Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 50 — देवीप्रतिमालक्षणकथनं
Devi-Pratimā-Lakṣaṇa: Characteristics of the Goddess Image
डमरुं शक्तिकां वामैर् नागपाशञ्च खेटकं कुठाङ्कुशचापांश् च घण्टाध्वजगदांस् तथा
ḍamaruṃ śaktikāṃ vāmair nāgapāśañca kheṭakaṃ kuṭhāṅkuśacāpāṃś ca ghaṇṭādhvajagadāṃs tathā
ส่วนกรซ้ายพึงถือ ดมรุและศักติกา อีกทั้งบ่วงนาคและเขฏกะ (โล่) ขวาน ตะขอช้าง คันธนูและลูกศร และยังมีระฆัง ธงชัย และคทาด้วย.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Completing the Devī’s iconographic inventory for left hands in tantric visualization (dhyāna) and for sculptural/pictorial accuracy in Śākta worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Caṇḍī Left-hand Attributes (Vāma-kara Ayudha-saṅgraha)","lookup_keywords":["damaru","nagapasha","kuthara","ankusha","dhvaja ghanta gada"],"quick_summary":"Lists the left-hand implements—ḍamaru, śaktikā, serpent-noose, shield, axe, goad, bow, bell, banner, mace—used to complete Caṇḍī’s canonical multi-armed form."}
Weapon Type: Gadā (mace), Cāpa (bow), Kuṭhāra (axe), Aṅkuśa (goad), Kheṭaka (shield), Pāśa (noose)
Concept: Tantric completeness of dhyāna: each implement signifies a function—protection, control, proclamation, and awakening (drum/bell).
Application: Use as a dhyāna checklist during japa/pūjā; for artisans, ensures the left-hand set matches textual authority.
Khanda Section: Isana-kalpa / Tantra-vidhi (Iconography and ritual visualization of deities)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A detailed depiction of Caṇḍī’s left hands holding a mix of weapons and ritual emblems: ḍamaru, serpent-noose, shield, axe, goad, bow, bell, banner, and mace, arranged clearly for identification.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Caṇḍī multi-armed with left hands prominently displaying ḍamaru, nāga-pāśa, kheṭaka, kuṭhāra, aṅkuśa, cāpa, ghaṇṭā, dhvaja, gadā; strong contours, rhythmic arm arrangement, sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed halo and ornaments, left-hand implements rendered with bright metallic accents—bell and banner especially ornate—balanced composition emphasizing iconographic clarity","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional layout with clean separation of left-hand objects, delicate brushwork, subdued background, focus on accurate shapes of ḍamaru, aṅkuśa, kuṭhāra, dhvaja","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing of each implement, elegant fanning of arms, patterned textiles, banner (dhvaja) with calligraphic motif, bell and drum carefully rendered"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: वामैर् = वामैः; नागपाशञ्च = नागपाशम् + च; कुठाङ्कुशचापांश् = कुठ-अङ्कुश-चापान्; घण्टाध्वजगदांस् = घण्टा-ध्वज-गदाः (द्वितीया बहुवचन).
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 50.1 (right-hand list); Agni Purāṇa 50.3 (alternate ten-armed depiction)
FAQs
It lists the specific āyudhas (emblems/weapons) to be placed in the deity’s left hands during iconographic construction or ritual visualization (dhyāna) in pūjā.
Beyond mythic narration, the text functions as a manual: it preserves technical iconographic standards—naming precise implements (ḍamaru, nāgapāśa, aṅkuśa, etc.) used in temple imagery, tantric worship, and ritual arts.
Accurate āyudha-assignment is treated as correctness in worship (yathā-vidhi), supporting focused devotion and ritually “proper” form; such conformity is traditionally held to enhance the efficacy (siddhi) and merit (puṇya) of pūjā.