Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 2
Rudra-śānti (रुद्रशान्ति)
द्विचतुःषण्मुखं शस्तमव्रणं तीव्रकण्ठकं दक्षवाहौ शिखादौ च धारयेच्चतुराननं
dvicatuḥṣaṇmukhaṃ śastamavraṇaṃ tīvrakaṇṭhakaṃ dakṣavāhau śikhādau ca dhārayeccaturānanaṃ
Man soll (im Geist) die gepriesene Gottgestalt schauen (oder rituell einsetzen) als zweigesichtig, viergesichtig oder sechsgesichtig, makellos und ohne Wunden, mit furchterregendem Hals/Kehlbereich; und man soll die viergesichtige Gestalt (Brahmā) am rechten Arm, am Scheitelknoten (śikhā) und an weiteren oberen Stellen anbringen.
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Guidance for visualization/installation of multi-faced deity forms and their placement on the body (aṅga-nyāsa/adhyāsa style) during worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Mukha-bheda and aṅga-sthāpana (2/4/6-faced; Brahmā on right arm, śikhā etc.)","lookup_keywords":["dvīmukha","caturmukha","ṣaṇmukha","aṅga-sthāpana","śikhā"],"quick_summary":"The worship-form is praised as 2-, 4-, or 6-faced, unblemished and intense-throated; the four-faced form (Brahmā) is assigned to the right arm and upper points like the top-knot, indicating a mapped ritual placement."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is supported by correct dhyāna (form-visualization) and nyāsa-like placement, aligning body-space with deity-space.
Application: During pūjā, keep the imagined/installed form free of defects and follow prescribed placements to maintain ritual coherence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography and ritual placement of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual diagram-like scene: a worshipper visualizes a multi-faced deity (2/4/6 faces) glowing, while indicating the right arm and top-knot as placement points; Brahmā’s four-faced form is shown as a smaller emblem on the right arm region.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized multi-faced deity with clear mukha count, worshipper in profile touching right arm and śikhā, sacred red-yellow palette, minimal temple interior cues","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central multi-faced deity with ornate crowns, gold work emphasizing faces and neck ornaments, smaller Brahmā emblem on right arm, symmetrical devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: labeled-like placement gestures (right arm, śikhā), clean lines, soft colors, emphasis on iconographic correctness","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine facial detailing for 2/4/6-faced variants, intimate indoor ritual setting, precise hand gestures indicating body loci"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dhārayeccaturānanam = dhārayet + caturānanam (t + c → cc).
Related Themes: Agni Purana sections on mūrti-lakṣaṇa and pūjā-vidhi (nearby chapters in the 320s)
FAQs
It gives murti-dhyana/nyasa-style instructions: the deity may be contemplated with 2/4/6 faces, must be visualized as unblemished, and the four-faced Brahmā is ritually placed/assigned to specific body locations such as the right arm and the śikhā (top-knot).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s technical coverage of ritual science—iconographic standards (murti-lakṣaṇa) and practical worship operations (nyāsa/placement)—alongside its many other domains like polity, medicine, and poetics.
Correct visualization and placement of deity-forms is taught as a means to purify worship, stabilize concentration, and align the practitioner’s body with divine presences, thereby supporting merit (puṇya) and ritual efficacy.