Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
रामश्चापी शरी खड्गी शङ्खी वा द्विभुजः स्मृतः गदालाङ्गलधारी च रामो वाथ चतुर्भुजः
rāmaścāpī śarī khaḍgī śaṅkhī vā dvibhujaḥ smṛtaḥ gadālāṅgaladhārī ca rāmo vātha caturbhujaḥ
Rāma wird auch als zweiarbig (Dvibhuja) überliefert, mit Bogen, Pfeilen, Schwert oder Muschel (Śaṅkha). Alternativ kann Rāma vierarmig (Caturbhuja) dargestellt werden und zudem Keule (Gadā) und Pflugschar (Lāṅgala) halten.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Choosing between two-armed and four-armed Rāma icon types and assigning correct emblems (bow, arrows, sword, conch; or mace and ploughshare) for images and festival processions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rāma Murti-bheda: Dvibhuja vs Caturbhuja with Āyudhas","lookup_keywords":["Rāma dvibhuja","cāpa-śarī","khaḍgī","śaṅkhī","gadā lāṅgala"],"quick_summary":"Defines Rāma’s icon variants: two-armed with bow/arrows (or sword or conch), and four-armed with additional mace and ploughshare—guiding correct depiction and worship identification."}
Weapon Type: Bow and arrows; Sword; Mace (cāpa-śara, khaḍga, gadā)
Concept: Multiplicity of sanctioned forms (bheda) within one deity; attributes communicate function and theological emphasis.
Application: Enables sectarian/temple-specific choices (human-heroic dvibhuja vs cosmic caturbhuja) while remaining within śāstric allowance.
Khanda Section: Murti-lakshana & Deva-pratima-vidhi (Iconography of deities)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma shown in two alternative depictions: (1) two-armed archer with bow and arrows (or sword/conch), (2) four-armed Vaiṣṇava form holding mace and ploughshare along with other emblems.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural showing two panels of Rāma: dvibhuja archer with quiver; caturbhuja Rāma with gadā and lāṅgala, bold outlines, warm palette, temple aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore icon of caturbhuja Rāma: gold-embossed halo, ornate jewelry, clearly rendered gadā and ploughshare, rich red background; secondary inset of dvibhuja archer.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic plate: side-by-side dvibhuja and caturbhuja Rāma, labeled emblems (śaṅkha, khaḍga, gadā, lāṅgala), emphasis on hand placement and symmetry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of royal Rāma: elegant dvibhuja archer in courtly setting; companion folio-style depiction of four-armed form with mace and ploughshare, fine borders and detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामश्चापी = रामः + चापी; रामो वाथ = रामः + वा + अथ; गदालाङ्गलधारी समासः (गदा+लाङ्गल+धारिन्)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Rāma/Vāmana/Narasiṃha iconography cluster)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specifications) for depicting Rāma—permitted arm-number (two or four) and the correct attributes/weapons to be placed in his hands for worship and installation.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical temple-arts knowledge—standardized iconography used by sculptors and priests—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual, visual culture, and applied religious technology.
Correctly forming and worshipping the deity-image according to lakṣaṇa is traditionally held to make the worship valid and efficacious, supporting purity of ritual intent and the devotee’s merit (puṇya).