Shloka 46

Matsya Purana — Agastya’s Origin

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं तथैव सौवर्णम् अत्यायतबाहुदण्डम् चतुर्मुखं कुम्भमुखे निधाय धान्यानि सप्ताम्बरसंयुतानि //

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhamātraṃ puruṣaṃ tathaiva sauvarṇam atyāyatabāhudaṇḍam caturmukhaṃ kumbhamukhe nidhāya dhānyāni saptāmbarasaṃyutāni //

Translation

One should fashion a golden Puruṣa, thumb-sized, with arms elongated like staffs; and, making it four-faced, place it at the mouth of the ritual pot (kumbha). Along with it, one should include grains, together with seven cloths.

Word by Word

• aṅguṣṭha-mātram: of the measure of a thumb

• puruṣam: the Puruṣa (sacred male figure/embodied principle)

• tathā eva: likewise/indeed

• sauvarṇam: made of gold

• ati-āyata: very long/extended

• bāhu-daṇḍam: having arms like rods/staffs

• catur-mukham: four-faced

• kumbha-mukhe: at the mouth/opening of the pot (kumbha)

• nidhāya: having placed/deposited

• dhānyāni: grains/cereals

• sapta-ambara-saṃyutāni: accompanied by seven garments/cloths

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within a didactic passage)

Entities Mentioned

• Puruṣa
• Kumbha (ritual pot)
• Caturmukha (four-faced form)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Ritual
• Kalasha
• Iconography

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives a technical ritual/installation instruction involving a golden Puruṣa placed at a kumbha’s mouth, indicating consecratory symbolism rather than cosmic dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It supports the dharma of patrons (kings/householders) to sponsor correct consecration rites—providing prescribed materials (gold figure, grains, cloths) and following śāstric procedure for religious foundations and installations.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies a deposit/kalasha-related placement: a thumb-sized golden, four-faced Puruṣa with elongated arms is set at the kumbha opening, together with grains and seven cloths—details typical of Vastu/temple consecration and ritual completeness.