Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 12
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
लाङ्गली मुषली रामो गदापद्मधरः स्मृतः वामोरुहृतदानव इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गौराङ्गश्चायुधावृत इति ख, ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः धनुर्वाणान्वित इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः प्रद्युम्नो दक्षिणे वज्रं शङ्खं वामे धनुः करे
lāṅgalī muṣalī rāmo gadāpadmadharaḥ smṛtaḥ vāmoruhṛtadānava iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gaurāṅgaścāyudhāvṛta iti kha, ga, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ dhanurvāṇānvita iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ pradyumno dakṣiṇe vajraṃ śaṅkhaṃ vāme dhanuḥ kare
ബലരാമൻ ലാങ്ഗലി (നങ്ങൽ)യും മുഷലി (മുസലം)യും ധരിക്കുന്നവനായി, കൂടാതെ ഗദയും പദ്മവും ധരിക്കുന്നവനായി സ്മരിക്കപ്പെടുന്നു. (ചില പാഠഭേദങ്ങളിൽ—“വാമോരുഹൃതദാനവൻ”, “ഗൗരാംഗൻ ആയുധാവൃതൻ”, “ധനുർവാണാന്വിതൻ” എന്നും കാണുന്നു.) പ്രദ്യുമ്നൻ വലങ്കയ്യിൽ വജ്രം, ഇടങ്കയ്യിൽ ശംഖം, കൈയിൽ ധനുസ്സും ധരിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Designing/identifying Vaishnava icons (Balarama, Pradyumna) by their ayudhas for installation, worship, and icon verification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Ayudha-lakshana of Balarama and Pradyumna (Vyuhas/Parivara)","lookup_keywords":["Balarama langala musala","Pradyumna vajra shankha dhanu","Vaishnava ayudha-lakshana","murti-lakshana","vyuha iconography"],"quick_summary":"Balarama is marked by plough/club (with variant manuscript readings on additional attributes), while Pradyumna is identified by vajra, conch, and bow—useful for correct murti-making and dhyana in puja."}
Weapon Type: Bow and arrows; mace/club; vajra (as divine weapon emblem)
Concept: Dhyana through precise iconographic markers (ayudhas) to stabilize devotion and correct ritual focus.
Application: Use the described attributes to choose/commission correct images and to perform accurate mental visualization during worship.
Khanda Section: Iconography & Temple Ritual (Murti-lakshana / Puja-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual/atelier scene showing two Vaishnava figures: Balarama with plough and club (and optional mace/lotus per variant), and Pradyumna holding vajra, conch, and bow; arranged as icons for worship.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat warm palette, Balarama with langala and musala, Pradyumna with vajra-shankha-dhanu, ornate prabhavali, stylized jewelry, sacred aura, minimal background, crisp ayudha detailing.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, embossed ornaments, Balarama and Pradyumna as standing icons, rich textiles, heavy jewelry, clear ayudhas (plough, club, vajra, conch, bow), prabhavali with gold work, deep red background.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional iconography plate: labels for each ayudha, Balarama and Pradyumna in calm frontal stance, emphasis on correct hand-positions and attributes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier depicting sculptors/priests referencing a manuscript while presenting Balarama and Pradyumna icons with their weapons; delicate borders, detailed textiles, precise objects (vajra, shankha, bow, plough)."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gaurāṅgaścāyudhāvṛtaḥ → gaurāṅgaḥ ca āyudha-āvṛtaḥ; dhanurvāṇānvitaḥ → dhanus-vāṇa-anvitaḥ; vāmoruhṛtadānava → vāma-ūru-hṛta-dānava (compound). Variant readings in the prompt (manuscript notes) are treated as separate epithets; analysis focuses on the given continuous pāṭha.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (murti-lakshana/dhyana sequence)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) specifications—what weapons and emblems Balarāma and Pradyumna should hold—used for consecration, temple image-making, and correct visualization in worship.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical temple-arts knowledge: standardized attributes (āyudha/emblems), manuscript variants, and iconographic conventions—material essential for artisans, priests, and ritual manuals.
Correctly identifying and worshipping a deity through proper form and emblems is treated as dharmic accuracy in pūjā; it supports focused devotion (dhyāna) and is traditionally believed to enhance the efficacy and merit (puṇya) of worship.