Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Chapter 46 — शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं
Exposition of the Characteristics of Śālagrāma and Other Sacred Forms
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये पिण्डिकालक्ष्मादिलक्षणं नाम पञ्चचत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः अथ षट्चत्वारिंशो ऽध्यायः शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं भगवानुवाच शालग्रामादिमूर्तेश् च वक्ष्येहं भुक्तिमुक्तिदाः वासुदेवो ऽसितो द्वारे शालग्रामद्विचक्रकः
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye piṇḍikālakṣmādilakṣaṇaṃ nāma pañcacatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ṣaṭcatvāriṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śālagrāmādimūrtilakṣaṇakathanaṃ bhagavānuvāca śālagrāmādimūrteś ca vakṣyehaṃ bhuktimuktidāḥ vāsudevo 'sito dvāre śālagrāmadvicakrakaḥ
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa s’achève le quarante-cinquième chapitre intitulé « Les caractéristiques de Piṇḍikā-Lakṣmī et des autres ». Commence maintenant le quarante-sixième chapitre, « Exposé des caractéristiques de Śālagrāma et d’autres formes sacrées ». Le Seigneur Bienheureux dit : « Ici je décrirai les formes à commencer par Śālagrāma, celles qui accordent la jouissance mondaine (bhukti) et la délivrance (mukti). Vāsudeva est de teinte sombre ; à la “porte/ouverture” (dvāra) se trouvent les signes de deux roues-disques—c’est le Śālagrāma à deux cakra. »
Bhagavān (Lord Agni as narrator in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Identification and worship-classification of Śālagrāma stones: recognizing Vāsudeva type by color and cakra marks near the dvāra/opening; using it for bhukti (worldly welfare) and mukti (liberation) oriented worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Śālagrāma-mūrti: Vāsudeva (asita) two-cakra at the dvāra","lookup_keywords":["Śālagrāma","Vāsudeva","asita (dark)","dvāra (opening)","dvi-cakra"],"quick_summary":"Defines a Śālagrāma form: the Vāsudeva type is dark-hued and bears two cakra-wheel marks at the dvāra/opening; such forms are praised as granting both enjoyment and liberation when worshipped properly."}
Concept: Aniconic devotion: recognizing divinity through lakṣaṇa (marks) and worshipping with faith yields bhukti and mukti.
Application: Select/verify a Śālagrāma by canonical marks; install and worship it as Vāsudeva with appropriate upacāras to align worldly duty with liberation-oriented practice.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and Shalagrama worship)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: River
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest holds a dark Śālagrāma stone close-up, showing a distinct dvāra/opening and two cakra-like spiral marks; nearby are tulasī leaves, water vessel, conch, and lamp, indicating worship that grants bhukti and mukti.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, close-up sacred stone (śālagrāma) in priest’s hands, dark glossy form with two spiral cakra marks near an opening, tulasī and lamp, temple sanctum ambiance, bold outlines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, śālagrāma on a pedestal with gold-leaf halo motif, priest offering tulasī and water, two cakra marks clearly stylized, rich ornamented frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional yet devotional: labeled dvāra and dvi-cakra marks on the stone, soft colors, neat ritual items arranged (pañcapātra, śaṅkha, dīpa)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate household shrine scene, priest examining the stone’s marks, detailed vessels and textiles, naturalistic rendering of the dark stone with spiral emblems"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य् = इति (य्-आदेशः); पञ्चचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः = पञ्चचत्वारिंशः + अध्यायः; षट्चत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः = षट्चत्वारिंशः + अध्यायः; भगवानुवाच = भगवान् + उवाच; वक्ष्येहं = वक्ष्ये + अहम्; वासुदेवोऽसितो = वासुदेवः + असितः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 45 (Piṇḍikā-Lakṣmī and iconographic preliminaries); Agni Purana 46 (subsequent Śālagrāma varieties and marks)
FAQs
It introduces Śālagrāma-mūrti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic diagnostics): how to recognize a Vāsudeva-type Śālagrāma by features like dark coloration and the presence of two cakra-marks near an aperture (dvāra).
It catalogs a specialized ritual-technical domain—sacred-object identification and classification—showing the Purāṇa’s breadth beyond narrative into practical worship manuals (lakṣaṇa, typology, and ritual applicability).
The verse frames Śālagrāma forms as bhukti-mukti-dāḥ—supporting both worldly well-being and liberation—so correct identification and reverent worship are presented as spiritually efficacious.