Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
नरसिंहो विवृत्तास्यो वामोरुक्षतदानवः तद्वक्षो दारयन्माली स्फुरच्चक्रगदाधरः
narasiṃho vivṛttāsyo vāmorukṣatadānavaḥ tadvakṣo dārayanmālī sphuraccakragadādharaḥ
នរសിംហៈ បើកមាត់ធំទូលាយ បានវាយបំផ្លាញអសុរ ដោយភ្លៅឆ្វេង; ពាក់មាលា គាត់បានហែកបើកទ្រូងរបស់វា ខណៈកាន់ចក្រ និងគទាដែលភ្លឺរលោង។
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Guiding Narasiṃha iconography and narrative depiction—open mouth, demon on thigh, chest-tearing posture, and weapons—useful for sculptors, painters, and ritual visualization.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Narasiṃha Ugra-rūpa: Hiraṇyakaśipu-vadha Iconic Scene","lookup_keywords":["Narasiṃha","vivṛtāsya","ūrū","cakra-gadā","vakṣo-dāraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Describes the fierce Narasiṃha moment: gaping mouth, demon subdued on the left thigh, chest torn, garlanded, holding flashing discus and mace—key cues for ugra iconography."}
Alamkara Type: Rūpaka
Weapon Type: Chakra and Mace (cakra, gadā)
Concept: Protection of devotees and restoration of dharma through divine intervention; terror as a form of grace against adharma.
Application: Supports ritual meditation on Narasiṃha for fear-removal and safeguarding; reinforces ethical boundary against tyranny.
Khanda Section: Avataras (Vaishnava Incarnations and Mythic Episodes)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Narasiṃha with lion face and gaping mouth, demon pinned on left thigh, chest being torn open; garland, flashing discus and mace; intense, dramatic moment.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural of Ugra Narasiṃha: bold red-gold palette, wide-open jaws, demon across left thigh, dynamic limbs, cakra and gadā glowing, stylized flames and aura.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore Narasiṃha-vadha: heavy gold halo and ornaments, embossed weapons, demon on thigh, dramatic but symmetrical composition, rich jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting emphasizing iconographic correctness: clear depiction of left-thigh placement, open mouth, chest-tearing hands, labeled cakra and gadā, controlled expressions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of palace interior: Narasiṃha overpowering demon on thigh, fine textile patterns, attendants recoiling, detailed architecture, restrained yet vivid action."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"intense","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"fast","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तद्वक्षो = तत् + वक्षः; दारयन्माली = दारयन् + माली; स्फुरच्चक्रगदाधरः = स्फुरत् + चक्रगदाधरः (त् + च → च्च)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (avatāra iconography run)
FAQs
This verse primarily conveys avatāra-tattva and protective theology: Narasiṁha’s iconography (cakra and gadā) and the decisive act of daitya-vadha, used devotionally as a remembrance of divine protection rather than a procedural ritual instruction.
It preserves a compact mythic-visual template (mūrti-lakṣaṇa style cues like cakra-gadā-dhara, garlanded form, and the mode of slaying), showing how the Agni Purāṇa catalogs avatāra narratives alongside other domains (ritual, polity, medicine, poetics) as a single reference work.
The depiction reinforces faith that dharma is protected when oppression peaks: remembrance of Narasiṁha’s victory is traditionally taken to dispel fear and negate hostile forces, cultivating devotion (bhakti) and moral confidence in divine justice.