Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
गजचर्मधरो द्वाभ्यां कृत्तिवासोहिभूषतः प्रेताशनो मातृमध्ये पूज्यः पञ्चाननोथवा
gajacarmadharo dvābhyāṃ kṛttivāsohibhūṣataḥ pretāśano mātṛmadhye pūjyaḥ pañcānanothavā
On doit le méditer et l’adorer comme celui qui porte une peau d’éléphant, vêtu d’un habit de peau et paré de serpents; comme celui qui mange l’offrande (impure) associée aux morts; établi au milieu des Mères (Mātṛkā); ou encore comme la forme à cinq visages (Pañcānana).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa for selecting/visualizing the Rudra–Bhairava/Pañcānana form during Mātṛkā-centered pūjā; guides icon selection and ritual focus.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Bhairava/Pañcānana Dhyāna with Mātṛkās (Gajacarma, Kṛttivāsa, Nāgabhūṣaṇa)","lookup_keywords":["Bhairava","gajacarma","kṛttivāsa","Mātṛkā","Pañcānana"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the deity as elephant-hide bearer, hide-clad, serpent-adorned, and Mātṛkā-centered; alternatively worship as five-faced Pañcānana. This fixes the dhyāna-form used for mantra-japa and pūjā."}
Concept: Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (form-specification) as a prerequisite for effective mantra/pūjā; integrating Mātṛkā-śakti with Rudra/Bhairava.
Application: Choose one sanctioned visualization (Bhairava amid Mātṛkās or Pañcānana) to stabilize japa, nyāsa, and offering-sequence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaiva-Tantra (Rudra-Bhairava and Matrika-related worship)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Fierce Bhairava/Śiva stands or sits amid a circle of Mātṛkās, wearing elephant-hide and a hide garment, serpents as ornaments; alternate depiction as five-faced Pañcānana.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Bhairava/Śiva with gajacarma and nāga ornaments, surrounded by seven/eight Mātṛkās in a circular mandala, bold flat colors, ornate jewelry, sacred ash markings, dramatic raudra mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Pañcānana Śiva/Bhairava with five faces, gold foil halo and heavy ornamentation, Mātṛkās flanking in symmetrical arrangement, elephant-hide motif rendered with texture, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework and soft shading, instructional iconography: labels implied by attributes (elephant-hide, serpents), Mātṛkā placement emphasized, calm but powerful composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles and animal-hide textures, Bhairava amid attendant goddesses, fine serpentine ornaments, architectural niche background, controlled palette with intense focal figure"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कृत्तिवासोहिभूषतः → कृत्तिवासः + हि + भूषतः; पञ्चाननोथवा → पञ्चाननः + अथवा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Pūjā-vidhi; Mātṛkā/Bhairava context)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna–lakṣaṇa (iconographic markers) for selecting and worshipping specific Śiva-forms—two-armed, hide-clad, serpent-adorned, Mātṛkā-midst, or the Pañcānana form—used as the visualization basis for pūjā.
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves practical ritual technology: precise deity-forms, attributes, and placement (e.g., among the Mātṛkās), functioning like a handbook for temple/household worship and tantric visualization.
Correctly visualizing and worshipping the intended Śiva-form is presented as a means to align the devotee with that form’s śakti—protective, purificatory, and obstacle-removing—especially in fierce/guardian aspects associated with liminal rites.