Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
अध्याय ५१: सूर्यादिप्रतिमालक्षणम्
Characteristics of the Images of Sūrya and Others
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं नाम पञ्चाशो ऽध्यायः अथ एकपञ्चाशो ऽध्यायः सूर्यादिप्रतिमालक्षणं भगवानुवाच ससप्ताश्वे सैकचक्रे रथे सूर्यो द्विपद्मधृक् मसीभाजनलेखन्यौ बिभ्रत्कुण्डी तु दक्षिणे
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye devīpratimālakṣaṇaṃ nāma pañcāśo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekapañcāśo 'dhyāyaḥ sūryādipratimālakṣaṇaṃ bhagavānuvāca sasaptāśve saikacakre rathe sūryo dvipadmadhṛk masībhājanalekhanyau bibhratkuṇḍī tu dakṣiṇe
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa—le Mahāpurāṇa primordial—s’achève le cinquantième chapitre, intitulé « Les caractéristiques des images de la Déesse ». Commence maintenant le cinquante et unième chapitre : « Les caractéristiques des images de Sūrya et des autres ». Le Seigneur Bienheureux dit : « Sūrya doit être représenté sur un char tiré par sept chevaux, n’ayant qu’une seule roue ; il tient deux lotus. Il porte un encrier et un stylet d’écriture, et aussi une kuṇḍī, vase d’eau, à sa droite. »
Bhagavān (Lord Agni as narrator of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Direct iconographic specification for crafting/painting Sūrya’s image (ratha, horses, wheel, attributes), useful for temple installation, vrata iconography, and dhyāna in Sūrya-upāsanā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sūrya-pratimā-lakṣaṇa: seven-horse, one-wheel chariot and attributes","lookup_keywords":["Sūrya-pratimā","sapta-aśva","eka-cakra-ratha","padma-dvaya","lekhanyā-masībhājana"],"quick_summary":"Sūrya is to be depicted on a one-wheeled chariot drawn by seven horses, holding two lotuses, and additionally bearing an inkpot, stylus, and a water-pot—forming a canonical template for image-making and worship."}
Concept: Icon as a knowledge-device: precise form (lakṣaṇa) stabilizes worship and transmits tradition; Sūrya embodies regulated cosmic order (ṛta) reflected in measured iconography.
Application: Artists and priests use the lakṣaṇa to ensure recognizability and ritual correctness in installation and daily pūjā.
Khanda Section: Pratima-Lakshana & Murti-Shilpa (Iconography and image-making within Puja-vidhi/Temple Arts)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Sūrya enthroned on a chariot with a single wheel, drawn by seven horses; he holds two lotuses and also bears an inkpot, stylus, and a water-pot, presenting a learned, sovereign solar deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Sūrya on eka-cakra ratha with seven horses in rhythmic line, two lotuses prominent, inkpot and stylus shown as scholarly attributes, warm ochres and reds with a radiant halo","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Sūrya seated on ornate chariot, gold-leaf halo and jewelry, seven horses stylized, lotuses in both hands, small but clear inkpot and stylus, kuṇḍī at right, rich temple-like framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style iconography chart: precise ratha geometry (one wheel), countable seven horses, attribute placement (padma-dvaya, masībhājana, lekhanī, kuṇḍī), clean instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: bright solar court scene with Sūrya on chariot, seven horses rendered naturalistically, delicate depiction of writing tools and water-pot, luminous sky wash"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (if available)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: इत्य्→इति; पञ्चाशोऽध्यायः→पञ्चाशः + अध्यायः; एकपञ्चाशोऽध्यायः→एकपञ्चाशः + अध्यायः; भगवानुवाच→भगवान् + उवाच; ससप्ताश्वे/सैकचक्रे treated as locative compounds qualifying रथे; मसीभाजनलेखन्यौ resolved as dvandva dual; बिभ्रत्कुण्डी→बिभ्रत् + कुण्डी.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 50 (conclusion: Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa); Agni Purana 51 (Sūryādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa section begins)
FAQs
It gives pratimā-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specifications) for depicting Sūrya—his chariot (seven horses, single wheel) and the required attributes (two lotuses, inkpot, stylus, and a water-pot), guiding correct temple-image design and worship visualization.
By prescribing precise visual standards for deity images, it functions like a manual of sacred arts (murti-śilpa) within the Purāṇa, demonstrating how the Agni Purāṇa compiles practical knowledge—ritual, iconography, and temple culture—alongside theology.
Correctly formed and attributed images are traditionally held to support proper worship (arcana) and meditation (dhyāna), helping align devotion with scriptural norms, which is believed to enhance the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of ritual practice.