Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
अध्याय ५१: सूर्यादिप्रतिमालक्षणम्
Characteristics of the Images of Sūrya and Others
अथवाश्वारूढः कार्य एकस्तु भास्करः वरदा द्व्यब्जनः सर्वे दिक्पालास्त्रकराः क्रमात्
athavāśvārūḍhaḥ kārya ekastu bhāskaraḥ varadā dvyabjanaḥ sarve dikpālāstrakarāḥ kramāt
Autrement, le Soleil (Bhāskara) doit être façonné comme une figure unique montée sur un cheval; (ses mains doivent montrer) le geste d’octroi des bienfaits et deux lotus. De même, tous les gardiens des directions (Dikpāla) doivent être réalisés, selon l’ordre prescrit, tenant des armes en leurs mains.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition of the Agni Purana, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Surya and Dikpala murti-design for temple installation, household shrine icons, and mandala-based puja layouts; guides sculptors on attributes (mudra, padma, weapons) and patrons on correct icon selection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhaskara (Surya) Ashvarudha Murti & Dikpala Ayudha-hasta","lookup_keywords":["Bhaskara ashvarudha","Surya varada mudra","padma hasta","Dikpala ayudha","pratima-lakshana"],"quick_summary":"Surya is prescribed as a single horse-mounted figure with varada-mudra and two lotuses; the Dikpalas are to be made in their proper order holding weapons, ensuring iconographic correctness in worship and temple art."}
Concept: Pratima-lakshana as a means to stabilize correct devata-bhavana (right conception) in puja.
Application: Use prescribed attributes to avoid iconographic mismatch (viparyaya) in installation, festival processions, and daily aradhana.
Khanda Section: Pratima-Lakshana & Devata-Iconography (Puja-vidhi / Murti-shastra)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Surya icon mounted on a horse, one-bodied, showing varada-mudra and holding two lotuses; around him the eight Dikpalas placed by direction, each holding their characteristic weapons.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Surya ashvarudha at center with glowing aureole, varada hand and twin lotuses, Dikpalas in eight directions with distinct ayudhas, flat warm palette, bold outlines, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Surya on horse with embossed gold halo and ornaments, varada-mudra prominent, lotus attributes, surrounding Dikpalas in directional ring with gold work, rich reds and greens, temple icon feel","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, diagrammatic directional placement of Dikpalas around Surya, labels implied by attributes (weapons), instructional composition with ornate but restrained detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Surya on horse with radiant nimbus, courtly precision, Dikpalas arranged around in a geometric mandala, fine textile patterns, delicate weapon details, balanced margins"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (or Bhairav for gravitas)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अथवा + अश्वारूढः → अथवाश्वारूढः; एकः + तु → एकस्तु; दिक्पालाः + अस्त्रकराः → दिक्पालास्त्रकराः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 51 (Pratima-lakshana sections on Surya and Dikpalas); Agni Purana chapters on mandala/nyasa and puja-vidhi (related placement rules)
FAQs
It gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic rules): how to depict Sūrya/Bhāskara (horse-mounted, single figure, varada-mudrā, two lotuses) and that the Dikpālas should be shown holding their respective weapons in prescribed order.
Beyond mythology, it preserves applied temple-arts knowledge—standardizing deity attributes, gestures (mudrā), and iconographic conventions used by sculptors and ritual specialists, reflecting the text’s coverage of ritual, art, and sacred architecture.
Correct iconography is treated as a condition for proper worship (pūjā) and effective consecration (pratiṣṭhā), supporting merit (puṇya) and orderly devotion by aligning the image with the deity’s recognized form and powers.