Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
धमनी तापनी चैव रागिणी विकृतानना वायुवेगा वृहत्कुक्षिर्विकृता विश्वरूपिका
dhamanī tāpanī caiva rāgiṇī vikṛtānanā vāyuvegā vṛhatkukṣirvikṛtā viśvarūpikā
Dhamanī et Tāpanī; Rāgiṇī; Vikṛtānanā (au visage altéré et redoutable); Vāyuvegā (rapide comme le vent); Vṛhatkukṣi (au ventre immense); Vikṛtā (la transfigurée, terrible); et Viśvarūpikā (dont la forme est l’univers).
Lord Agni (narrating Purāṇic ritual/vidyā material to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Recitation of Devi-nāmas as a functional catalogue of powers (heat, passion, speed, cosmic form) for protection, siddhi-seeking, and ritual visualization.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devi Nāma—Dhamanī to Viśvarūpikā","lookup_keywords":["Tāpanī","Rāgiṇī","Vāyuvegā","Vṛhatkukṣi","Viśvarūpikā"],"quick_summary":"A protective/empowering name-list mapping Devi’s śaktis: heating/ascetic force, passionate attraction, windlike swiftness, vast containment, and universal embodiment."}
Concept: Śakti is multi-modal—tapas (tāpanī), rāga (rāgiṇī), vāyu-vega (speed), mahā-kukṣi (containment), viśvarūpa (cosmic totality).
Application: In dhyāna, assign each epithet to a felt quality (heat, attraction, speed, vastness, universality) to stabilize visualization and intent during rakṣā/japa.
Khanda Section: Mantra-shakti & Devi-nama (Protective name-lists / Tantric-ritual recitation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala-like visualization where each name manifests as an attribute: Tāpanī as a halo of heat, Rāgiṇī as red aura, Vāyuvegā as swirling wind, Vṛhatkukṣi as vast womb-like space, Viśvarūpikā as the cosmos-bodied Devi.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central Devi with expanding cosmic body (viśvarūpa), surrounded by five aura-zones labeled; stylized flames for Tāpanī, crimson lotus field for Rāgiṇī, spiral wind motifs for Vāyuvegā, expansive womb/space motif for Vṛhatkukṣi; bold outlines, traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Viśvarūpikā enthroned with gold halo; embossed flames and lotus motifs; side panels showing wind swirls and a vast belly symbolism; heavy ornamentation and gold work.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: diagrammatic yet elegant—central Devi figure with labeled emanations; soft gradients for heat/red/wind; clear iconographic captions for each epithet.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: cosmic allegory—Devi as a universe-bearing figure with stars and planets in her garment; attendants holding scrolls with the names; delicate cloud and wind arabesques."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; वृहत्कुक्षिर्विकृता = वृहत्कुक्षिः + विकृता (visarga sandhi)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (continuation of nāma-vidhi)
FAQs
This verse supplies a segment of a Devi-name list (nāma), intended for mantra-style recitation (japa) and ritual application (e.g., protective remembrance/nyāsa), where each epithet encodes a specific śakti (power-function).
By preserving structured name-lists used in practice (stotra/nāma traditions) alongside other sciences, the Agni Purana functions as a compendium that includes ritual technology—how divine attributes are cataloged for recitation, protection, and worship—beside law, polity, medicine, and arts.
Reciting such nāmas is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, invoke the Devi’s protective presence, and accrue merit (puṇya) through focused remembrance of divine powers expressed as epithets.