mastering the senses, steady the mind on an auspicious support; Brahman serves as the support in two modes—formful for devotional concentration and formless for non-dual contemplation."}
Concept: Brahman is the mind’s support in two contemplative modalities: murta (saguna) and amurta (nirguna).
Application: If the mind needs a concrete focus, use a deity-form (murta) with steady visualization; if mature in abstraction, rest in formless awareness (amurta) by negating attributes and abiding as pure consciousness.
Khanda Section: Yoga & Dhyana (Brahma-upasana / Meditation on Brahman)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A yogin steadies the mind on an auspicious support: on one side a serene form of Hari as a visual focus, on the other side a formless luminous expanse representing amurta Brahman.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural diptych: left panel Vishnu/Hari in calm standing posture with stylized ornaments as murta-ālambana; right panel an abstract mandala of light for amurta Brahman; central yogin in meditation bridging both, earthy pigments and temple aesthetic","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central meditating figure, above the heart a small gold-embellished Vishnu icon (murta), behind it a radiant gold field fading into plain space (amurta), heavy gold work and ornate borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional split composition labeled murta and amurta: deity-form visualization steps on one side, formless contemplation cues (neti-neti, breath settling) on the other, clean lines and soft washes","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined philosophical scene: yogin seated in a pavilion; a painted Vishnu image on a small stand to one side, and an open sky/blank parchment motif to the other symbolizing formlessness; delicate detailing and balanced symmetry"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वशीकृतैः + ततः → वशीकृतैस्ततः; आश्रयः + चेतसः → आश्रयश्चेतसः; मूर्तम् + च + अमूर्तकम् → मूर्तञ्चामूर्तकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 378.23 (Hari as Brahman remembrance); Agni Purana 378.25 (samadhi and Brahman attainment); Agni Purana 378.26 (pratyahara as prerequisite)
FAQs
It teaches dhyāna-vidhi: first subdue the senses, then stabilize the mind on a chosen auspicious meditative support, recognizing Brahman as the ultimate support in both manifest (saguṇa) and unmanifest (nirguṇa) modes.
Alongside ritual and worldly sciences, the Agni Purana also preserves practical yogic-vedāntic method—mind-discipline and twofold contemplation of Brahman—showing its coverage of both spiritual technique and philosophical taxonomy.
Sense-control and steady meditation purify the mind, reduce karmic agitation, and orient the practitioner toward liberation by progressing from form-based contemplation to the formless Absolute.