Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 19
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
पादलग्ना धरा कार्या पदा लक्ष्मीर्व्यवस्थिता त्रैलोक्यमोहनस्तार्क्ष्ये अष्टबाहुस्तु दक्षिणे
pādalagnā dharā kāryā padā lakṣmīrvyavasthitā trailokyamohanastārkṣye aṣṭabāhustu dakṣiṇe
ធរា (ព្រះនាងផែនដី) គួរត្រូវបង្កើតឲ្យជាប់លាប់នឹងព្រះបាទ; ហើយលក្ខ្មី គួរត្រូវបង្ហាញឲ្យឈរនៅជិតព្រះបាទ។ លើតារក្ស្យ (គរុឌ) គួរត្រូវគូរព្រះ «អ្នកមន្តស្នេហ៍បីលោក»; ហើយខាងស្តាំ គួរត្រូវបង្ហាញជាទម្រង់មានដៃប្រាំបី។
Lord Agni (narrating iconographic rules to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Compositional placement rules for a multi-figure Vaishnava icon: positioning Dharā and Lakṣmī at the feet, Garuḍa mount, and specifying an eight-armed right-side figure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pārśva-devatā & Adhiṣṭhāna-vinyāsa (Dharā-Lakṣmī at Feet; Tārkṣya; Aṣṭabāhu)","lookup_keywords":["Dharā","Lakṣmī","pāda-lagna","Tārkṣya","aṣṭabāhu"],"quick_summary":"Arrange attendant figures: Earth-goddess clinging to the feet, Lakṣmī standing at the feet; depict the ‘Enchanter of the Three Worlds’ upon Garuḍa, with an eight-armed figure on the right side."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct vinyāsa (placement) and recognizable divine hierarchy around the main deity.
Application: When commissioning or installing icons, ensure attendant deities occupy prescribed positions (feet, left/right flanks, vāhana) to align with āgamic visualization.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of Deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central Vaishnava icon with Earth-goddess clinging at the feet and Lakṣmī standing near the feet; Garuḍa mount present; a right-side eight-armed attendant/aspect; overall symmetrical temple-icon composition.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Vishnu-related icon with Garuḍa, Bhūdevī clinging to feet, Lakṣmī standing at feet, right-side aṣṭabāhu figure, flat iconic staging, bold contours, sacred lamps motif","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, multi-figure Vaishnava tableau with gold embossing, Bhūdevī at feet, Lakṣmī at feet, Garuḍa beneath/behind, right-side eight-armed figure, ornate arch and halo work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity of placements (feet zone attendants, vāhana, right flank aṣṭabāhu), delicate colors, fine ornamentation, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly devotional scene with central deity on Garuḍa, Bhūdevī at feet, Lakṣmī nearby, right-side eight-armed figure, intricate textiles and architectural frame"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: लक्ष्मीर्व्यवस्थिता → लक्ष्मीः + व्यवस्थिताः (here fem. sg. व्यवस्थिता); त्रैलोक्यमोहनस्तार्क्ष्ये → त्रैलोक्य-मोहनः + तार्क्ष्ये; अष्टबाहुस्तु → अष्ट-बाहुः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (pārśva-devatā and ayudha/arm specifications continuing into 49.20–49.21)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) instructions: how to position Bhū/Dharā and Lakṣmī near the deity’s feet, how Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) is associated, and that the right-side form is to be shown as eight-armed.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa functions as a practical manual by prescribing concrete temple-arts standards—figure placement, attributes, and compositional rules—used by sculptors and ritual specialists.
Correct iconographic placement is treated as dharmic precision in worship: an accurately formed image supports proper dhyāna (meditation) and pūjā, believed to yield steadiness of devotion and auspiciousness (śrī) in the worshipper’s life.