Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
विष्णुरष्टभुजस्तार्क्षे करे खड्गस्तु दक्षिणे गदाशरश् च वरदो वामे कार्मुकखेटके
viṣṇuraṣṭabhujastārkṣe kare khaḍgastu dakṣiṇe gadāśaraś ca varado vāme kārmukakheṭake
Viṣṇu, achtarmig, ist zu visualisieren, wie er auf Tārkṣya (Garuḍa) reitet. In seinen rechten Händen ist das Schwert; (er trägt) auch Keule und Pfeil; und mit den linken Händen gewährt er Gaben, während er zugleich Bogen und Schild hält.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in dhyāna/pujā-vidhi)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Specification for an eight-armed Vishnu-on-Garuda icon used in temple consecration, worship visualization, and icon authentication.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vishnu as Ashtabhuja on Garuda: weapon and gesture scheme","lookup_keywords":["Vishnu ashtabhuja","Tarkshya Garuda vahana","khadga gada shara","varada hasta","dhanu khetaka"],"quick_summary":"Visualize/depict Vishnu with eight arms mounted on Garuda, holding sword, mace, arrow, bow, and shield, with a boon-bestowing (varada) hand—an iconographic template for worship and sculpture."}
Weapon Type: Sword; mace; bow; arrow; shield
Concept: Union of raksha (protection) and anugraha (grace): weapons signify safeguarding dharma; varada signifies benevolence to devotees.
Application: In puja, contemplate Vishnu as both protector and benefactor; in icon-making, ensure correct vahana and hand-attributes.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and Dhyana of Deities)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Vishnu with eight arms seated/standing upon Garuda, prominently displaying sword, mace, bow, arrow, shield, and a varada hand; dynamic sense of flight and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Garuda in stylized avian form carrying ashtabhuja Vishnu, clear ayudhas (khadga, gada, dhanu, shara, khetaka) and varada gesture, bold outlines, temple mural symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Vishnu on Garuda with heavy gold embossing on crown and halo, weapons rendered with metallic sheen, varada hand forward, rich blue-green palette, ornate prabhavali.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise instructional depiction of eight arms with correct distribution of weapons and varada, Garuda mount detailed, soft shading, uncluttered background for clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Vishnu on Garuda soaring above a landscape, finely detailed weapons and textiles, delicate clouds, ornate border, emphasis on motion and regal bearing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: viṣṇuraṣṭabhujastārkṣe → viṣṇuḥ aṣṭa-bhujaḥ tārkṣe; khaḍgastu → khaḍgaḥ tu; gadāśaraś ca → gadā-śaraḥ ca; kārmukakheṭake → kārmuka-kheṭake (dvandva, locative singular).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Vishnu dhyana/murti-lakshana)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna–lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) for worship: how to visualize Viṣṇu—eight-armed, mounted on Garuḍa—and which āyudhas/mudrā (weapons and boon-giving gesture) are to be placed in the right and left hands.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical temple-and-home worship standards—precise iconography for meditation, image-making, and ritual installation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied religious arts alongside other sciences.
Correct dhyāna with proper attributes is held to stabilize concentration and make worship ‘sāṅga’ (complete), supporting merit (puṇya) and devotional clarity by aligning the practitioner’s visualization with traditional form.