Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
छत्री दण्डी वामनः स्यादथवा स्याच्चतुर्भुजः रामश्चापेषुहस्तः स्यात् कड्गी परशुनान्वितः
chatrī daṇḍī vāmanaḥ syādathavā syāccaturbhujaḥ rāmaścāpeṣuhastaḥ syāt kaḍgī paraśunānvitaḥ
يُصوَّر فامَنا (Vāmana) ممسكًا بالمظلّة (chatra) والعصا (daṇḍa) على هيئة قزم، أو يُصوَّر ذا أربعة أذرع. ويُمثَّل راما (Rāma) وفي يديه القوس والسهام؛ (وقد يكون أيضًا) حاملًا للسيف ومزوَّدًا بالفأس (paraśu).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यादथवा = स्यात् + अथवा; स्याच्चतुर्भुजः = स्यात् + चतुर्भुजः (त् + च → च्च); रामश्चापेषुहस्तः = रामः + चापेषुहस्तः; परशुनान्वितः = परशुना + अन्वितः (आ + अ → आ; न + अ → ना)।
FAQs
It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specifications) for depicting Vāmana and Rāma—what implements they should hold (umbrella, staff, bow-arrows, sword, axe) and whether the form is dwarf or four-armed—useful for temple image-making and consecration contexts.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical, technical standards from śilpa/āgamic traditions—how to design deity images—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied arts (iconography) alongside ritual and doctrine.
Correct iconographic form is traditionally held to support proper worship (upāsanā) and consecration, aligning the devotee’s ritual focus with the deity’s recognized attributes, thereby strengthening devotional merit and ritual efficacy.