Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 4
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
नागभूषां वज्रकुण्डे खड्गं चक्रं गदां करमात् शूलं शरं तथा शक्तिं वरदं दक्षिणैः करैः
nāgabhūṣāṃ vajrakuṇḍe khaḍgaṃ cakraṃ gadāṃ karamāt śūlaṃ śaraṃ tathā śaktiṃ varadaṃ dakṣiṇaiḥ karaiḥ
蛇を飾りとして身にまとい、金剛形の耳飾りを着ける。右の諸手には順に、剣・輪（cakra）・棍棒を持ち、さらに三叉戟・矢・槍（śakti）を執り、施願の印（varada）を結ぶ。
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Specifying right-hand āyudha order and ornaments for accurate Devi iconography in sculpture, painting, and dhyāna for worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Right-Hand Weapons and Ornaments of the Serpent-Adorned Devī","lookup_keywords":["nāga-bhūṣaṇa","vajra-kuṇḍala","khaḍga","cakra","gadā","varada"],"quick_summary":"Defines ornaments (serpent adornment, vajra-shaped earrings) and enumerates the right-hand implements in order, ending with varada-mudrā. Useful for iconographic verification and ritual visualization."}
Weapon Type: Sword, discus, mace, trident, arrow, spear/javelin
Concept: Dhyāna requires precise āyudha-nyāsa; form and attributes encode the deity’s protective and boon-giving functions.
Application: Use in pūjā visualization and in artisan briefs to ensure the right-hand sequence and mudrā are not interchanged.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of deities and their attributes)
Primary Rasa: vira
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Serpent-adorned Goddess with vajra-shaped earrings; multiple right hands clearly displaying sword, discus, mace, trident, arrow, spear, and varada-mudrā in a readable sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: nāga-bhūṣaṇa Devi with vajra-kuṇḍala, right-side arms fanned with khaḍga-cakra-gadā-śūla-śara-śakti and varada; bold outlines, saturated reds/yellows, luminous halo.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-embossed jewelry and halo; emphasize vajra-shaped earrings; right hands holding sword, discus, mace, trident, arrow, spear; one hand in varada; rich temple backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: fine linework and soft colors; diagrammatic clarity of right-hand order; labels implied by careful rendering of each weapon; calm facial expression with protective stance.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: intricate weapon detailing (steel sheen, jeweled hilt), serpentine ornaments, elegant profile; right-hand sequence displayed with compositional balance; floral border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nāgabhūṣāṃ = nāga-bhūṣām; vajrakuṇḍe = vajra-kuṇḍe; dakṣiṇaiḥ karaiḥ = adjective+noun in instrumental plural. 'karamāt' appears corrupt/uncertain.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Murti-lakṣaṇa lists of āyudhas and mudrās in adjacent verses (309.3–309.6); Agni Purana: Isana-kalpa dhyāna passages for Śakti forms
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa guidance: the prescribed iconographic arrangement of a deity’s right-hand attributes (weapons and the varada boon-bestowing gesture) used for dhyāna, pratimā-nirmāṇa (image-making), and pūjā visualization.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical manual; here it codifies temple and image-science details (attributes, ornaments, and mudrā), integrating ritual practice, art-canons, and theology into a single reference work.
Correctly visualizing and installing the deity with proper attributes is held to stabilize devotion and ritual efficacy; the varada gesture emphasizes the deity’s grace—framing worship as a means for blessings, protection, and purification.