Shloka 34

Matsya Purana — The Greatness and Procedure of the Aṅgāra

Devanagari script

अङ्गुष्ठमात्रं पुरुषं तथैव सौवर्णमत्यायतबाहुदण्डम् चतुर्भुजं हेममये निविष्टं पात्रे गुडस्योपरि सर्पियुक्ते //

Transliteration

aṅguṣṭhamātraṃ puruṣaṃ tathaiva sauvarṇamatyāyatabāhudaṇḍam caturbhujaṃ hemamaye niviṣṭaṃ pātre guḍasyopari sarpiyukte //

Translation

Likewise, one should fashion a thumb-sized male figure, made of gold, with elongated arms; four-armed, it should be set within a golden vessel, placed upon jaggery and mixed with clarified butter (ghee).

Word by Word

• aṅguṣṭha-mātram: of the measure of a thumb

• puruṣam: a male figure/person

• tathā eva: likewise/indeed

• sauvarṇam: made of gold

• ati-āyata: very long/extended

• bāhu-daṇḍam: having arm-staffs/arms (as limbs)

• catur-bhujam: four-armed

• hema-maye: in/within a golden (object/vessel)

• niviṣṭam: placed/set

• pātre: in a vessel

• guḍasya upari: upon jaggery

• sarpi-yukte: combined with ghee/clarified butter.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Lord Matsya
• Vaivasvata Manu
• Vishnu (implied by the four-armed iconography)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Iconography
• Ritual Procedure
• Temple Offerings

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it is a technical ritual-iconography instruction describing how to prepare and place a small four-armed golden figure in a vessel with jaggery and ghee.

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

It reflects the householder/royal duty of performing correctly prescribed rites—using proper measurements, materials (gold), and offerings—so worship and consecratory acts align with śāstric procedure.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies icon size (thumb-measure), form (four-armed), material (gold), and placement (gold vessel over jaggery with ghee), indicating a precise preparatory step used in worship/consecration contexts associated with temple and image-making traditions.