Previous Verse
Next Verse

Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2

Chapter 52: देवीप्रतिमालक्षणं (Devī-pratimā-lakṣaṇa) — Characteristics of Goddess Images

पिङ्गाक्षी च क्षया क्षेमा इला लीलालया तथा लोला लक्ता बलाकेशी लालसा विमला पुनः

piṅgākṣī ca kṣayā kṣemā ilā līlālayā tathā lolā laktā balākeśī lālasā vimalā punaḥ

และ (นางคือ) ปิงคักษี, กษยา, กษีมา, อิลา, ลีลาลยา; อีกทั้ง โลลา, ลักตา, พลากเกศี, ลาลสา และอีกครั้ง วิมลา

piṅga-akṣībrown-eyed
piṅga-akṣī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootpiṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi/akṣī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; epithet—‘having tawny/brown eyes’
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; conjunction
kṣayāKṣayā (name)
kṣayā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣayā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; proper name/epithet
kṣemāKṣemā (welfare; name)
kṣemā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootkṣemā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; proper name/epithet
ilāIlā (name)
ilā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootilā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
līlālayāLīlālayā (name)
līlālayā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootlīlā (प्रातिपदिक) + layā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; name/epithet
tathāalso; likewise
tathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; समुच्चय/तुल्यत्व (also; likewise)
lolārestless (Lolā)
lolā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootlolā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘restless’ (as epithet)
laktāLaktā (lac-red; name)
laktā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootlaktā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; name (also ‘lac/red dye’)
balākeśīBalākeśī (name)
balākeśī:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootbalākā (प्रातिपदिक) + īśī/ī (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; epithet—‘having crane-like hair/locks’ (name)
lālasālonging; desirous (Lālasā)
lālasā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootlālasā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘desirous/longing’ (as epithet)
vimalāpure; spotless (Vimalā)
vimalā:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootvimalā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्गे, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘pure/spotless’ (as epithet)
punaḥagain; further
punaḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootpunaḥ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; पुनरुक्ति/क्रम (again; further)

Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s dialogic frame)

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Stotra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nāma-japa and arcana: reciting these epithets as a name-list (nāma-mālā) for invoking specific Devī aspects in worship, protection, and mental dhyāna.","sutra_style":false}

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Devī-nāma: Pingākṣī–Vimalā (epithet cluster)","lookup_keywords":["pingākṣī","kṣemā","ilā","līlālayā","vimalā"],"quick_summary":"A compact list of Devī epithets suitable for japa and pūjā; emphasizes auspiciousness (kṣemā), purity (vimalā), and playful divine immanence (līlālayā)."}

Alamkara Type: Anuprāsa (light alliteration) and Nāma-mālā style

Concept: Nāma as upāsanā: repeated epithets cultivate corresponding guṇas—kṣema (well-being), vimala (inner purity), līlā (seeing the world as divine play).

Application: Use as a short daily japa sequence; pair with dhyāna on golden-eyed radiance and inner cleanliness before pūjā or meditation.

Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Devi-nama-stotra (Goddess epithets used in worship and japa)

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: śṛṅgāra

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A garland-like sequence of Devī names written on a scroll; Devī depicted with golden/tawny eyes (Pingākṣī) and a serene, pure aura (Vimalā), with attendants offering flowers for japa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Devī bust with large pingala eyes, serene smile, white lotus and jasmine offerings, a scroll bearing the names Pingākṣī Kṣemā Ilā Līlālayā Vimalā, warm lamp glow, minimal background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, half-length Devī with gold-embossed ornaments, prominent golden eyes, bright halo, name-scroll in Devanāgarī, heavy floral garlands, rich gold work emphasizing purity (Vimalā)","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean instructional namāvalī panel: each epithet in a cartouche around Devī portrait; subtle color coding for meanings (kṣema, vimala), fine linework and soft shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, a devotee reciting from a small booklet of names before a painted Devī icon; delicate script of epithets on the page; refined palette and detailed textiles"}

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes: piṅgākṣī → piṅga-akṣī; līlālayā treated as a compound name (līlā + layā).

Related Themes: Agni Purana 52 (Devī-nāma lists continuing)

D
Devi (Goddess)

FAQs

It provides a sequence of Devi-epithets intended for nāma-japa (name-recitation) and stotra-style worship, where each name functions as a mantra-like invocation of a specific divine attribute.

Alongside governance, medicine, and arts, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical material—name-lists and worship vocabulary—used for daily devotion, temple recitation, and mantra-oriented practice.

Reciting these names is traditionally held to purify speech and mind, invoke the Goddess’s protection (kṣema), and remove impurity (vimala), aligning the devotee with auspiciousness and inner steadiness.