Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
लक्षणं वासुदेवादिनवकस्य वदामि ते दक्षिणोर्ध्वे गदा वामे वामोर्ध्वे चक्रमुत्तमं
lakṣaṇaṃ vāsudevādinavakasya vadāmi te dakṣiṇordhve gadā vāme vāmordhve cakramuttamaṃ
Ich werde dir die Kennzeichen der Neunheit beginnend mit Vāsudeva nennen: In der rechten oberen Hand ist die Keule (gadā); in der linken, oben, wird der vortreffliche Diskus (cakra) gehalten.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Defines the emblem placement for the Navavyūha (nine forms beginning with Vāsudeva) used in Vaiṣṇava worship, icon-making, and dhyāna.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Navavyūha (Vāsudevādi-nava) emblem markers: gadā and cakra placement","lookup_keywords":["Navavyūha","Vāsudeva","gadā","cakra","hasta-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"For the ninefold Vāsudeva group, the icon’s upper right holds the mace (gadā), and the upper left holds the excellent discus (cakra), establishing a canonical identifier for worship and sculpture."}
Weapon Type: Mace (gadā) and discus (cakra) as divine weapons
Concept: Lakṣaṇa as a means of correct recognition (pratyabhijñā) of divine forms; form supports focused devotion.
Application: Artists and priests use these markers to avoid iconographic confusion among vyūha/forms and to standardize temple imagery and meditation manuals.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and dhyāna-lakṣaṇa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Vaiṣṇava four-armed icon labeled as Vāsudeva-form: upper right hand holding a mace, upper left holding a discus; remaining hands implied for other emblems/mudrās.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, four-armed Vāsudeva with gadā in upper-right and cakra in upper-left, rich ornaments, deep blue complexion, lotus pedestal, temple-style framing bands.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embossed halo and jewelry, Vāsudeva seated/standing, gadā upper-right, cakra upper-left, symmetrical composition with ornate arch (prabhāvali).","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional depiction of hand positions, subtle shading, minimal background, clear emphasis on gadā and cakra placement for identification.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined figure with halo, gadā and cakra rendered with metallic detail, set within a palace niche with floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वासुदेवादिनवकस्य = वासुदेव + आदि + नवकस्य; दक्षिणोर्ध्वे = दक्षिण-ऊर्ध्वे; चक्रमुत्तमं = चक्रम् + उत्तमम् (म् + उ → मु)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Vāsudeva and associated forms’ lakṣaṇas)
FAQs
It gives iconographic identification (lakṣaṇa) for Vaishnava worship—specifically the placement of the gadā (mace) and cakra (discus) in the deity’s hands for correct dhyāna and mūrti construction.
Beyond myth, it preserves practical temple-arts knowledge—standardized iconography used in pūjā, sculpture, and consecration—showing the Agni Purāṇa as a manual spanning ritual, art, and theology.
Correctly visualizing and installing the deity with proper attributes is treated as essential for valid worship; accuracy in dhyāna and mūrti-lakṣaṇa supports focused devotion and the intended religious merit of the rite.