Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 22
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
वामे शङ्खञ्च शार्ङ्गञ्च गदां पाशं च तोमरं दक्षिणे चक्रमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गदी रत्यावृत इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः लम्बभ्रुव इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाटः धारयन्नाकुलां पृथ्वीं वामेन कमलामध इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः लाङ्गलं परशुं दण्डं छुरिकां चर्मक्षेपकं
vāme śaṅkhañca śārṅgañca gadāṃ pāśaṃ ca tomaraṃ dakṣiṇe cakramiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gadī ratyāvṛta iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ lambabhruva iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭaḥ dhārayannākulāṃ pṛthvīṃ vāmena kamalāmadha iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ lāṅgalaṃ paraśuṃ daṇḍaṃ churikāṃ carmakṣepakaṃ
Pada tangan kiri ada sangkha (siput suci) dan busur Śārṅga, gada, pāśa (jerat), serta tomara (lembing); pada tangan kanan ada cakra—demikian bacaan varian dalam manuskrip bertanda. Bacaan bertanda lain menyebut: “memegang gada, dilingkari oleh Rati.” Yang lain: “berkening panjang.” Yang lain lagi: “menanggung bumi yang bergoncang; dengan tangan kiri (memegang) Lakṣmī di bawah.” (Senjata lain yang disebut:) bajak, kapak, tongkat, belati, dan senjata lontar dari kulit (alat lempar bertali/perisai).
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to Vasiṣṭha; chapter-level attribution)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Puja-vidhi and murti-nirmāṇa: specifying āyudha-dhāraṇa (which weapons/attributes go in which hands) for correct icon installation, meditation, and ritual visualization; also noting manuscript variants for liturgical recitation and artisan briefs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Āyudha-dhāraṇa (weapon-attributes) in multi-armed deity iconography—variant readings","lookup_keywords":["āyudha-dhāraṇa","śaṅkha cakra śārṅga","pāśa tomara","lāṅgala paraśu daṇḍa","pustakapāṭha bheda"],"quick_summary":"Gives a hand-by-hand inventory of divine attributes (conch, bow, mace, noose, javelin, discus, etc.) and preserves alternate manuscript readings that affect how the deity is visualized and sculpted."}
Weapon Type: Bow (Śārṅga), mace, noose, javelin, discus, plough (as weapon), axe, staff, dagger, leather-cast/strap weapon
Khanda Section: Murti-lakshana & Devata-ayana (Iconography / Ayudha-dharana in Puja-vidhi context)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A grand multi-armed deity stands frontal, each hand holding a distinct weapon/attribute; optional variants show long eyebrows, Lakṣmī held low on the left, and the deity steadying the earth; the composition reads like an iconographer’s inventory.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural of a multi-armed Hari-form, flat bold colors, ornate jewelry, each hand clearly showing śaṅkha, cakra, śārṅga, gadā, pāśa, tomara; include small Bhū-devī/earth motif and Lakṣmī held low in left hand; emphasize long eyebrows variant; traditional floral borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with heavy gold leaf ornaments: central multi-armed Viṣṇu-like deity holding conch, discus, bow, mace, noose, javelin; add secondary weapons (axe, staff, dagger) arranged symmetrically; rich red background, embossed halos, gem inlay effect.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional icon plate: clean linework, labeled hands with each āyudha (śaṅkha, cakra, śārṅga, gadā, pāśa, tomara, lāṅgala, paraśu, daṇḍa, churikā); muted palette, emphasis on clarity and proportion.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a many-armed deity in a palace-like setting, delicate shading and textiles; each hand holds a distinct weapon; include a small globe/earth being steadied; fine calligraphic caption-like cartouches suggesting manuscript variants."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains manuscript notes (cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ etc.) and variant readings; analysis focuses on the main weapon-list segment. Sandhi resolved: śaṅkhaṃ+ca→śaṅkham ca; śārṅgaṃ+ca→śārṅgam ca.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Murti-lakṣaṇa / pūjā-vidhi sequence); Agni Purana iconography sections on Viṣṇu forms and āyudhas (adjacent verses 49.23–49.26)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) by listing the deity’s held emblems/weapons (śaṅkha, cakra, Śārṅga, gadā, pāśa, tomara, etc.), which guides temple installation, meditation (dhyāna), and correct depiction in worship.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical iconographic and material-culture data—weapon typologies and emblem lists—plus records manuscript variants, showing the text’s breadth from ritual arts to textual transmission.
Correctly visualizing and installing a deity with proper attributes is treated as ensuring ritual accuracy (yathā-vidhi), strengthening devotion and yielding steadier merit (puṇya) by avoiding doṣa (ritual/iconographic fault).