Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
द्विभुजं हंसपृष्ठस्थं दक्षिणेनाभयप्रदं वामेन नागपाशं तं नदीनागादिसंयुतं
dvibhujaṃ haṃsapṛṣṭhasthaṃ dakṣiṇenābhayapradaṃ vāmena nāgapāśaṃ taṃ nadīnāgādisaṃyutaṃ
تأمّلْه ذا ذراعين، جالساً على ظهر بجعة؛ بيمينه يمنح الأمان (أبهايا)، وبشماله يمسك حبلَ الأفعى (ناغا-باشا)؛ تحفّ به أفاعي الأنهار وأمثالها من الأتباع.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use the dhyāna-iconography to visualize and craft Varuṇa’s form for worship and consecration: posture, vehicle, mudrā, and attributes are specified.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varuṇa-dhyāna: two-armed, swan-seated, abhaya and nāga-pāśa","lookup_keywords":["varuṇa-dhyāna","dvibhuja","haṃsa-pṛṣṭha","abhaya-mudrā","nāga-pāśa"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Varuṇa as two-armed, seated on a swan, granting fearlessness and holding a serpent-noose, attended by river-serpents—guiding both visualization in pūjā and iconographic execution."}
Concept: Dhyāna as a technology: precise form-contemplation stabilizes devotion and empowers ritual efficacy.
Application: Before pratiṣṭhā or daily pūjā, perform structured visualization of Varuṇa with specified attributes; artisans can follow the same specification for consistent pratimā design.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography / Dhyana of Deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varuṇa is shown seated on a swan, two-armed: right hand in abhaya, left holding a serpent-noose; around him are nāgas and river-serpents rising from stylized waves, forming a protective aquatic court.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal Varuṇa on haṃsa, bold outlines, right hand abhaya, left nāga-pāśa, surrounding nāgas emerging from river waves, deep reds/ochres/greens, temple mural symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Varuṇa on swan with gold-leaf halo, jeweled nāga-pāśa, embossed gold waves, attendant nāgas with ornate crowns, rich blue-green water tones and heavy gilding","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined iconographic plate of Varuṇa: clear mudrā and attribute depiction, delicate shading, attendants arranged symmetrically, suitable as a pratimā-lakṣaṇa reference illustration","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant Varuṇa seated on a swan over a river, translucent water with nāgas, fine textile patterns, subtle facial expression, detailed flora along riverbank"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Megh Malhar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dakṣiṇenābhayapradaṃ = dakṣiṇena + abhaya-pradam; nadīnāgādisaṃyutaṃ = nadī-nāga-ādi-saṃyutam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (Varuṇa image-making and water-works consecration sequence)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography): visualize a two-armed deity seated on a swan, showing abhaya (protection) and holding a nāga-pāśa (serpent-noose), with nāga attendants—used for mantra-japa and pūjā visualization.
Beyond narrative, the Agni Purana catalogs practical ritual technology—here, precise murti/dhyāna specifications (āsana/vehicle, hand-gestures, attributes, attendants) that guide temple iconography, consecration, and personal worship practice.
Meditating on the abhaya-granting form is intended to cultivate protection and steadiness of mind, while the controlled power symbolized by the nāga-pāśa signifies mastery over fears and obstructive forces, supporting purification and successful worship.