Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 38
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
त्रिशातनात्तु श्रीवत्सं शत्रुकृद्वेदलोपनात् शिरः सर्वसमे श्रेष्ठं कुक्कुटाभं सुराह्वये
triśātanāttu śrīvatsaṃ śatrukṛdvedalopanāt śiraḥ sarvasame śreṣṭhaṃ kukkuṭābhaṃ surāhvaye
Du signe nommé triśātana (marque de triple entaille ou frappe) naît l’emblème Śrīvatsa ; du signe qui « engendre des ennemis » et cause la perte du mérite ou du savoir védique, on reconnaît le signe de la tête. Parmi tous les signes, le meilleur est celui qui, dans l’assemblée des dieux, a la forme d’une crête de coq (kukkuṭa).
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Reading and standardizing auspicious bodily/mark-signs (lakṣaṇa) used in iconography and ritual qualification; identifying Śrīvatsa and other head/forehead marks in images and in ritual contexts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Lakṣaṇa of Śrīvatsa and head-marks (kukkuṭa-ākāra)","lookup_keywords":["Śrīvatsa","triśātana","śiraḥ-lakṣaṇa","kukkuṭa-ākāra","lakṣaṇa-śāstra"],"quick_summary":"Defines how specific cut/strike-like mark-patterns are interpreted as auspicious or inauspicious signs, highlighting the best head-mark as cock’s-comb shaped in the divine assembly context."}
Concept: Auspicious/inauspicious semiotics of bodily and emblematic marks (lakṣaṇa) as indicators of merit and ritual fitness.
Application: Use mark-taxonomy to validate iconographic correctness and to guide ritual selection/installation standards.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Lakshana-shastra (Iconography of sacred marks and bodily signs)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A schematic panel showing different sacred mark-shapes on the head/forehead and the Śrīvatsa emblem, with the ‘kukkuṭa’ (cock’s-comb) form highlighted as best.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, divine assembly backdrop, a sage demonstrating head-mark diagrams and Śrīvatsa emblem, ornate borders, traditional pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central emblematic Śrīvatsa and kukkuṭa-shaped head-mark rendered as raised gold relief, flanked by small deity-figures and a seated ācārya explaining lakṣaṇas.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional chart-like composition with labeled mark-shapes on a stylized head, delicate linework, muted palette, minimal background.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly workshop scene with an artist and a pandit examining a folio of mark-diagrams; fine detailing, patterned textiles, marginal annotations."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: त्रिशातनात्तु = त्रिशातनात् + तु; शत्रुकृद्वेदलोपनात् = शत्रुकृत् + वेद + लोपनात्; सुराह्वये = सुर + आह्वये.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54 (lakṣaṇa and pūjā-vidhi sequence)
FAQs
It classifies specific auspicious/inauspicious bodily or head-marks (lakṣaṇas), identifying the Śrīvatsa as an auspicious emblem and contrasting it with marks believed to generate enmity or diminish Vedic merit.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa catalogs practical taxonomies—here, iconographic and omen-like bodily signs used in ritual culture and sacred identification, reflecting its wide-ranging compendium style.
The verse implies that certain signs are linked with auspiciousness (prosperity and divine favor) while others correlate with adverse outcomes such as hostility and decline of sacred learning/merit, guiding devotees toward ritually favorable identifications.