Matsya Purana — Iconographic Standards for the Navagrahas, Shloka 1

Devanagari script

*शिव उवाच पद्मासनः पद्मकरः पद्मगर्भसमद्युतिः सप्ताश्वः सप्तरज्जुश्च द्विभुजः स्यात्सदा रविः //

Transliteration

*śiva uvāca padmāsanaḥ padmakaraḥ padmagarbhasamadyutiḥ saptāśvaḥ saptarajjuśca dvibhujaḥ syātsadā raviḥ //

Translation

శివుడు పలికెను—రవి (సూర్యదేవుడు) ఎల్లప్పుడూ పద్మాసనంపై ఆసీనుడై, చేతుల్లో కమలాలు ధరించి, కమలకోశ అంతఃప్రకాశంలా దీప్తిమంతుడై; ఏడు అశ్వాలతో యుక్తుడుగా, ఏడు రజ్జువులతో కూడి, ద్విభుజుడిగా చిత్రించవలెను।

Word by Word

• śiva uvāca: Śiva said

• padmāsanaḥ: lotus-seated (seated on a lotus)

• padmakaraḥ: lotus-handed / holding a lotus

• padmagarbha-sama-dyutiḥ: having radiance comparable to the interior (core) of a lotus-bud

• saptāśvaḥ: having seven horses

• saptarajjuḥ ca: and having seven reins

• dvibhujaḥ: two-armed

• syāt: should be / is to be

• sadā: always

• raviḥ: Ravi, the Sun (Sūrya).

Speaker

• Shiva

Entities Mentioned

• Shiva
• Ravi
• Surya
• Lotus
• Seven horses

Tags

• Iconography
• Pratima Lakshana
• Surya
• Temple Art
• Vastu Shastra

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

This verse does not address pralaya; it gives pratima-lakṣaṇa (iconographic) specifications for depicting Ravi/Sūrya in temple art.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

Indirectly, it guides righteous patronage: kings and householders commissioning temples or images should follow śāstric iconography so worship is performed with a correctly defined form (mūrti-lakṣaṇa).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It provides a precise checklist for Surya’s image—lotus seat, lotus in hand, lotus-like radiance, seven horses and seven reins, two arms—useful for temple sculpture, consecration (pratiṣṭhā), and ritual visualization.