Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Chapter 46 — शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं
Exposition of the Characteristics of Śālagrāma and Other Sacred Forms
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये पिण्डिकालक्ष्मादिलक्षणं नाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः अथ षट्चत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं भगवानुवाच शालग्रामादिमूर्तेश् च वक्ष्येहं भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः वासुदेवो ऽसितो द्वारे शालग्रामद्विचक्रकः
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye piṇḍikālakṣmādilakṣaṇaṃ nāma pañcacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaṭcatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śālagrāmādimūrtilakṣaṇakathanaṃ bhagavānuvāca śālagrāmādimūrteś ca vakṣyehaṃ bhuktimuktidāḥ vāsudevo 'sito dvāre śālagrāmadvicakrakaḥ
So endet im Agni-Purāṇa das fünfundvierzigste Kapitel mit dem Titel „Die Merkmale von Piṇḍikā-Lakṣmī und anderen“. Nun beginnt das sechsundvierzigste Kapitel: „Darlegung der Merkmale von Śālagrāma und anderen heiligen Formen“. Der erhabene Herr sprach: „Hier werde ich die Formen beschreiben, beginnend mit Śālagrāma—jene, die weltlichen Genuss (bhukti) und Befreiung (mukti) verleihen. Vāsudeva ist von dunkler Färbung; an der ‚Pforte/Öffnung‘ (dvāra) trägt es die Zeichen zweier Diskus-Räder—dies ist das Śālagrāma mit zwei cakra.“
Bhagavān (Lord Agni as narrator in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Identification and worship-classification of Śālagrāma stones: recognizing Vāsudeva type by color and cakra marks near the dvāra/opening; using it for bhukti (worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation) oriented worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śālagrāma-mūrti: Vāsudeva (asita) two-cakra at the dvāra","lookup_keywords":["Śālagrāma","Vāsudeva","asita (dark)","dvāra (opening)","dvi-cakra"],"quick_summary":"Defines a Śālagrāma form: the Vāsudeva type is dark-hued and bears two cakra-wheel marks at the dvāra/opening; such forms are praised as granting both enjoyment and liberation when worshipped properly."}
Concept: Aniconic devotion: recognizing divinity through lakṣaṇa (marks) and worshipping with faith yields bhukti and mukti.
Application: Select/verify a Śālagrāma by canonical marks; install and worship it as Vāsudeva with appropriate upacāras to align worldly duty with liberation-oriented practice.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and Shalagrama worship)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest holds a dark Śālagrāma stone close-up, showing a distinct dvāra/opening and two cakra-like spiral marks; nearby are tulasī leaves, water vessel, conch, and lamp, indicating worship that grants bhukti and mukti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up sacred stone (śālagrāma) in priest’s hands, dark glossy form with two spiral cakra marks near an opening, tulasī and lamp, temple sanctum ambiance, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, śālagrāma on a pedestal with gold-leaf halo motif, priest offering tulasī and water, two cakra marks clearly stylized, rich ornamented frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional yet devotional: labeled dvāra and dvi-cakra marks on the stone, soft colors, neat ritual items arranged (pañcapātra, śaṅkha, dīpa)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household shrine scene, priest examining the stone’s marks, detailed vessels and textiles, naturalistic rendering of the dark stone with spiral emblems"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (य्-आदेशः); पञ्चचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः = पञ्चचत्वारिंशः + अध्यायः; षट्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः = षट्चत्वारिंशः + अध्यायः; भगवानुवाच = भगवान् + उवाच; वक्ष्येहं = वक्ष्ये + अहम्; वासुदेवोऽसितो = वासुदेवः + असितः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 45 (Piṇḍikā-Lakṣmī and iconographic preliminaries); Agni Purana 46 (subsequent Śālagrāma varieties and marks)
FAQs
It introduces Śālagrāma-mūrti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic diagnostics): how to recognize a Vāsudeva-type Śālagrāma by features like dark coloration and the presence of two cakra-marks near an aperture (dvāra).
It catalogs a specialized ritual-technical domain—sacred-object identification and classification—showing the Purāṇa’s breadth beyond narrative into practical worship manuals (lakṣaṇa, typology, and ritual applicability).
The verse frames Śālagrāma forms as bhukti-mukti-dāḥ—supporting both worldly well-being and liberation—so correct identification and reverent worship are presented as spiritually efficacious.