Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 305 — Narasiṃha and Related Mantras (नारसिंहादिमन्त्राः)
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मशलाकाङ्कुशपाणिनम् चापिनं पिङ्गकेशाक्षमरव्याप्तत्रिपिष्टपं
śaṅkhacakragadāpadmaśalākāṅkuśapāṇinam cāpinaṃ piṅgakeśākṣamaravyāptatripiṣṭapaṃ
ليتأمل في الإله الذي تحمل يداه الصدفة (śaṅkha) والقرص (cakra) والهراوة (gadā) واللوتس، والعصا (śalākā) ومِهْمَاز الفيل (aṅkuśa)، وهو أيضًا ممسك بقوس؛ ذو شعر أشقر مائل إلى السمرة؛ يملأ السماوات الثلاث ويقهر مارا (Māra) أي الموت.
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Dhyāna for correct iconographic visualization of a Vaiṣṇava protective form with multiple weapons/implements before mantra, yantra, or homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: Multi-armed Vaiṣṇava Form with Śaṅkha–Cakra–Gadā–Padma and Bow","lookup_keywords":["shankha","cakra","gada","padma","ankusha"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on a tawny-haired, death-conquering, tri-heaven-pervading deity bearing conch, discus, mace, lotus, rod, goad, and also a bow—an iconographic specification for ritual visualization."}
Weapon Type: Discus (cakra), mace (gadā), bow (cāpa), goad (aṅkuśa) as control/command implement
Concept: Dhyāna as upāsanā-yantra: precise form-contemplation channels protective power and steadies mind.
Application: Use the specified attributes as a checklist in meditation so the invoked form is unambiguous and ritually ‘correct’.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana (Iconography of Vishnu and attendant deities)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A majestic tawny-haired deity fills the three worlds with radiance, shown with many arms holding conch, discus, mace, lotus, rod, goad, and a bow—standing or seated as a cosmic protector overcoming Māra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, saturated reds/ochres, multi-armed Vaiṣṇava protector with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma plus śalākā and aṅkuśa, bow in another hand, expansive aura suggesting tri-loka-vyāpti, subdued Māra figure at feet","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold halo and ornaments, multi-armed deity with clearly rendered āyudhas, tawny hair highlights, cosmic backdrop with three-tiered heavens, small defeated Māra motif, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise depiction of each implement labeled by form, balanced composition, soft pastel background indicating three worlds, deity’s tawny hair and calm yet powerful gaze, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate weapon details, layered celestial architecture for three heavens, deity with multiple arms, tawny hair, subdued Māra as a dark figure, fine floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समास-विग्रहः: शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मशलाकाङ्कुशपाणिनम् (बहुव्रीहि); पिङ्गकेशाक्षम् (कर्मधारय); अरव्याप्तत्रिपिष्टपम् (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 305 (dhyāna preceding yantra-lekhana and homa)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconographic specification): the practitioner is instructed to visualize the deity by enumerating the exact emblems/weapons held in the hands and cosmic scope (pervading the three heavens).
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves practical ritual-technology: standardized iconography (āyudha and mudrā/attributes) used in pūjā, temple installation, and mantra-dhyāna—showing the Purāṇa’s catalog-like coverage of worship procedure and sacred art norms.
Correct dhyāna is treated as a purifier in pūjā: fixing the mind on the deity’s auspicious attributes is said to stabilize devotion, remove fear of death (mara), and align the worshipper with protective divine power across the three worlds.