Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
चक्रशङ्खौ चतुर्बाहुर् नरसिंहश् चतुर्भुजः शङ्खचक्रधरो वापि विदारितमहासुरः
cakraśaṅkhau caturbāhur narasiṃhaś caturbhujaḥ śaṅkhacakradharo vāpi vidāritamahāsuraḥ
ควรพรรณนาพระนรสิงห์ให้มีสี่กร ทรงจักรและสังข์; หรือเป็นผู้ทรงสังข์–จักร ผู้ฉีกทำลายอสูรมหึมาให้แยกออก.
Lord Agni (narrating Agni Purana teachings to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Narasimha-murti design for temple installation and puja: deciding arm-count, ayudhas, and narrative posture (slaying of the asura).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Narasimha Murti-lakshana (Chakra-Śaṅkha, Asura-vidāraṇa)","lookup_keywords":["Narasimha","chakra-shankha","chaturbhuja","asura-vidarana","murti-lakshana"],"quick_summary":"Depict Narasiṃha as four-armed with conch and discus; alternatively emphasize the iconic act of tearing the great demon while retaining conch-and-discus identity."}
Concept: Divine protection of dharma through avatāra; iconographic markers preserve theological identity.
Application: Use fixed identifiers (śaṅkha-cakra) so the deity is ritually recognizable even in narrative (slaying) compositions.
Khanda Section: Avataras and Vishnu Iconography (Murti-lakshana / Puja-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: raudra
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Four-armed Narasiṃha bearing conch and discus, shown in the act of tearing a great demon; emphasis on ferocity and protection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, Narasiṃha with four arms holding śaṅkha and cakra, vivid red-gold palette, dynamic tearing of an asura, bold outlines, sacred aura, traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Narasiṃha chaturbhuja with śaṅkha-cakra, embossed gold halo and jewelry, central seated/standing fierce posture, demon being torn, rich textiles, temple arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, refined linework, Narasiṃha with clear ayudha placement (conch and discus prominent), narrative asura-vidāraṇa, soft shading, instructional clarity of iconographic details","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed courtly landscape backdrop, Narasiṃha with conch and discus, dramatic tearing of demon, fine brushwork, patterned garments, expressive faces"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चतुर्बाहुर् → चतुर्बाहुः (visarga restoration); नरसिंहश् → नरसिंहः; शङ्खचक्रधरो → शङ्ख-चक्र-धरः; वापि → वा + अपि; विदारितमहासुरः treated as बहुव्रीहि with internal components विदारित + महा + असुर.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (Vishnu-avatara murti-lakshana section)
FAQs
It gives murti-lakṣaṇa (iconographic specification) for Narasiṃha—depict him as four-armed with the conch and discus, emphasizing his protective, demon-slaying aspect for worship and installation.
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical manual for temple art and ritual—standardizing how deities are represented (attributes, arms, and symbolism), which supports worship, consecration, and icon-making traditions.
Meditating on and worshipping Narasiṃha as the shankha-chakra-bearing protector symbolizes the destruction of inner and outer ‘asuric’ forces, reinforcing faith, protection, and purification through correct devotional representation.