Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 46 — शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं
Exposition of the Characteristics of Śālagrāma and Other Sacred Forms
पीतो निरुद्धः पद्माङ्गो वर्तुलो द्वित्रिरेखवान् कृष्णो नारायणो नाभ्युन्नतः शुषिरदीर्घवान्
pīto niruddhaḥ padmāṅgo vartulo dvitrirekhavān kṛṣṇo nārāyaṇo nābhyunnataḥ śuṣiradīrghavān
Il est de teinte jaune en tant qu’Aniruddha; aux membres semblables au lotus; de forme ronde; portant deux ou trois lignes de bon augure; de complexion sombre en tant que Nārāyaṇa; avec le nombril relevé et une cavité ombilicale profonde et allongée.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Murti-lakṣaṇa for painting/sculpting and for dhyāna in pūjā—mapping color, limb-symbolism, and navel features to specific divine aspects (Aniruddha/Nārāyaṇa).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Murti-lakṣaṇa: Aniruddha & Nārāyaṇa bodily marks","lookup_keywords":["Aniruddha pīta","padmāṅga","dvitrirekhā","Nārāyaṇa kṛṣṇa-varṇa","nābhyunnata śuṣira"],"quick_summary":"Gives identifying bodily marks: Aniruddha is yellow and lotus-limbed with a round form and 2–3 auspicious lines; Nārāyaṇa is dark with a raised navel and a deep elongated navel-cavity."}
Concept: Dhyāna requires precise lakṣaṇa—form, color, and marks stabilize the mind on the intended deity-aspect.
Application: Used in pūjā-dhyāna, pratimā-nirmāṇa, and prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā to avoid saṅkara (mixing) of forms.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of Vishnu and related forms)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Two adjacent deity-forms or a single instructional plate: Aniruddha shown yellow with lotus-like limbs and rounded proportions with 2–3 auspicious lines; Nārāyaṇa shown dark with a prominently raised navel and an elongated deep navel-cavity detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Aniruddha in golden-yellow complexion with lotus motifs on limbs, rounded torso, subtle sacred line-marks, beside Nārāyaṇa in deep blue-black complexion, emphasized raised navel and elongated navel cavity, traditional temple border patterns","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Aniruddha and Nārāyaṇa as paired icons with gold halo and heavy ornamentation, lotus-limb detailing, embossed jewelry, careful depiction of navel features, rich red background with gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional rendering of bodily marks, soft pastel background, fine brushwork on the 2–3 line-marks and navel anatomy, Sanskrit labels for Aniruddha and Nārāyaṇa","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature folio, two standing Vishnu aspects with distinct color palettes, delicate shading, anatomical emphasis on navel region, calligraphic captions, floral margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नाभ्युन्नतः = नाभि-उन्नतः (इ + उ → यु). पद्माङ्गः = पद्म-अङ्गः; द्वित्रिरेखवान् = द्वि-त्रि-रेखवान्; शुषिरदीर्घवान् = शुषिर-दीर्घवान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pūjā-vidhi sections; Agni Purana: Viṣṇu-mūrti-lakṣaṇa passages
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic diagnostics): the auspicious color, bodily form, and specific marks (lines and navel-features) used to identify and craft/validate a Viṣṇu/Nārāyaṇa image for worship.
Beyond myth, it preserves applied temple-technology—pratimā-iconography—listing precise physical lakṣaṇas that guide sculptors, priests, and patrons in consecration-ready images, reflecting the Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual arts alongside theology.
Correctly recognizing or installing an image with proper auspicious marks is treated as ensuring the deity’s favorable presence in worship, supporting purity of ritual, efficacy of offerings, and the devotee’s merit (puṇya) through properly aligned devotion.