Agni Purana — Mantra-shastra, Shloka 29
Chapter 303: Mantras for Worship Beginning with the Five-syllable (Pañcākṣara) — पञ्चाक्षरादिपूजामन्त्राः
श्वेतः पीतः सितो रक्तो धूम्रो रक्तो ऽरुणः शितः शूलाशनिशरेश्वासवाहवश् चतुराननाः
śvetaḥ pītaḥ sito rakto dhūmro rakto 'ruṇaḥ śitaḥ śūlāśaniśareśvāsavāhavaś caturānanāḥ
其相被说为：白、黄、淡白、赤、烟色、复赤、赭赤（黄褐）、以及明锐之色；执三叉戟、金刚杵、箭、弓与乘具——此等皆为四面之形。
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual/encyclopedic instructions of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Color/weapon/face specifications for a set of four-faced deities (āvaraṇa-devatā/Vidyeśa forms) used in dhyāna, maṇḍala painting, and mūrti-lakṣaṇa.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Caturānana Devatā Varṇa–Āyudha-lakṣaṇa (śūla, aśani, śara, īśvāsa, vāhana)","lookup_keywords":["caturānana four-faced","śūla trident","aśani vajra","śara arrow","īśvāsa bow","varṇa white yellow red dhūmra"],"quick_summary":"Gives a compact iconographic key: multiple hues assigned across forms, and standard weapons/implements (trident, thunderbolt, arrow, bow) plus mount, all for four-faced manifestations."}
Weapon Type: Trident (śūla), thunderbolt (aśani/vajra), arrow (śara), bow (īśvāsa)
Concept: Form-knowledge (rūpa-jñāna) as a valid sacred science: precise attributes enable correct worship and manifestation of protective/divine functions.
Application: Artists and ritualists use the attribute list to avoid iconographic faults (doṣa) and to maintain āvaraṇa coherence in tantric worship.
Khanda Section: Mantra-vidhi / Devata-dhyana (Tantric-ritual iconography and deity-forms)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A row or circle of four-faced deities, each with a distinct hue (white, yellow, pale, red, smoke-hued, tawny, bright), holding trident, thunderbolt, arrow, and bow, with their mounts indicated beside them.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, caturānana Śaiva guardians in a circular āvaraṇa, bold flat hues including dhūmra and aruṇa, each holding śūla and vajra-like aśani, arrows and bows, mounts stylized, ornate temple borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, four-faced deities with heavy gold halos and weaponry, rich reds/yellows/whites, embossed gold work on weapons and crowns, mounts in lower band, symmetrical composition.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear iconographic chart: each caturānana figure labeled by hue, weapons drawn distinctly (śūla, vajra, śara, bow), neat arrangement for instructional use.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, finely detailed multi-figure study with four-faced deities in varied hues, jeweled weapons, delicate rendering of mounts, patterned background and calligraphic captions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: rakto 'ruṇaḥ = raktaḥ aruṇaḥ (visarga elision). vāhavaś caturānanāḥ = vāhavaḥ caturānanāḥ (visarga before c).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 303 (vidyeśa/āvaraṇa iconography lists)
FAQs
It gives dhyāna–lakṣaṇa (visualization markers) for worship: the deity’s color-variants and identifying attributes (trident, thunderbolt, bow, arrows, and mount) used to correctly form the mental image and iconographic specification in pūjā/mantra practice.
Beyond myth, it catalogs practical ritual data—standardized color-forms and weapon/vehicle attributes—functioning like a manual for temple/household worship and tantric visualization, one of the many technical domains the Agni Purana compiles.
Accurate dhyāna and correct identification of form (rūpa-lakṣaṇa) are held to stabilize mantra efficacy and devotion; the verse supports focused worship that is traditionally said to yield purification and merit through properly directed reverence.