Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
गदानाभ्यावृतः पीत्या प्रद्युम्नो वा धनुःशरी चतुर्भुजो निरुद्धः स्यात्तथा नारायणो विभुः
gadānābhyāvṛtaḥ pītyā pradyumno vā dhanuḥśarī caturbhujo niruddhaḥ syāttathā nārāyaṇo vibhuḥ
പ്രദ്യുമ്നനെ നാഭിപ്രദേശത്ത് ഗദയാൽ ആവൃതനായി, പീതവർണ്ണപ്രഭയിൽ ദീപ്തനായി ധ്യാനിക്കണം; അനിരുദ്ധനെ ധനുസ്സും ബാണവും ധരിക്കുന്ന ചതുര്ഭുജനായി ധ്യാനിക്കണം. അതുപോലെ സർവ്വവ്യാപിയായ പ്രഭു നാരായണനെയും ധ്യാനിക്കണം.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Meditative visualization (dhyana) and icon planning for Pradyumna and Aniruddha within Vaishnava vyuha worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhyana-lakshana of Pradyumna and Aniruddha (Vyuha meditation)","lookup_keywords":["Pradyumna pita varna","Aniruddha dhanuh shari","Vyuha dhyana","chaturbhuja","Narayana vibhu"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on Pradyumna as yellow-hued with a mace motif at the navel region, and on Aniruddha as four-armed with bow and arrows; extend the contemplation to all-pervading Narayana."}
Weapon Type: Mace; bow and arrows
Concept: Upasana via vyuha-dhyana: form-specific contemplation leading to steadiness of mind and devotion toward Narayana as vibhu (all-pervading).
Application: Use color and ayudha markers as dharana points in japa/puja; align shrine imagery with the intended vyuha.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vaishnava iconography and meditation on Vyuhas)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A contemplative tableau: Pradyumna glowing yellow with a mace-emblem at the navel region, Aniruddha four-armed with bow and arrows, with Narayana’s expansive presence implied behind/above as cosmic pervasion.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Pradyumna in pīta hue with stylized gada motif near nabhi, Aniruddha chaturbhuja holding dhanu and shara, subtle haloed Narayana silhouette in the background, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold halo and ornaments, Pradyumna in yellow garments, Aniruddha with bow-arrows, Narayana’s aura as a large prabhavali behind them, rich gold embossing and jewel tones.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic dhyana plate: Pradyumna (yellow radiance, gada-nabhi marker) and Aniruddha (four arms, bow-arrows), neat hand-attribute clarity, calm devotional setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a yogin/acharya instructing disciples in vyuha-dhyana, painted icons of Pradyumna and Aniruddha on a cloth panel, with a faint cosmic Narayana motif in the sky, intricate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gadānābhyāvṛtaḥ → gadā-nābhi-āvṛtaḥ; dhanuḥśarī → dhanuḥ-śarī; syāttathā → syāt tathā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Vaishnava dhyana/murti-lakshana sequence)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative/iconographic markers) for Vaishnava worship: how to visualize Pradyumna (yellow radiance, associated with a mace) and Aniruddha (four-armed, holding bow and arrows), and then contemplate Nārāyaṇa as the supreme omnipresent Lord.
Beyond narratives, the Agni Purana preserves practical temple-and-home worship technology—precise deity visualization and attributes—functioning like an iconography manual embedded within a Purana.
Correct dhyāna (form, weapons, and radiance) is taught as a means to steady the mind in devotion; such focused contemplation is traditionally held to purify intention and make worship (pūjā/japa) effective and merit-bearing.