Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 46 — शालग्रामादिमूर्तिलक्षणकथनं
Exposition of the Characteristics of Śālagrāma and Other Sacred Forms
नृसिंहः कपिकः स्थूलवक्रः स्यात् पञ्चविन्दुकः वराहः शक्तिलिङ्गः स्यात् तच्चक्रौ विषमौ सृतौ
nṛsiṃhaḥ kapikaḥ sthūlavakraḥ syāt pañcavindukaḥ varāhaḥ śaktiliṅgaḥ syāt taccakrau viṣamau sṛtau
Pour (l’emblème de) Narasiṃha, il doit être « kapika » : épais et courbe, et portant cinq points. Pour (l’emblème de) Varāha, il doit être un « śakti-liṅga » ; et ces deux disques (cakras) doivent être rendus inégaux et placés selon leurs parcours/positions appropriés.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Iconographic specification for Narasiṃha and Varāha emblems/discs in ritual diagrams and sculptural detailing, including dot-count and asymmetry/placement rules.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Cakra-lakṣaṇa for Narasiṃha & Varāha (dot-marks and asymmetry)","lookup_keywords":["Narasiṃha kapika","pañca-bindu","sthūla-vakra","Varāha śakti-liṅga","viṣama-cakra"],"quick_summary":"Narasiṃha’s emblem is thick, curved (‘kapika’) and bears five dots; Varāha’s is ‘śakti-liṅga’ in form, and the two discs are made unequal and positioned in their proper courses."}
Concept: Devata-bheda is preserved through precise lakṣaṇa; asymmetry can be intentional and meaningful in sacred design.
Application: Prevents iconographic error in Narasiṃha/Varāha worship; guides artisans in carving/painting and priests in yantra placement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-Lakshana (Iconography of deities and emblems)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A technical depiction of two emblem designs: Narasiṃha’s thick curved disc with five bindus; Varāha’s śakti-liṅga-like emblem; plus a layout showing two unequal discs placed along prescribed paths/positions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with bold outlines, Narasiṃha emblem as thick curved chakra with five white bindus, Varāha emblem as stylized śakti-liṅga sign, diagrammatic placement of two unequal discs on a ritual grid, traditional border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold embossing on emblem edges, five bindus as raised gem-dots, Varāha śakti-liṅga rendered with gold highlights, composition framed like a temple panel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting instructional sheet, clean geometry, labeled pañca-bindu, curvature emphasized, separate panel showing viṣama (unequal) discs and their sṛti/placement arrows, Sanskrit captions","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature manuscript folio, precise emblem drawings with delicate shading, five-dot Narasiṃha disc, śakti-liṅga Varāha sign, marginal notes and floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: नृसिंहः = नृ-सिंहः; स्थूलवक्रः = स्थूल-वक्रः; पञ्चविन्दुकः = पञ्च-विन्दुकः; शक्तिलिङ्गः = शक्ति-लिङ्गः; तच्चक्रौ = तत्-चक्रौ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Narasiṃha/Varāha avatāra references (kathā portions); Agni Purana: Murti/yantra lakṣaṇa sections
FAQs
It gives iconographic specifications for avatāra-associated marks/emblems—how Narasiṃha’s sign should appear (thick, curved, five bindus) and how Varāha’s sign should be formed (as a śakti-liṅga), including the rule that the paired cakras are unequal and must be positioned correctly.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied śilpa/ritual-technical detail—precise visual standards for sacred emblems used in temple-making, consecration, and image-identification—showing the Purāṇa as a manual of practice, not only narrative.
Correctly formed and placed sacred emblems are treated as essential to proper installation and worship; accuracy is believed to support the intended presence (āveśa) of the deity’s power and to ensure the rite yields merit (puṇya) rather than ritual fault (doṣa).