Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 15
सकलादिमन्त्रोद्धारः (Sakalādi-mantra-uddhāra) — Chapter Colophon/Transition
विचित्रांशं महाकायं लम्बोष्ठं लम्बकर्णकम् लम्बोदरं महाभागं विकृतं पार्वतीप्रियम्
vicitrāṃśaṃ mahākāyaṃ lamboṣṭhaṃ lambakarṇakam lambodaraṃ mahābhāgaṃ vikṛtaṃ pārvatīpriyam
Man soll über ihn meditieren als von wunderbarer Gestalt, von riesigem Leib, mit langen Lippen und langen Ohren; mit großem Bauch (Lambodara), höchst begnadet und majestätisch, von eigenartigem (ungewöhnlichem) Aussehen und geliebt von Pārvatī.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana’s dhyāna/pujā instructions to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Dhyāna for Gaṇapati specifying key bodily features used for visualization in worship and for guiding iconographic depiction.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Gaṇapati-dhyāna: lambauṣṭha, lambakarṇa, lambodara; mahākāya, vicitrāṅśa, Pārvatīpriya","lookup_keywords":["Gaṇapati-dhyāna","lambodara","lambakarṇa","mahākāya","Pārvatīpriya"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Gaṇapati as vast-bodied and wondrous, with long lips and ears and a prominent belly—distinctive in form and dear to Pārvatī—so the mind holds a stable, auspicious icon."}
Alamkara Type: Viśeṣokti (feature-focused characterization)
Concept: Dhyāna works through precise form-holding (ākāra-dhāraṇā); enumerated lakṣaṇas convert devotion into a repeatable contemplative method.
Application: Before mantra-japa, spend a short interval forming this image (ears, lips, belly, vast body) to reduce distraction and deepen āvāhana/saṃnidhāna.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-dhyana (Iconography and meditation on deities)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close, iconic portrayal of Gaṇapati: huge body, long lips, long ears, pot-belly, distinctive majestic form; Pārvatī’s affection implied by a gentle maternal presence or aura behind.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Gaṇapati with exaggerated lambakarṇa and lambodara, strong contour lines, flat warm palette, subtle presence of Pārvatī behind as protective aura, temple-lamp ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: richly ornamented Gaṇapati with gold-highlighted belly ornaments and halo, long ears emphasized with gold edging, Pārvatī suggested in a small vignette or as a blessing hand, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined, soft-shaded Gaṇapati portrait focusing on proportions—long ears, long lips, large torso—clean background, instructional annotations optional in margins.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed figure study of Gaṇapati seated on a cushion, long ears and belly rendered with delicate brushwork, subtle courtly interior, restrained palette and fine borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लम्बोष्ठं = लम्ब-ओष्ठम्; लम्बोदरं = लम्ब-उदरम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 317 (Ganapati worship; dhyāna preceding names/mantras)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconographic profile) for visualizing the deity—key features like lambodara (pot-belly) and elongated ears/lips used in pūjā and mantra-sādhana to stabilize concentration and ensure correct deity-identification.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical liturgical technology—standardized dhyāna descriptions that function like a ritual manual for worship, temple practice, and visualization-based devotion.
Correct dhyāna (right-form meditation) is held to purify attention and align worship with the intended deity, supporting steadiness of mind and the merit (puṇya) associated with properly performed devotion.