Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 27
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
शस्त्रं विष्ण्वात्मकं दद्यात् मुखपृष्ठादि दर्शयेत् जितेन्द्रियः टङ्कहस्तः शिल्पी तु चतुरस्रकां
śastraṃ viṣṇvātmakaṃ dadyāt mukhapṛṣṭhādi darśayet jitendriyaḥ ṭaṅkahastaḥ śilpī tu caturasrakāṃ
Il doit présenter l’arme comme étant de nature viṣṇuïque (c’est-à-dire consacrée comme la puissance de Viṣṇu) et en montrer la face, le revers et les autres vues. Le sculpteur—maître de ses sens et le ciseau en main—doit la façonner en forme carrée (à quatre côtés).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic topics)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Technical guidance for crafting/consecrating a weapon/attribute as Viṣṇu-embodied power; depict multiple views (front/back etc.) and begin from a square/four-sided base form; emphasizes self-control and correct tooling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratimā/āyudha-nirmāṇa: Viṣṇv-ātmaka śastra, multi-view depiction, and caturasra base-form","lookup_keywords":["śastra","Viṣṇv-ātmaka","mukhapṛṣṭha","ṭaṅka-hasta","caturasra"],"quick_summary":"When making a divine attribute/weapon, treat it as Viṣṇu’s embodied potency, render it with correct orthographic views, and shape it from a stable square form. Discipline and precision are integral to sacred manufacture."}
Weapon Type: Śastra/āyudha (general; could include chakra, gadā, śaṅkha as icon-attributes depending on context)
Concept: Sacred form is governed by measure, viewpoint, and disciplined agency; the divine is approached through correct making (kriyā) and restraint (jitendriyatā).
Application: In any design/manufacture, use multi-view verification (front/back/side), start from stable geometry, and maintain sensory discipline to reduce defects.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śilpa-śāstra (Iconography and sculptural procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A self-controlled sculptor holding a chisel shapes a square-based divine weapon/attribute, with sketches showing front and back views, treating the weapon as Viṣṇu’s embodied power.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan carving a sacred weapon on a square block, schematic front/back outlines shown as stylized panels, aura indicating Viṣṇu-śakti, bold lines and saturated colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sacred weapon/attribute centered with gold aura, artisan at work with chisel, decorative borders, embossed gold highlighting the consecrated śastra","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical instructional scene: artisan with ṭaṅka, square geometry grid, front/back view diagrams, fine linework and muted tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier with drafts on paper showing multiple views, artisan carving a square form, detailed tools and stone texture, refined composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विष्ण्वात्मकं = विष्णु-आत्मकम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43.26 (artisan preparation and bhāvanā); Agni Purana 43.28 (stone blank and workshop worship before installation)
FAQs
It gives śilpa-vidyā guidance for icon/weapon depiction: the weapon is to be treated as Viṣṇu-identified (ritually and symbolically), shown from multiple views (front/back etc.), and shaped according to a prescribed square/four-sided canonical form using proper tools by a disciplined artisan.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical craft-standards of Vāstu–Śilpa (iconography, tooling, and formal geometry), showing how the Agni Purana functions as a handbook that includes temple-art and technical design norms alongside ritual and mythic material.
By identifying the implement with Viṣṇu and requiring a self-controlled artisan, the act of making becomes a consecrated service (seva) rather than mere craft—supporting purity of intention and correct sacred representation, which is traditionally held to generate religious merit and avoid ritual faults.