Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 35
Ayuta–Lakṣa–Koṭi Fire-offerings (अयुतलक्षकोटिहोमाः) — Graha-yajña Vidhi
चतुर्हस्तं द्विहस्तं वा तार्क्षञ्चात्राधिकं यजेत् सामध्वनिशीरस्त्वं वाहनं पमेष्ठिनः
caturhastaṃ dvihastaṃ vā tārkṣañcātrādhikaṃ yajet sāmadhvaniśīrastvaṃ vāhanaṃ pameṣṭhinaḥ
ਇੱਥੇ ਤਾਰਕ੍ਸ਼੍ਯ (ਗਰੁੜ) ਦੀ ਪੂਜਾ ਚਾਰ-ਭੁਜਾ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ, ਜਾਂ ਦੋ-ਭੁਜਾ ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ, ਜਾਂ ਹੋਰ ਵੀ ਉੱਚੇ (ਵਧੇਰੇ) ਰੂਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਰਨੀ ਚਾਹੀਦੀ ਹੈ। ਹੇ ਸਾਮ-ਧੁਨੀ ਨਾਲ ਸੁਸ਼ੋਭਿਤ ਸਿਰ ਵਾਲੇ, ਤੂੰ ਪਮੇਸ਼ਠਿਨ (ਬ੍ਰਹਮਾ) ਦਾ ਵਾਹਨ ਹੈਂ।
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Guiding worship and iconographic options for Tārkṣya (Garuḍa)—two-armed, four-armed, or augmented forms—along with a praise identifying him as Brahmā’s vehicle and linked to Sāman resonance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Tārkṣya (Garuḍa) Worship: Two-armed/Four-armed/Augmented Forms","lookup_keywords":["Tārkṣya","Garuḍa","caturhasta","dvihasta","Pameṣṭhin (Brahmā)"],"quick_summary":"The verse authorizes multiple iconographic forms of Garuḍa for worship and frames him with a stuti: resonant with Sāman-chants and serving as the vāhana of Pameṣṭhin (Brahmā)."}
Alamkara Type: Epithets (nāma-guṇa-kīrtana) / stuti-style praise
Concept: Upāsanā accommodates multiple sanctioned forms (rūpa-bheda) while preserving deity-tattva through names, functions, and sacred associations (Sāman, vāhana).
Application: When commissioning/choosing a Garuḍa image for worship, select a two-armed or four-armed form as per tradition and accompany worship with identifying stuti.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Iconography and Deity-Worship Procedures)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An altar or shrine where Garuḍa (Tārkṣya) is worshipped; alternative depictions show him as two-armed and four-armed, radiant and exalted; subtle musical motif indicating Sāman resonance; Brahmā association implied through symbols (kamandalu, lotus, or hamsa motifs nearby).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: majestic Garuḍa with golden-brown wings, either dvihasta or caturhasta, standing in añjali-ready posture near a shrine, stylized Sāman sound waves as decorative bands, traditional flat perspective and ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Garuḍa icon with embossed gold on ornaments and wings, optional four arms holding traditional emblems, rich jewel tones, devotional shrine setting with lamps and offerings.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean iconographic presentation comparing two-armed and four-armed Garuḍa variants side-by-side, fine linework, soft colors, emphasis on attributes and posture for worship.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: courtly devotional scene with a painted Garuḍa icon, musicians or chanters suggesting Sāman resonance, delicate detailing of feathers and textiles, restrained palette with fine ornament."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तार्क्षञ्चात्राधिकम् = तार्क्षम् च अत्र अधिकम्; चतुर्हस्तम् = चतुर्-हस्तम् (र् + ह); शीरस्त्वम् = शीरस् + त्वम् (स् + त्व → स्त्व)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana: mūrti-lakṣaṇa and devatā-pratimā sections (iconography chapters); Agni Purana: pūjā-vidhi sequences for attendant deities/vāhanas
FAQs
It gives a pūjā-vidhi option for visualizing and worshiping Tārkṣya (Garuḍa) in different iconographic forms (two-armed, four-armed, or an augmented form) and identifies his role as the vahana (mount) of Pameṣṭhin (Brahmā).
By recording practical temple/ritual details—iconographic variants, liturgical associations (Sāman sound), and deity-vehicle theology—it functions like a ritual manual embedded within a Purāṇa, illustrating the text’s wide coverage beyond narrative mythology.
Correct form-based worship (yajana/pūjā) aligned with Vedic sanctity (Sāman resonance) is presented as a purifying act that harmonizes the worshiper with divine order and earns ritual merit through properly constituted devotion.