Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 18
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
अचतुर्बाहुर्वराहस्तु शेषः पाणितले धृतः धारयन् बाहुना पृथ्वीं वाम्नेन कमलाधरः
acaturbāhurvarāhastu śeṣaḥ pāṇitale dhṛtaḥ dhārayan bāhunā pṛthvīṃ vāmnena kamalādharaḥ
വരാഹൻ ചതുര്ബാഹുവല്ല; അവൻ കൈത്തളത്തിൽ ശേഷനെ ധരിക്കുന്നു. ഒരു ഭുജംകൊണ്ട് ഭൂമിയെ താങ്ങി, ഇടത് ഭുജത്തിൽ താമര ധരിക്കുന്നു.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Varaha iconography specification for sculptors: arm-count exception, supporting Earth, inclusion of Śeṣa and lotus as identifying attributes.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Varāha Murti-lakshana (Dharā-dhāraṇa, Śeṣa-hasta, Padma)","lookup_keywords":["Varaha","a-chaturbahu","Shesha","Prithvi-dharana","padma"],"quick_summary":"Depict Varāha as not four-armed; show Śeṣa resting on his palm, one arm supporting the Earth, and the left holding a lotus."}
Concept: Cosmic restoration: the deity bears and stabilizes the world (bhū-dhāraṇa).
Application: In worship and art, emphasize the avatāra’s function (world-support) through clear compositional cues (Earth held aloft, Śeṣa, lotus).
Khanda Section: Avataras (Vishnu-avatara-varnana / Iconography of incarnations)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Varāha shown with fewer than four arms, holding Śeṣa on the palm, lifting/supporting the Earth with one arm, and holding a lotus in the left hand.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Varāha with boar head, non-four-armed depiction, Śeṣa coiled on palm, Earth goddess/earth globe supported, lotus in left hand, saturated colors, temple mural composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Varāha with ornate crown and gold embossing, Śeṣa on palm rendered with jeweled hood, Earth supported prominently, lotus in left, rich gold halo and arch","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean iconographic labeling feel, Varāha non-four-armed, clear placement of Śeṣa-on-palm and Earth-support gesture, delicate pastel palette, fine gesso work","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, Varāha lifting Earth with dynamic posture, Śeṣa detailed with multiple hoods, lotus in left hand, intricate landscape/waters suggesting cosmic rescue"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shree","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अचतुर्बाहुर्वराहस्तु → अ-चतुर्बाहुः-वराहः + तु; pāṇitale is पाणि-तले; participles धृतः/धारयन् from √धृ; वाम्नेन taken as instrumental ‘with the left (arm/hand)’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (avatāra iconography sequence)
FAQs
It conveys murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) for depicting Varāha: the arm-count, the gesture of holding Śeṣa on the palm, supporting the Earth, and carrying a lotus—details used in image-making and temple installation traditions.
Alongside myths, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical specifications for sacred art and worship (iconography), showing how purāṇic literature functions as a reference manual for theology, cosmology, and temple culture.
Meditating on or installing Varāha as Earth-supporter symbolizes divine rescue of the world from chaos and is regarded as merit-producing (puṇya), strengthening devotion and the protective, sustaining aspect of Viṣṇu.