Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
पादलग्ना धरा कार्या पदा लक्ष्मीर्व्यवस्थिता त्रैलोक्यमोहनस्तार्क्ष्ये अष्टबाहुस्तु दक्षिणे
pādalagnā dharā kāryā padā lakṣmīrvyavasthitā trailokyamohanastārkṣye aṣṭabāhustu dakṣiṇe
Dharā (die Erdgöttin) ist so zu gestalten, dass sie sich an die Füße schmiegt; und Lakṣmī ist stehend zu den Füßen darzustellen. Auf Tārkṣya (Garuḍa) soll der «Bezauberer der drei Welten» erscheinen; und auf der rechten Seite ist die Gottheit achtarmig zu zeigen.
Lord Agni (narrating iconographic rules to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Compositional placement rules for a multi-figure Vaishnava icon: positioning Dharā and Lakṣmī at the feet, Garuḍa mount, and specifying an eight-armed right-side figure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pārśva-devatā & Adhiṣṭhāna-vinyāsa (Dharā-Lakṣmī at Feet; Tārkṣya; Aṣṭabāhu)","lookup_keywords":["Dharā","Lakṣmī","pāda-lagna","Tārkṣya","aṣṭabāhu"],"quick_summary":"Arrange attendant figures: Earth-goddess clinging to the feet, Lakṣmī standing at the feet; depict the ‘Enchanter of the Three Worlds’ upon Garuḍa, with an eight-armed figure on the right side."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct vinyāsa (placement) and recognizable divine hierarchy around the main deity.
Application: When commissioning or installing icons, ensure attendant deities occupy prescribed positions (feet, left/right flanks, vāhana) to align with āgamic visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of Deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Vaishnava icon with Earth-goddess clinging at the feet and Lakṣmī standing near the feet; Garuḍa mount present; a right-side eight-armed attendant/aspect; overall symmetrical temple-icon composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Vishnu-related icon with Garuḍa, Bhūdevī clinging to feet, Lakṣmī standing at feet, right-side aṣṭabāhu figure, flat iconic staging, bold contours, sacred lamps motif","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, multi-figure Vaishnava tableau with gold embossing, Bhūdevī at feet, Lakṣmī at feet, Garuḍa beneath/behind, right-side eight-armed figure, ornate arch and halo work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity of placements (feet zone attendants, vāhana, right flank aṣṭabāhu), delicate colors, fine ornamentation, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly devotional scene with central deity on Garuḍa, Bhūdevī at feet, Lakṣmī nearby, right-side eight-armed figure, intricate textiles and architectural frame"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लक्ष्मीर्व्यवस्थिता → लक्ष्मीः + व्यवस्थिताः (here fem. sg. व्यवस्थिता); त्रैलोक्यमोहनस्तार्क्ष्ये → त्रैलोक्य-मोहनः + तार्क्ष्ये; अष्टबाहुस्तु → अष्ट-बाहुः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (pārśva-devatā and ayudha/arm specifications continuing into 49.20–49.21)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) instructions: how to position Bhū/Dharā and Lakṣmī near the deity’s feet, how Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) is associated, and that the right-side form is to be shown as eight-armed.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical manual by prescribing concrete temple-arts standards—figure placement, attributes, and compositional rules—used by sculptors and ritual specialists.
Correct iconographic placement is treated as dharmic precision in worship: an accurately formed image supports proper dhyāna (meditation) and pūjā, believed to yield steadiness of devotion and auspiciousness (śrī) in the worshipper’s life.