Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
रामश्चापी शरी खड्गी शङ्खी वा द्विभुजः स्मृतः गदालाङ्गलधारी च रामो वाथ चतुर्भुजः
rāmaścāpī śarī khaḍgī śaṅkhī vā dvibhujaḥ smṛtaḥ gadālāṅgaladhārī ca rāmo vātha caturbhujaḥ
Rāma est aussi tenu pour être à deux bras (dvibhuja), portant l’arc, les flèches, l’épée ou la conque (śaṅkha). Autrement, Rāma peut être à quatre bras (caturbhuja), tenant en outre la massue (gadā) et le soc de charrue (lāṅgala).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Dhanurveda","practical_application":"Choosing between two-armed and four-armed Rāma icon types and assigning correct emblems (bow, arrows, sword, conch; or mace and ploughshare) for images and festival processions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Rāma Murti-bheda: Dvibhuja vs Caturbhuja with Āyudhas","lookup_keywords":["Rāma dvibhuja","cāpa-śarī","khaḍgī","śaṅkhī","gadā lāṅgala"],"quick_summary":"Defines Rāma’s icon variants: two-armed with bow/arrows (or sword or conch), and four-armed with additional mace and ploughshare—guiding correct depiction and worship identification."}
Weapon Type: Bow and arrows; Sword; Mace (cāpa-śara, khaḍga, gadā)
Concept: Multiplicity of sanctioned forms (bheda) within one deity; attributes communicate function and theological emphasis.
Application: Enables sectarian/temple-specific choices (human-heroic dvibhuja vs cosmic caturbhuja) while remaining within śāstric allowance.
Khanda Section: Murti-lakshana & Deva-pratima-vidhi (Iconography of deities)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Rāma shown in two alternative depictions: (1) two-armed archer with bow and arrows (or sword/conch), (2) four-armed Vaiṣṇava form holding mace and ploughshare along with other emblems.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural showing two panels of Rāma: dvibhuja archer with quiver; caturbhuja Rāma with gadā and lāṅgala, bold outlines, warm palette, temple aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore icon of caturbhuja Rāma: gold-embossed halo, ornate jewelry, clearly rendered gadā and ploughshare, rich red background; secondary inset of dvibhuja archer.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore didactic plate: side-by-side dvibhuja and caturbhuja Rāma, labeled emblems (śaṅkha, khaḍga, gadā, lāṅgala), emphasis on hand placement and symmetry.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of royal Rāma: elegant dvibhuja archer in courtly setting; companion folio-style depiction of four-armed form with mace and ploughshare, fine borders and detailing."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रामश्चापी = रामः + चापी; रामो वाथ = रामः + वा + अथ; गदालाङ्गलधारी समासः (गदा+लाङ्गल+धारिन्)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Rāma/Vāmana/Narasiṃha iconography cluster)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specifications) for depicting Rāma—permitted arm-number (two or four) and the correct attributes/weapons to be placed in his hands for worship and installation.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical temple-arts knowledge—standardized iconography used by sculptors and priests—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual, visual culture, and applied religious technology.
Correctly forming and worshipping the deity-image according to lakṣaṇa is traditionally held to make the worship valid and efficacious, supporting purity of ritual intent and the devotee’s merit (puṇya).