Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 50 — देवीप्रतिमालक्षणकथनं
Devi-Pratimā-Lakṣaṇa: Characteristics of the Goddess Image
डमरुं शक्तिकां वामैर् नागपाशञ्च खेटकं कुठाङ्कुशचापांश् च घण्टाध्वजगदांस् तथा
ḍamaruṃ śaktikāṃ vāmair nāgapāśañca kheṭakaṃ kuṭhāṅkuśacāpāṃś ca ghaṇṭādhvajagadāṃs tathā
Dans les mains gauches, qu’elle porte le tambour ḍamaru et la lance śaktikā ; ainsi que le lacet-serpent (nāga-pāśa) et le bouclier ; de même la hache, le crochet (aṅkuśa) et l’arc ; et encore la cloche, l’étendard (dhvaja) et la massue (gadā).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Completing the Devī’s iconographic inventory for left hands in tantric visualization (dhyāna) and for sculptural/pictorial accuracy in Śākta worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Caṇḍī Left-hand Attributes (Vāma-kara Ayudha-saṅgraha)","lookup_keywords":["damaru","nagapasha","kuthara","ankusha","dhvaja ghanta gada"],"quick_summary":"Lists the left-hand implements—ḍamaru, śaktikā, serpent-noose, shield, axe, goad, bow, bell, banner, mace—used to complete Caṇḍī’s canonical multi-armed form."}
Weapon Type: Gadā (mace), Cāpa (bow), Kuṭhāra (axe), Aṅkuśa (goad), Kheṭaka (shield), Pāśa (noose)
Concept: Tantric completeness of dhyāna: each implement signifies a function—protection, control, proclamation, and awakening (drum/bell).
Application: Use as a dhyāna checklist during japa/pūjā; for artisans, ensures the left-hand set matches textual authority.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Tantra-vidhi (Iconography and ritual visualization of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A detailed depiction of Caṇḍī’s left hands holding a mix of weapons and ritual emblems: ḍamaru, serpent-noose, shield, axe, goad, bow, bell, banner, and mace, arranged clearly for identification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Caṇḍī multi-armed with left hands prominently displaying ḍamaru, nāga-pāśa, kheṭaka, kuṭhāra, aṅkuśa, cāpa, ghaṇṭā, dhvaja, gadā; strong contours, rhythmic arm arrangement, sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed halo and ornaments, left-hand implements rendered with bright metallic accents—bell and banner especially ornate—balanced composition emphasizing iconographic clarity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout with clean separation of left-hand objects, delicate brushwork, subdued background, focus on accurate shapes of ḍamaru, aṅkuśa, kuṭhāra, dhvaja","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of each implement, elegant fanning of arms, patterned textiles, banner (dhvaja) with calligraphic motif, bell and drum carefully rendered"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामैर् = वामैः; नागपाशञ्च = नागपाशम् + च; कुठाङ्कुशचापांश् = कुठ-अङ्कुश-चापान्; घण्टाध्वजगदांस् = घण्टा-ध्वज-गदाः (द्वितीया बहुवचन).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 50.1 (right-hand list); Agni Purāṇa 50.3 (alternate ten-armed depiction)
FAQs
It lists the specific āyudhas (emblems/weapons) to be placed in the deity’s left hands during iconographic construction or ritual visualization (dhyāna) in pūjā.
Beyond mythic narration, the text functions as a manual: it preserves technical iconographic standards—naming precise implements (ḍamaru, nāgapāśa, aṅkuśa, etc.) used in temple imagery, tantric worship, and ritual arts.
Accurate āyudha-assignment is treated as correctness in worship (yathā-vidhi), supporting focused devotion and ritually “proper” form; such conformity is traditionally held to enhance the efficacy (siddhi) and merit (puṇya) of pūjā.