Shloka 24

Matsya Purana — Rasakalyāṇinī Vrata: Magha-based Goddess Worship

Devanagari script

हैमीमङ्गुष्ठमात्रां च साक्षसूत्रकमण्डलुम् चतुर्भुजामिन्दुयुतां सितनेत्रपटावृताम् //

Transliteration

haimīmaṅguṣṭhamātrāṃ ca sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍalum caturbhujāminduyutāṃ sitanetrapaṭāvṛtām //

Translation

Fashion her in gold, measuring the size of a thumb; let her bear the sacred thread (yajñopavīta) and the water-pot (kamaṇḍalu). She should be four-armed, adorned with the moon, and her white eyes should be veiled with a cloth.

Word by Word

• haimīm: golden (made of gold)

• aṅguṣṭha-mātrām: of thumb-measure (thumb-sized)

• ca: and

• sa-akṣa-sūtra: with a rosary (akṣa-sūtra)

• kamaṇḍalum: (holding) a water-pot

• catur-bhujām: four-armed

• indu-yutām: endowed/adorned with the moon

• sita-netra: white-eyed

• paṭa-āvṛtām: covered/veiled with a cloth

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, describing iconographic specifications)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• akṣa-sūtra (rosary)
• kamaṇḍalu (water-pot)
• indu (moon)

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Vastu Shastra
• Temple Ritual
• Deity Attributes

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to the iconography stream, prescribing how a sacred image should be fashioned and identified by attributes like the rosary and water-pot.

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

It supports dharmic duty through correct worship: kings and householders are instructed to commission and install images according to śāstra—proper measurements and emblems ensure ritually valid devotion and temple practice.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) specifications—material (gold), proportion (thumb-measure), and defining emblems (akṣa-sūtra, kamaṇḍalu, four arms, moon ornament, veiled eyes)—used by sculptors and priests for correct consecration and worship.