Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
वामोर्ध्वे लाङ्गलं दद्यादधः शङ्खं सुशोभनं मुषलं दक्षिणोर्ध्वे तु चक्रञ्चाधः सुशोभनं
vāmordhve lāṅgalaṃ dadyādadhaḥ śaṅkhaṃ suśobhanaṃ muṣalaṃ dakṣiṇordhve tu cakrañcādhaḥ suśobhanaṃ
នៅខាងឆ្វេងខាងលើ គួរដាក់នង្គ័ល; ខាងក្រោមដាក់ស័ង្ខដ៏រុងរឿង។ នៅខាងស្តាំខាងលើ គួរដាក់មុសល (ដំបងបុក); ខាងក្រោមដាក់ចក្រដ៏រុងរឿង។
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Murti-lakṣaṇa: specifying the placement of āyudhas (emblems/weapons) in the deity’s hands for correct icon-making and pūjā visualization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Āyudha-vinyāsa (plough, conch, pestle, discus) hand-placement rule","lookup_keywords":["āyudha-vinyāsa","lāṅgala","śaṅkha","muśala","cakra"],"quick_summary":"For this deity-form, place the plough in the upper left, conch below it; pestle in the upper right, and discus below it—ensuring canonical hand-emblem order for iconography and dhyāna."}
Weapon Type: Discus (cakra) and pestle (muśala) as striking weapon; plough (lāṅgala) as implement-weapon symbolism
Concept: Ritual correctness (yathā-vidhi) in representing divinity through prescribed signs (lakṣaṇa).
Application: Ensures pratimā, yantra/dhyāna, and pūjā-visualization match śāstric norms, avoiding doṣa in worship and consecration.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of deities and their attributes)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A four-armed deity-form shown frontally with emblems arranged by quadrant: upper-left plough, lower-left conch, upper-right pestle, lower-right discus; emphasis on symmetry and clear hand positions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, frontal four-armed deity with lāṅgala in upper-left hand, śaṅkha in lower-left, muśala in upper-right, cakra in lower-right, ornate jewelry, lotus pedestal, deep red/ochre background.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halos and embossed ornaments, four-armed deity seated, clearly labeled emblems: plough (upper-left), conch (lower-left), pestle (upper-right), discus (lower-right), rich textiles and gem-studded crown.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework and soft shading, instructional diagram-like clarity of hand-emblem placement, minimal background, emphasis on quadrant labels vāma/dakṣiṇa and ūrdhva/adhas.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined detailing, deity figure centered with attendants faintly suggested, emblems rendered as realistic objects (plough, conch, pestle, discus), architectural frame and floral borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामोर्ध्वे = वाम-ऊर्ध्वे (अव्ययीभाव); दद्यादधः = दद्यात् + अधः; चक्रञ्चाधः = चक्रम् + च + अधः; गौराङ्गश्च/चक्रञ्च इत्यत्र 'म्/ः + च' संधौ अनुस्वार/श्च रूपम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Pūjā-vidhi / Mūrti-lakṣaṇa sections on āyudha and hasta-mudrā placement)
FAQs
It gives a precise iconographic rule for arranging a deity’s hand-held emblems: plough and conch on the left (upper/lower), pestle and discus on the right (upper/lower), ensuring canonical symmetry in worship-images.
Beyond myth and theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied temple-arts knowledge (murti-śāstra): standardized placement of attributes used by sculptors, painters, and priests for correct consecration and ritual usability of images.
Correct iconographic placement is treated as part of śāstric conformity in worship; it supports proper visualization and ritual correctness, believed to enhance the auspicious efficacy (śubha-phala) of pūjā and consecration.