Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 21
Chapter 228 — स्वप्नाध्यायः
Svapnādhāyaḥ / Chapter on Dreams
तथा च बहुशीर्षत्वं पलितोद्भव एव च सुशुक्रमाल्यधारित्वं सुशुक्लाम्बरधारिता
tathā ca bahuśīrṣatvaṃ palitodbhava eva ca suśukramālyadhāritvaṃ suśuklāmbaradhāritā
तथा बहुशीर्षत्वं, पलितोद्भवश्च; सुशुक्रमाल्यधारित्वं, सुशुक्लाम्बरधारिता च।
Lord Agni (narrating puranic/ritual-encyclopedic instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi / Devata-dhyana-lakshana","practical_application":"Dhyāna-lakṣaṇa for worship and image-conception: visualizing/depicting a deity or auspicious form with multiple heads, grey-white hair, white garland, and white garments.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śveta-vastra-mālya dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (White-clad, white-garlanded form)","lookup_keywords":["dhyāna-lakṣaṇa","bahu-śīrṣa","palita","śukla-ambara","mālya"],"quick_summary":"Provides meditation/iconographic identifiers—many heads, grey-white hair, spotless white garland, and pure white clothing—useful for pūjā visualization and pratimā conception."}
Concept: Dhyāna as a technology of form: precise visual attributes stabilize the mind and align worship with the intended devatā-bhāva.
Application: Use these markers while doing dhyāna before arcana: mentally ‘dress’ the deity in white, place a white garland, and contemplate the multi-headed, venerable aspect to cultivate śānti and śuddhi.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devata-dhyana-lakshana (Iconography & meditation marks)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A serene divine figure visualized for worship: many-headed, with grey-white hair, wearing a spotless white garland and pure white garments, seated in calm radiance.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal deity portrait with multiple heads arranged symmetrically, pale grey-white hair, white garland and white drapery, subdued sacred palette, calm śānta expression, temple-wall composition.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central multi-headed deity with gold-backed prabhāmaṇḍala, thick white garland rendered with raised gesso, white silk garments with gold borders, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework emphasizing dhyāna-lakṣaṇa details: multiple heads, palita hair texture, clean white garments, minimal background for meditative clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly yet devotional portrait: multi-headed luminous figure in white robes, delicate floral white garland, pale hair, seated on a simple throne with restrained halo, fine brush detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सु + शुक्ल + अम्बर → सुशुक्लाम्बर; धारित + आ → धारिता (taddhita -ता); compounds are descriptive nominalizations.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 228 (transition from lakṣaṇa/svapna to devatā-dhyāna descriptors); Agni Purana (Shilpa/Pratimā-lakṣaṇa sections elsewhere in the text)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna-lakṣaṇas (visualization markers) for worship—describing the deity’s iconographic traits such as multiple heads and white attire/garlands to be used in meditation and pūjā.
By cataloging precise iconographic and dhyāna details used in ritual practice, it functions like a practical manual—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark “how-to” domains alongside temple rites, mantra-usage, and other applied śāstric topics.
Correct visualization and purity-symbols (white garland and garments) support focused devotion (bhakti) and ritual efficacy, aiding mental purification and steadiness in worship.