Varaha Purana 183.2: Adhyaya 183, Shloka 2

Installation of a Clay Icon (Mṛnmayārcā) and the Ritual Protocol of Worship

Uttara Bhāga · Pratimā–Arcana Vidhi (Iconography and Worship Protocols)

Devanagari script

अर्च्चां च मृण्मयीं कृत्वा अस्पुटां चाप्यखण्डिताम् ॥ नाधिकां वामनां चापि न वक्रां कारयेद्बुधः ॥

Recitation with translationVaraha Purana 183.2

Transliteration

arccāṃ ca mṛṇmayīṃ kṛtvā asphuṭāṃ cāpy akhaṇḍitām || nādhikāṃ vāmanāṃ cāpi na vakrāṃ kārayed budhaḥ ||

ITRANS transliteration

Translation

మట్టితో అర్చా చేసి దానిని స్పష్టంగా, అఖండంగా ఉంచాలి. వివేకి దానిని అతిగా పెద్దగా గానీ, బొద్దుగా గానీ, వంకరగా గానీ చేయించకూడదు.

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Word by Word

• अर्चाम्: worship-image/arcā (icon)
• Type: Noun
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अर्चा (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• मृण्मयीम्: made of clay
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: मृण्मयी (प्रातिपदिक; मृद्+मय)

• कृत्वा: having made
• Type: Verb
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund/absolutive), ‘having made/done’
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया; पूर्वकालिक)
• Root: कृ (धातु)

• अस्पुटाम्: not indistinct; well-defined (lit. not unclear)
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अस्पुट (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: सम्भावना/समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also/even)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• अखण्डिताम्: unbroken; not damaged
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अखण्डित (प्रातिपदिक)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Root: न (अव्यय)

• अधिकाम्: too large/excessive
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)

• वामनाम्: dwarfish/too short
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: वामन (प्रातिपदिक)

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Root: च (अव्यय)

• अपि: also
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (particle: also)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)

• न: not
• Type: Indeclinable
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
• Role: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negator)
• Root: न (अव्यय)

• वक्राम्: crooked; bent
• Type: Adjective
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (f.), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc. 2), एकवचन (sg.); विशेषण (adjective) अर्चाम्-विशेषण
• Role: Karma (कर्म)
• Root: वक्र (प्रातिपदिक)

• कारयेत्: should have (it) made
• Type: Verb
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन (sg.); परस्मैपद; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative: ‘should cause to be made’)
• Role: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Root: कृ (धातु) [णिच् causative: कारय-]

• बुधः: a wise person
• Type: Noun
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (m.), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nom. 1), एकवचन (sg.)
• Role: Karta (कर्ता)
• Root: बुध (प्रातिपदिक)

Sandhi Notes

• अर्च्चां→अर्चाम्
• चापि→च+अपि
• कारयेद्बुधः→कारयेत्+बुधः
• अस्पुटां retained as asphuṭām (अस्पुटाम्)

Speaker and setting

Shanta rasaSetting: Icon-making/workshop or shrine

Speaker

Varāha

The teaching

Kind of teaching

Ethics of form in worship (śilpa as dharma)

Subjects

Ritual PracticeMaterial CultureIconographyEthics

Core idea

Outer form supports inner devotion; clarity, wholeness, and proportion are dharmic requirements for an arcā meant for pūjā.

In practice

When commissioning or making a clay icon, ensure integrity (akhaṇḍa), clarity (aspūṭa-rahita), and proper proportion (neither ati-adhika nor vāmana nor vakra).

Dharma

Cross references

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism
• Ritual Studies

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It reflects a prescriptive strand of Purāṇic ritual literature that standardizes the physical qualities of icons (pratimā/arccā), aligning devotional practice with material and aesthetic norms.

Which geographic location is identified?

No specific geographic location is named in this verse; it is a general ritual-technical instruction.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

To approach ritual craftsmanship with discernment—avoiding negligence or distortion—so that the object of worship is made with care and integrity.