Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 25
Worship of Gaurī and Others (Gauryādi-pūjā) — Mantra, Maṇḍala, Mudrā, Homa, and Mṛtyuñjaya Kalaśa-Rite
चतुर्मुखं चतुर्वाहुं द्वाभ्याञ्च कलसन्दधत् वरदाभयकं द्वाभ्यां स्नायाद्वैकुम्भमुद्रया
caturmukhaṃ caturvāhuṃ dvābhyāñca kalasandadhat varadābhayakaṃ dvābhyāṃ snāyādvaikumbhamudrayā
On doit accomplir le bain rituel (snāna) de la divinité ou de son icône en la contemplant à quatre visages et quatre bras : de deux mains plaçant/tenant le kalaśa (aiguière d’eau), et des deux autres montrant les mudrā de don (varada) et d’absence de crainte (abhaya), en accomplissant le bain selon la mudrā de Vaikuṇṭha.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Murti-dhyāna and abhiṣeka: visualize/establish a four-faced, four-armed form with specific hand-functions (kalasa-holding; varada/abhaya), and perform bathing with Vaikuṇbha-mudrā for consecration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Caturmukha-caturbhuja-dhyāna with Kalasa-hasta and Varada-Abhaya; Vaikuṇbha-mudrā Abhiṣeka","lookup_keywords":["caturmukha","caturbhuja","varada","abhaya","abhiṣeka"],"quick_summary":"For abhiṣeka, contemplate the deity as four-faced and four-armed: two hands with pitchers, two in varada and abhaya; bathe while employing Vaikuṇbha-mudrā."}
Concept: Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (precise form) guides kriyā (abhiṣeka); gestures embody grace (varada) and protection (abhaya).
Application: During abhiṣeka, keep the visualization synchronized with hand-gestures and kalasa handling to maintain ritual coherence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Murti-dhyana and Abhisheka-vidhana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a sanctum, a four-faced, four-armed deity is bathed: two hands hold water pitchers, two hands show varada and abhaya; priests pour water in a steady stream while forming Vaikuṇbha-mudrā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal caturmukha deity with four arms, clear varada/abhaya, twin kalasas, abhiṣeka stream stylized, deep reds/ochres, temple interior framing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, deity with four faces and four arms, gold foil on ornaments and halo, priests with kalasas, abhiṣeka rendered as pearl-like streams, ornate arch backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, refined linework emphasizing hand-gestures (varada/abhaya) and kalasa placement, calm sanctum scene, soft pastel palette, instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple interior with pillars, priests performing abhiṣeka, multi-faced deity rendered with careful symmetry, delicate textiles and vessels, subtle light."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: kalasandadhat = kalasam + dadhat; snāyādvaikumbhamudrayā = snāyāt + vai-kumbha-mudrayā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 325 (mudrā-vidhi; pūjā-vidhi); Agni Purana 326 (devālaya context for worship)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific abhiṣeka (ritual bathing) procedure using iconographic hand-positions: two hands with a kalaśa (water vessel) and two hands in varada and abhaya mudrās, performed with the Vaikuṇṭha-associated mudrā.
Beyond mythology, it encodes practical temple-ritual and iconographic standards—detailing how a deity’s form and mudrās are to be ritually enacted during abhiṣeka—showing the Purana’s coverage of applied liturgy and worship-technology.
Performing abhiṣeka with correct mudrā and devotional iconography is held to purify the worshipper, stabilize concentration (dhyāna), and invoke the deity’s grace symbolized by varada (bestowal) and abhaya (protection).