Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 1
Chapter 244 — चामरादिलक्षणम् / आयुधलक्षणादि
Characteristics of the Fly-whisk and Related Royal Emblems; Weapon Characteristics
इत्य् आग्नेये महापुराणे स्त्रीलक्षणं नाम त्रिचत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुश् चत्वारिंशदधिकद्विशततमो ऽध्यायः चामरादिलक्षणम् अग्निर् उवाच चामरो रुक्मादण्डो ऽग्र्यः छत्रं राज्ञः प्रशस्यते हंसपक्षैर् विरचितं मयूरस्य शुकस्य च
ity āgneye mahāpurāṇe strīlakṣaṇaṃ nāma tricatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha catuś catvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ cāmarādilakṣaṇam agnir uvāca cāmaro rukmādaṇḍo 'gryaḥ chatraṃ rājñaḥ praśasyate haṃsapakṣair viracitaṃ mayūrasya śukasya ca
ดังนี้ ในอัคนิมหาปุราณะ บทที่ 243 ชื่อว่า “ลักษณะสตรี” ได้สิ้นสุดลง บัดนี้เริ่มบทที่ 244 “ลักษณะจามระและเครื่องหมายราชาอื่น ๆ” อัคนีกล่าวว่า “จามระที่ประเสริฐคือมีด้ามทองคำ สำหรับพระราชา ฉัตรหลวงเป็นที่สรรเสริญ ทำด้วยขนปีกหงส์ และด้วยขนของนกยูงกับนกศุกะ (นกแก้ว) ด้วย”
Lord Agni
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Arthashastra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Specification and selection of royal insignia (cāmara, chatra) for court protocol, legitimacy display, and ceremonial aesthetics.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Rāja-cihna: cāmara and chatra materials (gold handle; feather types)","lookup_keywords":["cāmara","chatra","rukma-daṇḍa","rāja-cihna","haṃsa-pakṣa"],"quick_summary":"Defines preferred standards for royal fly-whisk and parasol: the best cāmara has a golden handle; the king’s parasol is praised when made from swan feathers, also peacock and parrot feathers—guiding court regalia manufacture."}
Concept: External symbols (cihna) uphold social order and royal legitimacy through prescribed standards.
Application: Court artisans and officials can standardize regalia for coronations, audiences, and processions.
Khanda Section: Rajadharma & Royal Insignia (Chāmarādi-lakṣaṇam / Courtly Protocol and Emblems of Kingship)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Vīra
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A king seated in court with attendants holding a fly-whisk with golden handle and a grand parasol made of swan/peacock/parrot feathers; chapter colophon-to-new-chapter transition feel.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, royal court scene with king on throne, attendant waving cāmara with golden handle, large white chatra with stylized swan feathers and hints of peacock/parrot colors, flat iconic composition and bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, enthroned king with ornate jewelry, attendants with cāmara (golden handle emphasized with gold leaf) and feathered chatra, heavy gold work and rich reds.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, detailed regalia study: close depiction of cāmara construction and feathered chatra, court setting, fine linework and soft palette for instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, durbar scene with parasol bearers, naturalistic feather textures (swan white, peacock iridescence, parrot green), intricate carpets and architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity → iti; tricatvāriṃśadadhikadviśatatamo 'dhyāyaḥ → ...tamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; catuś catvāriṃśad... → catuḥ + catvāriṃśad... (visarga before c); agnir uvāca → agniḥ + uvāca; daṇḍo 'gryaḥ → daṇḍaḥ + agryaḥ; haṃsapakṣair → haṃsapakṣaiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 244 (Cāmarādi-lakṣaṇam)
FAQs
It specifies standards for royal emblems—especially the best fly-whisk (cāmara) with a golden handle and the praised royal parasol (chatra) made from select feathers—useful for court protocol, consecrations, and ceremonial honor.
Beyond theology, it records practical details of kingship and material culture—objects of state ceremony (fly-whisk, parasol) and their ideal construction—showing the Purana’s coverage of governance, etiquette, and regalia alongside spiritual topics.
By prescribing proper, dignified royal insignia, the text supports righteous kingship (rājadharma): orderly ceremonial conduct upholds social and ritual harmony, reinforcing the king’s role as protector of dharma.