Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 8
Chapter 305 — Narasiṃha and Related Mantras (नारसिंहादिमन्त्राः)
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मशलाकाङ्कुशपाणिनम् चापिनं पिङ्गकेशाक्षमरव्याप्तत्रिपिष्टपं
śaṅkhacakragadāpadmaśalākāṅkuśapāṇinam cāpinaṃ piṅgakeśākṣamaravyāptatripiṣṭapaṃ
शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मशलाकाङ्कुशपाणिं चापिनं पिङ्गकेशाक्षं त्रिपिष्टपव्याप्तं मारजितं ध्यायेत्॥
Lord Agni (narrating to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Dhyāna for correct iconographic visualization of a Vaiṣṇava protective form with multiple weapons/implements before mantra, yantra, or homa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa: Multi-armed Vaiṣṇava Form with Śaṅkha–Cakra–Gadā–Padma and Bow","lookup_keywords":["shankha","cakra","gada","padma","ankusha"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on a tawny-haired, death-conquering, tri-heaven-pervading deity bearing conch, discus, mace, lotus, rod, goad, and also a bow—an iconographic specification for ritual visualization."}
Weapon Type: Discus (cakra), mace (gadā), bow (cāpa), goad (aṅkuśa) as control/command implement
Concept: Dhyāna as upāsanā-yantra: precise form-contemplation channels protective power and steadies mind.
Application: Use the specified attributes as a checklist in meditation so the invoked form is unambiguous and ritually ‘correct’.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Dhyana (Iconography of Vishnu and attendant deities)
Primary Rasa: vīra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A majestic tawny-haired deity fills the three worlds with radiance, shown with many arms holding conch, discus, mace, lotus, rod, goad, and a bow—standing or seated as a cosmic protector overcoming Māra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, saturated reds/ochres, multi-armed Vaiṣṇava protector with śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-padma plus śalākā and aṅkuśa, bow in another hand, expansive aura suggesting tri-loka-vyāpti, subdued Māra figure at feet","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold halo and ornaments, multi-armed deity with clearly rendered āyudhas, tawny hair highlights, cosmic backdrop with three-tiered heavens, small defeated Māra motif, rich jewel tones","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, precise depiction of each implement labeled by form, balanced composition, soft pastel background indicating three worlds, deity’s tawny hair and calm yet powerful gaze, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intricate weapon details, layered celestial architecture for three heavens, deity with multiple arms, tawny hair, subdued Māra as a dark figure, fine floral borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: समास-विग्रहः: शङ्खचक्रगदापद्मशलाकाङ्कुशपाणिनम् (बहुव्रीहि); पिङ्गकेशाक्षम् (कर्मधारय); अरव्याप्तत्रिपिष्टपम् (तत्पुरुष).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 305 (dhyāna preceding yantra-lekhana and homa)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconographic specification): the practitioner is instructed to visualize the deity by enumerating the exact emblems/weapons held in the hands and cosmic scope (pervading the three heavens).
Beyond narrative theology, it preserves practical ritual-technology: standardized iconography (āyudha and mudrā/attributes) used in pūjā, temple installation, and mantra-dhyāna—showing the Purāṇa’s catalog-like coverage of worship procedure and sacred art norms.
Correct dhyāna is treated as a purifier in pūjā: fixing the mind on the deity’s auspicious attributes is said to stabilize devotion, remove fear of death (mara), and align the worshipper with protective divine power across the three worlds.