Shloka 10

Matsya Purana — The Ārdrānandakarī Tṛtīyā Vrata: Ritual Procedure

Devanagari script

देव्या ललाटमिन्द्राण्यै हव्यवाहाय वै विभोः स्वाहायै मुकुटं देव्या विभोर्गङ्गाधराय वै //

Transliteration

devyā lalāṭamindrāṇyai havyavāhāya vai vibhoḥ svāhāyai mukuṭaṃ devyā vibhorgaṅgādharāya vai //

Translation

The Goddess’s forehead-mark is assigned to Indrāṇī; and a feature of the Lord is assigned to Havyavāha (Agni). The Goddess’s crown is given to Svāhā; and an ornament/attribute of the Lord to Gaṅgādhara (Śiva, bearer of the Gaṅgā).

Word by Word

• devyā: of the Goddess

• lalāṭam: forehead (forehead-mark/ornament)

• indrāṇyai: to Indrāṇī (Śacī)

• havyavāhāya: to Havyavāha (Agni, bearer of oblations)

• vai: indeed

• vibhoḥ: of the Lord / of the Great One

• svāhāyai: to Svāhā (personified oblation-formula, consort/power of Agni)

• mukuṭam: crown/diadem

• gaṅgādharāya: to Gaṅgādhara (Śiva, bearer of the river Gaṅgā)

• ca (implied by coordination): and

• dadyāt (implied sense): should assign/give (in iconographic distribution)

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within the didactic iconography section)

Entities Mentioned

• Indrāṇī
• Havyavāha (Agni)
• Svāhā
• Gaṅgādhara (Śiva)
• Devī

Tags

• Matsya Purana Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Deity Attributes
• Ritual Installation
• Temple Arts

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to the iconography/ritual-arts layer of the Matsya Purana, prescribing how specific divine emblems or ornaments are to be associated with particular deities.

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

For a king or householder who commissions temples or images, the duty is correctness in patronage—ensuring images and their attributes follow śāstric prescription so worship remains ritually valid and socially auspicious.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes a pratima-vinyāsa rule: specific ornaments/marks (like the Goddess’s forehead-mark and crown) are assigned to named deities (Indrāṇī, Svāhā, Agni, Gaṅgādhara), guiding sculptors and priests during image-making and installation.