Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
चक्रशङ्खौ चतुर्बाहुर् नरसिंहश् चतुर्भुजः शङ्खचक्रधरो वापि विदारितमहासुरः
cakraśaṅkhau caturbāhur narasiṃhaś caturbhujaḥ śaṅkhacakradharo vāpi vidāritamahāsuraḥ
Narasimha doit être figuré avec quatre bras, portant le disque (cakra) et la conque (śaṅkha) ; ou bien comme le porteur de conque et de disque ayant mis en pièces le grand asura.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Narasimha-murti design for temple installation and puja: deciding arm-count, ayudhas, and narrative posture (slaying of the asura).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Narasimha Murti-lakshana (Chakra-Śaṅkha, Asura-vidāraṇa)","lookup_keywords":["Narasimha","chakra-shankha","chaturbhuja","asura-vidarana","murti-lakshana"],"quick_summary":"Depict Narasiṃha as four-armed with conch and discus; alternatively emphasize the iconic act of tearing the great demon while retaining conch-and-discus identity."}
Concept: Divine protection of dharma through avatāra; iconographic markers preserve theological identity.
Application: Use fixed identifiers (śaṅkha-cakra) so the deity is ritually recognizable even in narrative (slaying) compositions.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Vishnu Iconography (Murti-lakshana / Puja-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four-armed Narasiṃha bearing conch and discus, shown in the act of tearing a great demon; emphasis on ferocity and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Narasiṃha with four arms holding śaṅkha and cakra, vivid red-gold palette, dynamic tearing of an asura, bold outlines, sacred aura, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Narasiṃha chaturbhuja with śaṅkha-cakra, embossed gold halo and jewelry, central seated/standing fierce posture, demon being torn, rich textiles, temple arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, Narasiṃha with clear ayudha placement (conch and discus prominent), narrative asura-vidāraṇa, soft shading, instructional clarity of iconographic details","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly landscape backdrop, Narasiṃha with conch and discus, dramatic tearing of demon, fine brushwork, patterned garments, expressive faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्बाहुर् → चतुर्बाहुः (visarga restoration); नरसिंहश् → नरसिंहः; शङ्खचक्रधरो → शङ्ख-चक्र-धरः; वापि → वा + अपि; विदारितमहासुरः treated as बहुव्रीहि with internal components विदारित + महा + असुर.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Vishnu-avatara murti-lakshana section)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) for Narasiṃha—depict him as four-armed with the conch and discus, emphasizing his protective, demon-slaying aspect for worship and installation.
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical manual for temple art and ritual—standardizing how deities are represented (attributes, arms, and symbolism), which supports worship, consecration, and icon-making traditions.
Meditating on and worshipping Narasiṃha as the shankha-chakra-bearing protector symbolizes the destruction of inner and outer ‘asuric’ forces, reinforcing faith, protection, and purification through correct devotional representation.