Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
शङ्खपद्मी इति ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः नराङ्गो वाथ कर्तव्यो भूवराहो गदादिभृत् दक्षिणे वामके शङ्खं लक्ष्मीर्वा पद्ममेव वा
śaṅkhapadmī iti ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakadvayapāṭhaḥ narāṅgo vātha kartavyo bhūvarāho gadādibhṛt dakṣiṇe vāmake śaṅkhaṃ lakṣmīrvā padmameva vā
Menurut bacaan dua manuskrip bertanda (ga dan ṅa), namanya diberikan sebagai “Śaṅkha-padmī”. Arca hendaklah dibentuk bertubuh manusia, atau sebagai Varāha—Sang Babi Hutan yang menegakkan Bumi—memegang gada serta lambang-lambang lain. Pada tangan kanan dan kiri, hendaklah dipegang sangkha (siput suci); dan hendaklah ada Lakṣmī, atau jika tidak, hanya teratai sahaja.
Lord Agni (narrating iconographic rules to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s discourse frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Designing and commissioning a Varāha/Śaṅkha-padmī Viṣṇu icon for pūjā and temple installation, choosing correct body-form (nara/varāha) and emblems per manuscript tradition.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śaṅkha-padmī / Bhū-Varāha Murti-lakṣaṇa (Conch–Lotus Variant)","lookup_keywords":["Śaṅkha-padmī","Bhū-Varāha","gadā","śaṅkha","padma"],"quick_summary":"Gives a manuscript-variant name and prescribes the icon’s body-form (human or boar-lifting-Earth) and emblem set (mace etc.), with conch in hands and Lakṣmī or lotus as accompanying motif."}
Concept: Form (mūrti) as a regulated support for devotion; śāstric correctness (lakṣaṇa) safeguards ritual efficacy.
Application: Use prescribed emblems/attendants to avoid doṣa in pratimā and to align pūjā with sampradāya/manuscript authority.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-lakshana (Iconography of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A Varāha icon variant: either human-bodied Viṣṇu or boar-headed/boar-form lifting Bhū-devī, holding conch and mace; Lakṣmī present or a lotus emblem beside the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of Bhū-Varāha/Śaṅkha-padmī: warm ochres and reds, bold outlines, boar-lifting Earth, conch and mace prominent, Lakṣmī seated near left side, lotus motifs, sanctum-like backdrop.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting of Varāha with Bhū-devī: heavy gold leaf halos, jeweled ornaments, conch and mace, lotus pedestal, optional Lakṣmī, rich maroon background, embossed detailing.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional icon plate: clean linework showing two variants (nara-aṅga and varāha), labeled emblems (śaṅkha, gadā, padma), subdued pastel palette, focus on proportions and hand-positions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of Varāha lifting Earth: fine detailing, patterned textiles, conch and mace gleaming, lotus and attendants, delicate landscape border, manuscript-illustration feel."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वाथ = वा + अथ; लक्ष्मीर्वा = लक्ष्मीः + वा; पद्ममेव = पद्मम् + एव; चिह्नितपुस्तकद्वयपाठः समासरूपम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (murti-lakṣaṇa sequence for avatāras); Agni Purana sections on pratimā-vidhi and pratiṣṭhā within pūjā-vidhi
FAQs
It gives iconographic specifications for a Viṣṇu/Varāha image: permissible body-form (human-bodied or Earth-lifting boar) and required emblems (conch, mace, lotus/Lakṣmī), reflecting murti-lakṣaṇa used in temple making and worship.
By preserving precise, practice-oriented śilpa and pūjā details—down to manuscript variant naming (“Śaṅkha-padmī”) and hand-held attributes—it exemplifies how the Agni Purana compiles ritual, art, and temple-technology alongside theology.
Correctly formed attributes and attendant figures are held to make worship ‘properly addressed’ (yathā-vidhi), supporting devotional efficacy and merit by aligning the image with the deity’s recognized lakṣaṇas.