Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
चक्रं खड्गं च मुषलं अङ्कुशं वामके करे शङ्खशार्ङ्गगदापाशान् पद्मवीणासमन्विते
cakraṃ khaḍgaṃ ca muṣalaṃ aṅkuśaṃ vāmake kare śaṅkhaśārṅgagadāpāśān padmavīṇāsamanvite
In der linken Hand (trägt sie) Diskus, Schwert, Stößel/Keule (muṣala) und Elefantenhaken (aṅkuśa); und sie ist versehen mit Muschel, dem Bogen Śārṅga, der Keule (gadā), dem Fangseil (pāśa), Lotus und vīṇā.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Ayudha-allocation for an eight-armed (or multi-armed) deity: specifying which weapons/objects appear in left hand set and the complementary set including bow, noose, lotus, and vīṇā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ayudha-vinyāsa: Cakra–Khaḍga–Muṣala–Aṅkuśa (Left) with Śaṅkha–Śārṅga–Gadā–Pāśa–Padma–Vīṇā","lookup_keywords":["ayudha","cakra","khadga","pasha","vina"],"quick_summary":"Provides a canonical inventory and distribution of weapons/attributes: left-hand set includes discus, sword, pestle/club, and goad; the figure is also furnished with conch, Śārṅga bow, mace, noose, lotus, and vīṇā."}
Weapon Type: Discus, sword, club/pestle, goad, conch (as signal), bow, mace, noose
Concept: Symbolic integration of kṣatra (weapons) and vidyā (vīṇā/arts) within a single divine form.
Application: In worship-visualization, contemplate each attribute as a functional power: restraint (pāśa), guidance (aṅkuśa), protection (cakra/gadā), auspiciousness (padma), and knowledge (vīṇā).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of deities and their attributes)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A multi-armed deity with clearly displayed left-hand weapons (discus, sword, pestle/club, goad) and other hands holding conch, bow, mace, noose, lotus, and vīṇā—balanced as a mandala-like spread.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, multi-armed deity front-facing, left hands holding cakra-khaḍga-muṣala-aṅkuśa, other hands with śaṅkha-Śārṅga-gadā-pāśa-padma-vīṇā, saturated pigments, symmetrical aura, temple mural geometry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, multi-armed icon with heavy gold embossing on weapons and jewelry, conch and discus prominent, bow and noose detailed, lotus and vīṇā rendered richly, ornate prabhāmaṇḍala","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: each hand-object crisply separated, soft gradients, delicate ornamentation, readable ayudha arrangement, calm yet powerful stance","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, multi-armed divine figure with finely painted weapons and musical instrument, intricate textiles, architectural niche background, meticulous detailing of bowstring, conch spirals, and lotus petals"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शङ्खशार्ङ्गगदापाशान् resolved as a dvandva list: शङ्ख-शार्ङ्ग-गदा-पाशान्; padmavīṇāsamanvite treated as पद्म-वीणा-समन्विते (locative, agreeing with an implied स्थान/मूर्तौ).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49.19–49.21 (continuation of multi-armed icon specifications)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) instructions—listing the specific weapons and emblems to be shown in the deity’s hand(s) for correct consecration-ready depiction.
Beyond myth, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied temple-arts knowledge—standardizing divine attributes (āyudha/lakṣaṇa) used by sculptors and priests, alongside other sciences and ritual manuals.
Accurate iconography is treated as dhārmic correctness: it supports proper worship (arcana), steadies devotion, and is believed to yield merit by honoring the deity in an orthodox, ritually valid form.