Agni Purana — Yoga & Brahma-vidya, Shloka 30
Chapter 373 — ध्यानम्
Dhyāna / Meditation
शार्ङ्गाक्षवलयधरः पाशाङ्कुशधरः परः स्वर्णवर्णः श्वेतवर्णः सश्रोवत्सः सकौस्तुभः
śārṅgākṣavalayadharaḥ pāśāṅkuśadharaḥ paraḥ svarṇavarṇaḥ śvetavarṇaḥ saśrovatsaḥ sakaustubhaḥ
وہ شارن٘گ کمان اور بازوبند دھارن کرتے ہیں، پاش اور انکش بھی تھامتے ہیں؛ وہی پرم ہیں۔ ان کا رنگ سنہرا بھی ہے اور درخشاں سفید بھی؛ سینے پر شریوتس کا نشان اور کاؤستبھ منی سے مزین ہیں۔
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Use as dhyāna-lakṣaṇa to fix Viṣṇu’s specific weapons, ornaments, color, and auspicious marks during pūjā and mantra-japa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Viṣṇu Dhyāna-Lakṣaṇa: Śārṅga, Pāśa-Aṅkuśa, Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha, Varṇa","lookup_keywords":["śārṅga","pāśa","aṅkuśa","śrīvatsa","kaustubha"],"quick_summary":"The verse enumerates Viṣṇu’s identifying attributes—bow, armlets, noose, goad, golden/white radiance, Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha—serving as a checklist for correct visualization and iconographic accuracy."}
Weapon Type: Bow (Śārṅga)
Concept: Guṇa-lakṣaṇa-dhyāna: contemplating auspicious marks and divine implements to stabilize bhakti and ekāgratā.
Application: During dhyāna, mentally verify each marker (Śrīvatsa/Kaustubha/varṇa/āyudha) to keep the image consistent and vivid.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dhyana–Lakshana of the Deity / Iconography)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close iconographic portrait of Viṣṇu: Śārṅga bow visible, pāśa and aṅkuśa in hands, armlets on arms, chest bearing Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha jewel, body glowing golden-white.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal Viṣṇu with emphasized chest symbols (Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha), stylized bow Śārṅga, pāśa and aṅkuśa, luminous golden-white skin tones rendered in traditional palette, ornate armlets","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented Viṣṇu with gold foil highlighting Kaustubha and jewelry, Śrīvatsa clearly marked, weapons arranged symmetrically, radiant golden-white complexion, embossed halo","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise iconographic detailing of pāśa and aṅkuśa, clean depiction of Śrīvatsa and Kaustubha placement, soft gradients for golden-white radiance, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined depiction of jewelry and chest emblems, delicate rendering of bow and implements, subtle gold highlights, pale luminous complexion, patterned textile background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śārṅgākṣavalayadharaḥ = शार्ङ्ग-अक्ष-वलय-धरः; pāśāṅkuśadharaḥ = पाश-अङ्कुश-धरः; saśrovatsaḥ read as स-श्रीवत्सः (orthographic/recensional variation: śrīvatsa).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 373.29-33 (Viṣṇu dhyāna and japa-dhyāna method)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna–lakṣaṇa (iconographic cues) for worship: the deity is visualized with specific weapons/attributes (Śārṅga, pāśa, aṅkuśa) and identifying marks (Śrīvatsa, Kaustubha), aiding correct meditative installation (āvāhana) and contemplation.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves practical ritual-technical data—murti-lakṣaṇa and dhyāna descriptions used in temple art, mantra-sādhana, and pūjā manuals—showing the text’s role as a compendium of applied religious knowledge.
Accurate visualization of the deity’s form is treated as a purifier and concentrator of mind (ekāgratā), supporting devotion and correct worship; it is traditionally held to generate merit (puṇya) through properly aligned dhyāna and reverence.