Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
दक्षिणे तु करे चक्रमधस्तात् पद्ममेव च वामे शङ्खं गदाधस्ताद्वासुदेवस्य लक्षणात्
dakṣiṇe tu kare cakramadhastāt padmameva ca vāme śaṅkhaṃ gadādhastādvāsudevasya lakṣaṇāt
Dans la main droite se trouve le disque (cakra) ; au-dessous, le lotus. Dans la main gauche se trouvent la conque (śaṅkha) et, au-dessous, la massue (gadā) : tels sont les signes d’identification de Vāsudeva.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Deity identification for icon-making and dhyāna: correct placement of Vāsudeva’s four emblems in the hands for accurate worship and consecration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Vāsudeva-caturbhuja-cihna-vinyāsa (Discus, lotus, conch, mace placement)","lookup_keywords":["Vāsudeva-lakṣaṇa","cakra","padma","śaṅkha","gadā"],"quick_summary":"Vāsudeva is identified by the specific arrangement of emblems: right hand holds cakra with padma below; left holds śaṅkha with gadā below. This fixes iconographic correctness for worship."}
Weapon Type: Chakra; Gadā
Concept: Dhyāna and pūjā require correct lakṣaṇa; form (rūpa) supports focused devotion and right recognition of the deity.
Application: Use the emblem placement as a checklist in commissioning, carving, painting, or mentally visualizing Vāsudeva during worship.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and dhyana-lakshana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A four-armed Vāsudeva stands in calm majesty, with cakra and padma on the right side (upper/lower) and śaṅkha and gadā on the left side (upper/lower).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Vāsudeva caturbhuja with clear hand-emblem hierarchy, flat yet vibrant colors, ornate jewelry, lotus motifs, emphasis on correct placement of cakra/padma and śaṅkha/gadā","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Vāsudeva with gold-embossed ornaments, prominent cakra and śaṅkha, lotus and mace below, rich arch frame, gold leaf on weapons and jewelry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic clarity: labels implied by composition, soft gradients, precise depiction of cakra, padma, śaṅkha, gadā in correct order","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, regal Vāsudeva with attendants, meticulous rendering of conch and discus, balanced symmetry, architectural pavilion backdrop"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चक्रमधस्तात् = चक्रम् + अधस्तात्; पद्ममेव = पद्मम् + एव; गदाधस्तात् = गदाम् + अधस्तात्; अधस्तात् द्विवारं स्थाननिर्देशः।
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 44 (Vāsudeva and attendant iconography context)
FAQs
It gives a precise iconographic placement (hasta-lakṣaṇa) of Vāsudeva’s emblems—chakra and lotus on the right, conch and mace on the left—used for dhyāna, pūjā, and correct murti identification.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical temple-ritual and image-science details (iconography), functioning as a reference manual for identifying and depicting deities in worship and sacred art.
Correctly recognizing and visualizing Vāsudeva’s defining marks supports accurate dhyāna and pūjā, aligning devotion with the proper form (svarūpa) and thereby strengthening merit (puṇya) and mental purity.