Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 40
Tvaritā-pūjā (The Worship of Tvaritā) — Transition Verse and Context
शरञ्च वरदञ्चापं पाशं भारञ्च घण्टया शङ्खमङ्कुशमभयं पद्ममष्ट च विंशतिः
śarañca varadañcāpaṃ pāśaṃ bhārañca ghaṇṭayā śaṅkhamaṅkuśamabhayaṃ padmamaṣṭa ca viṃśatiḥ
அம்பு, வரத முத்திரை, வில், பாசம், பாரம் (எடை) குறி, மேலும் மணி; சங்கு, அங்குசம், அபய முத்திரை, தாமரை—இவை (மொத்தமாக) இருபத்தெட்டு (அங்கங்கள்/ஆயுத-குறிகள்) என கூறப்பட்டன।
Lord Agni (traditionally narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Iconographic checklist of deity attributes (āyudha/hasta-mudrā) for correct mūrti design and pūjā visualization.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Twenty-eight iconographic attributes: arrow, bow, pāśa, ghaṇṭā, śaṅkha, aṅkuśa, abhaya, padma, etc.","lookup_keywords":["murti-lakshana","ayudha-list","varada-hasta","abhaya-mudra","shankha-ankusha"],"quick_summary":"Enumerates a set of standard divine attributes and hand-gestures used to specify a deity’s form; serves as a reference list for sculptors and ritual visualizations."}
Weapon Type: Arrow (śara), bow (cāpa), noose (pāśa), goad (aṅkuśa)
Concept: Form (rūpa) is a vehicle of function: each attribute encodes a divine capacity—protection (abhaya), boon (varada), restraint (pāśa), guidance (aṅkuśa), purity (padma).
Application: When commissioning or worshipping an image, verify the correct set and placement of attributes to match the intended deity and rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Murti-lakshana and iconographic attributes)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A multi-armed deity diagram with hands holding bow, arrow, noose, bell, conch, goad, lotus, and showing varada and abhaya gestures; the set is presented as a numbered list up to twenty-eight.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central multi-armed deity, each hand clearly holding śaṅkha, ghaṇṭā, pāśa, aṅkuśa, cāpa-śara, padma; varada and abhaya emphasized; flat ornamental background with lotus pond motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: deity with many arms, heavy gold embossing on conch, bell, and lotus; jeweled crown; hands arranged symmetrically; labels subtly inscribed; deep maroon backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clean instructional iconography plate—deity outline with each attribute rendered precisely; soft shading; Sanskrit attribute names near each hand; focus on clarity over ornament.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: refined depiction of a temple atelier where a sculptor paints a deity sketch showing the listed attributes; delicate textiles and architectural niche; fine detailing on weapons and ritual objects."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शरञ्च → शरम् + च; वरदञ्चापं → वरदम् + च + आपम्; भारञ्च → भारम् + च; शङ्खमङ्कुशमभयं → शङ्खम् + अङ्कुशम् + अभयम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 309 (Pūjā-vidhi and mudrā context); Agni Purana 340+ (general mūrti/temple topics in Agni Purāṇa’s śilpa sections, where applicable by recension)
FAQs
It provides iconographic specification (murti-lakṣaṇa) by enumerating the emblems and mudrās—such as bow, arrow, noose, conch, goad, lotus, and the abhaya/varada hand-gestures—used when designing or installing a deity image for worship.
By preserving a technical inventory of ritual-visual standards for deity representation (attributes, gestures, and counts), it functions like a manual for temple art and pūjā practice—one of the many applied disciplines (śilpa/ritual science) compiled in the Agni Purana.
Correctly depicting and worshipping a deity with proper emblems and mudrās is traditionally held to make the ritual valid (yathā-vidhi), supporting focused devotion and generating merit (puṇya) through accurate, scripture-aligned worship.