Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 25
Chapter 49 — मत्स्यादिलक्षणवर्णनम्
Description of the Characteristics of Matsya and the Other Incarnations
शूलर्ष्टिधारी दक्षे च गदाचक्रधरो पदे रुद्रकेशवलक्ष्माङ्गो गौरीलक्ष्मीसमन्वितः
śūlarṣṭidhārī dakṣe ca gadācakradharo pade rudrakeśavalakṣmāṅgo gaurīlakṣmīsamanvitaḥ
พระหัตถ์ขวาทรงตรีศูลและฤษฏิ (หอก); พระหัตถ์ซ้ายทรงคทาและจักร. พระวรกายมีลักษณะหมายแห่งรุทระและเกศวะ พร้อมทั้งลักษณะของลักษมี; และทรงประกอบด้วยคौรีและลักษมี.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual/meditative visualization)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Dhyāna for composite deity worship and for crafting/painting syncretic icons (Rudra–Keśava integration) with paired śaktis (Gaurī, Lakṣmī) and specified weapons in each hand.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Composite icon: Rudra–Keśava with Gaurī–Lakṣmī; śūla/ṛṣṭi and gadā/cakra attributes","lookup_keywords":["Rudra-Keśava","Gaurī-Lakṣmī","śūla ṛṣṭi","gadā cakra","saṅkara-nārāyaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Specifies a syncretic deity form bearing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava marks, holding trident and spear on the right and mace and discus on the left, accompanied by Gaurī and Lakṣmī—useful for dhyāna and icon design."}
Weapon Type: Trident, spear, mace, discus
Concept: Unity of sectarian forms through a single dhyāna-mūrti (integration of Rudra and Keśava with their śaktis).
Application: For devotees/priests in mixed traditions: a single icon and meditation that honors both Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava elements without conflict.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dhyana & Devata-lakshana of composite deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A single deity with blended Śaiva-Vaiṣṇava insignia, holding trident and spear on the right and mace and discus on the left; Gaurī and Lakṣmī stand as attendant goddesses on either side.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central Harihara-like figure with half-Śaiva half-Vaiṣṇava ornament cues; right hands show śūla and spear, left hands show gadā and cakra; Gaurī and Lakṣmī flanking; bold outlines, temple mural palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: composite deity with gold-embossed weapons; Gaurī and Lakṣmī richly adorned; symmetrical composition, thick gold halo, deep red background, gem-like highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: elegant blended iconography with clear weapon placement; subtle facial serenity; attendants Gaurī and Lakṣmī rendered with delicate jewelry; instructional clarity without harsh contrast.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: syncretic deity in a garden pavilion; trident, spear, mace, discus rendered with fine metallic detail; Gaurī and Lakṣmī as courtly attendants; intricate textiles and patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śūlarṣṭidhārī→śūla-ṛṣṭi-dhārī; gadācakradharo→gadā-cakra-dharaḥ; rudrakeśavalakṣmāṅgo→rudra-keśava-lakṣmā-aṅgaḥ; gaurīlakṣmīsamanvitaḥ→gaurī-lakṣmī-samanvitaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 49 (composite deity dhyānas around 49.24–49.26)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna-lakṣaṇa (meditative iconography): visualize a composite deity bearing Śaiva weapons (trident, spear) and Vaiṣṇava weapons (mace, discus), marked by Rudra–Keśava–Lakṣmī features and accompanied by Gaurī and Lakṣmī—used as a precise template for pūjā and mantra-dhyāna.
By cataloging exact divine attributes (āyudha, mudrā/hand assignment, associated śaktis), it functions like a ritual manual and iconography guide—one of the Agni Purana’s hallmark “how-to” sections alongside law, polity, medicine, and martial sciences.
Meditating on a unified Rudra–Keśava form with Gaurī and Lakṣmī signifies harmonizing Śaiva and Vaiṣṇava paths and invoking both protection and prosperity; such correct dhyāna is traditionally held to purify intention and increase the efficacy (siddhi) of worship.