Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
द्विभुजं हंसपृष्ठस्थं दक्षिणेनाभयप्रदं वामेन नागपाशं तं नदीनागादिसंयुतं
dvibhujaṃ haṃsapṛṣṭhasthaṃ dakṣiṇenābhayapradaṃ vāmena nāgapāśaṃ taṃ nadīnāgādisaṃyutaṃ
Man meditiere ihn zweiarbig, auf dem Rücken eines Schwans sitzend; die rechte Hand gewährt Furchtlosigkeit, die linke hält ein Schlangen-Lasso; umgeben von Fluss-Nāgas und weiteren Gefolgsleuten.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue style)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use the dhyāna-iconography to visualize and craft Varuṇa’s form for worship and consecration: posture, vehicle, mudrā, and attributes are specified.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varuṇa-dhyāna: two-armed, swan-seated, abhaya and nāga-pāśa","lookup_keywords":["varuṇa-dhyāna","dvibhuja","haṃsa-pṛṣṭha","abhaya-mudrā","nāga-pāśa"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Varuṇa as two-armed, seated on a swan, granting fearlessness and holding a serpent-noose, attended by river-serpents—guiding both visualization in pūjā and iconographic execution."}
Concept: Dhyāna as a technology: precise form-contemplation stabilizes devotion and empowers ritual efficacy.
Application: Before pratiṣṭhā or daily pūjā, perform structured visualization of Varuṇa with specified attributes; artisans can follow the same specification for consistent pratimā design.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography / Dhyana of Deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varuṇa is shown seated on a swan, two-armed: right hand in abhaya, left holding a serpent-noose; around him are nāgas and river-serpents rising from stylized waves, forming a protective aquatic court.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal Varuṇa on haṃsa, bold outlines, right hand abhaya, left nāga-pāśa, surrounding nāgas emerging from river waves, deep reds/ochres/greens, temple mural symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Varuṇa on swan with gold-leaf halo, jeweled nāga-pāśa, embossed gold waves, attendant nāgas with ornate crowns, rich blue-green water tones and heavy gilding","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined iconographic plate of Varuṇa: clear mudrā and attribute depiction, delicate shading, attendants arranged symmetrically, suitable as a pratimā-lakṣaṇa reference illustration","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, elegant Varuṇa seated on a swan over a river, translucent water with nāgas, fine textile patterns, subtle facial expression, detailed flora along riverbank"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Megh Malhar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: dakṣiṇenābhayapradaṃ = dakṣiṇena + abhaya-pradam; nadīnāgādisaṃyutaṃ = nadī-nāga-ādi-saṃyutam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (Varuṇa image-making and water-works consecration sequence)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography): visualize a two-armed deity seated on a swan, showing abhaya (protection) and holding a nāga-pāśa (serpent-noose), with nāga attendants—used for mantra-japa and pūjā visualization.
Beyond narrative, the Agni Purana catalogs practical ritual technology—here, precise murti/dhyāna specifications (āsana/vehicle, hand-gestures, attributes, attendants) that guide temple iconography, consecration, and personal worship practice.
Meditating on the abhaya-granting form is intended to cultivate protection and steadiness of mind, while the controlled power symbolized by the nāga-pāśa signifies mastery over fears and obstructive forces, supporting purification and successful worship.