Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images
अष्टहस्ताश् चतुर्हस्ता इच्छास्त्राः सर्वसिद्धिदाः हः रससङ्ग्राही इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः वसुसङ्ग्राही इति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कालवर्णी इति ग, घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः चण्डा चण्दवतीति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः वामनी इति ख, ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भैरवश्चार्कहस्तः स्यात् कूर्परास्यो जटेन्दुभृत्
aṣṭahastāś caturhastā icchāstrāḥ sarvasiddhidāḥ haḥ rasasaṅgrāhī iti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vasusaṅgrāhī iti gha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kālavarṇī iti ga, gha, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ caṇḍā caṇdavatīti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vāmanī iti kha, ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ bhairavaścārkahastaḥ syāt kūrparāsyo jaṭendubhṛt
Les déesses d’accompagnement doivent être figurées avec huit bras ou avec quatre bras, portant les armes souhaitées; elles sont dispensatrices de tous les siddhi. Bhairava doit être représenté tenant un bouclier en main, le visage farouche et contracté, les cheveux en jaṭā, portant la lune comme emblème dans sa chevelure.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with the sage Vasiṣṭha, as the Purāṇic instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Iconographic specification for dhyāna and image-making: number of arms, weapons, and key features of Bhairava for correct ritual visualization and murti/painting execution.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūrti-lakṣaṇa: Attendant Goddesses (4/8 arms) and Bhairava with Kheṭaka, Jaṭā, and Candra","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭa-hasta","catur-hasta","Bhairava iconography","jaṭā-candra","siddhi-dā"],"quick_summary":"Prescribes how to depict attendant goddesses with four or eight arms holding chosen weapons, and how to depict Bhairava with shield, fierce face, matted hair, and moon emblem—ensuring ritual correctness and siddhi-oriented dhyāna."}
Weapon Type: Shield (kheṭaka/phalaka) and unspecified ‘desired weapons’ for attendants
Concept: Form (rūpa) as a ritual technology: correct iconography stabilizes dhyāna and channels śakti toward siddhi.
Application: For pūjā, dhyāna, and consecration (pratiṣṭhā), follow arm-count, attributes, and emblems to avoid doṣa in worship and to maintain sampradāya consistency.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Tantra: Devata-dhyana and iconographic specifications (mūrti-lakṣaṇa)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple-atelier or sanctum visualization: Bhairava stands fierce with shield, matted hair crowned by a crescent moon; around him attendant goddesses with four or eight arms hold varied weapons, forming a protective retinue.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: Bhairava in dynamic stance, dark complexion, jaṭā with crescent moon, large round shield; surrounding yoginīs with 4/8 arms holding weapons; bold outlines, flat color fields, ritual symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Bhairava under ornate prabhāmaṇḍala with gold leaf; crescent moon in jaṭā highlighted; attendants in smaller scale around; heavy jewelry, embossed gold for weapons and shield rim.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear iconographic plate—front-facing Bhairava with labeled attributes (shield, jaṭā, candra); attendants arranged in registers showing 4-armed and 8-armed variants; delicate shading and precise linework.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: atelier scene with painters preparing a deity image; Bhairava depicted on a panel with crescent in hair and shield; attendants sketched around; fine brushwork, patterned borders, subdued yet intense palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अष्टहस्ताश् = अष्टहस्ताः (visarga before c); भैरवश्च = भैरवः + च; कूर्परास्यो = कूर्परास्यः (visarga before j); जटेन्दुभृत् = जटा + इन्दु + भृत्. The embedded critical apparatus text (haḥ ... iti ...) is treated as non-verse editorial matter and excluded from pada analysis.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Īśāna-kalpa / devatā-dhyāna sequence); Agni Purana iconography chapters elsewhere (mūrti-lakṣaṇa and pratiṣṭhā-related material)
FAQs
It gives mūrti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic rules) for visualizing/constructing Bhairava and associated śaktis—number of arms, weapons, and identifying emblems like the shield, matted hair, and crescent moon—used in pūjā, dhyāna, and temple/yantra contexts.
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves practical technical guidance for ritual arts—standardized deity iconography (arms, weapons, marks). This is characteristic of the Agni Purana’s broad coverage of applied disciplines such as tantra, temple practice, and sacred image-making.
Correct iconographic visualization and installation are traditionally held to align worship with the deity’s intended form, supporting siddhi-oriented practice and removing ritual defects (doṣa), thereby increasing the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of worship.