Matsya Purana 260: adhyāyaḥ 260

260.1

devākārapramāṇavarṇanam.

Sûta said:—"Risis! I shall now tell you about the Ardhanârîśvara image"—1.

260.2

sūta uvāca.
adhunā sampravakṣyāmi ardhanārīśvaraṃ param.
ardhena devadevasya nārīrūpaṃ suśobhanam.. 260.1

260.3

īśārdhe tu jaṭābhāgo bālendukalayāyutaḥ.
umārdhecāpi dātavyau sīmantatilakāvubhau .. 260.2

In the -one half of the image, in the plaited hair of the Lord, a crescent should be made and in the other half portion of the body the image of the Goddess Parvati should be beautifully made Here a partition is to be made in the hair of the head and the tilaka (a sectarian mark on the forehead) is to be marked on the forehead—2

260.4

vāsukirdakṣiṇe karṇe vāme kuṇḍalamādiśet.
bālikā copariṣṭāttu kapālaṃ dakṣiṇe kare .. 260.3

In the right ear the serpent Vâsuki should be made and in the left one an ear ring should be put on In the right hand should be placed the skull or trident and in the left one, a mirror or a lotus Garlands are to be suspended from His neck—3-4

260.5

triśūlaṃ vāpi kartavyaṃ devadevasya śūlinaḥ.
vāmato darpaṇaṃ dadyādutpalantu viśeṣataḥ .. 260.4 .

260.6

vāmabāhuśca kartavyaḥ keyūravalayānvitaḥ.
upavītañca kartavyaṃ maṇimuktāmayantathā .. 260.5

The left arm should be adorned with armlets, etc, and a sacred thread of pearl string or gems should be put in the proper place A chubby breast and a bulky lip, should be made on the left hand side and a girdle should be put on the half part of the waist—5 6

260.7

stanabhāraṃ tathārdhe tu vāme pīnaṃ prakalpayet.
parārghyamujvalaṃ kuryyācchroṇyardhe tu tathaiva ca .. 260.6

260.8

liṅgārddhamūrdhvagaṃ kuryyāt vyālājinakṛtāmbaram.
vāme lambaparīdhānaṃ kaṭisūtra trayānvitam .. 260.7

Then in the half portion of the body covered with tiger skin an organ should be made and the left part is to be covered with hanging cloth decked with various jewels and the right side is to be covered with serpents The right foot of the Lord should be made to rest on a lotus and a little above that the left one should be adorned with gems and ornaments worn by ladies—7 9

260.9

nānāratnasamopetaṃ dakṣiṇe bhujagānvitam.
devasya dakṣiṇaṃ pādaṃ padmopari susaṃsthitam .. 260.8

260.10

kañcidardhe tathā vāmaṃ bhūṣitaṃ nūpureṇa tu.
ratnairvibhūṣitān kuryyādaṅgulīṣvaṅgulīyakān .. 260.9

260.11

sālaktakaṃ tathā pādaṃ pārvatyā darśayetsadā.
ardhanāriśvarasyedaṃ rūpamasminnudāhṛtam .. 260.10

The feet of the Goddess Parvati should always be made to appear dyed in myrtle (red lac dye) Such should be the image of the Lord and the Goddess blended into one "Now hear about the location of their several limbs in their Leelâ (sportive) forms"—10-11

260.12

umāmaheśvarasyāpi lakṣaṇaṃ śrṛṇu tadvijāḥ.
saṃsthānantu tayorvakṣye līlālalita-vibhramam .. 260.11

260.13

caturbhujaṃ dvibāhuṃ vā jaṭābhārendubhūṣaṇam.
locanatrayasaṃyuktamumaikaskandhapāṇinam .. 260.12

The image of the Lord and Umâ should be made either with 4 or 2 hands, the matted hair on the head are to be adorned with a crescent of the Moon, having three eyes, with one hand resting on the right shoulder of Pârvatî, having trident and lotus on the right side, placing the left hand on the breast of the Goddess, wearing the tiger skin, decked with various jewels The situation is charming and pleasant and half the face is adorned with semi moon, the right hand of the Lord lies on the thigh of Umâ The Goddess Umâ should be seated on the left side of the Lord The head of the Goddess should be decorated with the usual ornaments and having nice tresses of hair, with Alakâ and Tilaka, adorned with the beautiful ear rings, armlets, and fondly looking at the face of the Lord—12-16

260.14

dakṣiṇenotpalaṃ śūlaṃ vāmekucabharekaram.
dvīpicarmaparīdhānaṃ nānāratnopaśobhitam .. 260.13

260.15

supratiṣṭhaṃ suveṣañca tathārdhendukṛtānanām.
vāme tu saṃsthitā devī tasyorau bāhugūhitā .. 260.14

260.16

śirobhūṣaṇasaṃyuktairalakairlalitānanā.
savālikā karṇavatī lalāṭatilakojvalā .. 260.15

260.17

maṇikuṇḍalasaṃyuktā karṇikābharaṇā kvacit.
hārakeyūra bahulā haravaktrāvalokinī .. 260.16

260.18

vāmāṃsan devadevasya spṛśantī līlayā tataḥ.
dakṣiṇāntu bahiḥ kṛtvā bāhuṃ dakṣiṇatastathā .. 260.17

Sportively touching the left side of the Lord, with Her left arm stretched out and touching the abdomen of the Lord with Her fingers A looking glass and a beautiful lotus, are to be placed on Her left side and a girdle is to be hung on the waist On both the sides of the image of the Goddess should be placed the forms of Jayâ, Vijaya, Svâmî Kârtika, and Ganeśa, near the gateway should be placed the images of Guhyakas The images of the Vidyâdharas wearing garlands and the nymphs holding guitars in standing postures—17 20

260.19

skandhaṃ vā dakṣiṇe kukṣau spṛśantyaṅgulajaiḥ kvacit.
vāme tu darpaṇaṃ dadyādutpalaṃ vā suśobhanam .. 260.18

260.20

kaṭisūtra trayaṃ caiva nitambe syātpralambakam.
jayā ca vijayā caiva kārtikeyavināyakau .. 260.19

260.21

pārśvayorddarśayettatra toraṇe gaṇaguhyakān.
mālā vidyādharāstadvat vīṇāvānapsarogaṇaḥ .. 260.20

260.22

etadrūpamumeśasya kartavyaṃ bhūtimicchatā.
śivanārāyaṇaṃ vakṣye sarvapāpapraṇāśanam .. 260.21

A man eager for prosperity should make such an image of Umâ and Maheśvara Now hear about the form of Śivanârâyaṇa, destructive of all sins—21

260.23

vāmārdhe mādhavaṃ vidyād dakṣiṇe śūlapāṇinam.
bāhudvayañca kṛṣṇasya maṇikeyūrabhūṣitam .. 260.22

Nârâyaṇa should be made in the left half of the body and Lord Śiva in the right. Both the arms of Lord Viṣṇu should be decorated with jewels and armlets holding con h and quoit The fingers should be reddish Instead of quoit, club can be placed or conch can be placed on the opposite side In the waist yellow cloth studded with white gems should be made to be worn The feet should be adorned with the ornaments, and gems—22 24

260.24

śaṅkhacakradharaṃ śāntamāraktāṃgulivibhramam.
cakrasthāne gadāṃ vāpi pāṇau dadyād gadābhṛtaḥ .. 260.23

260.25

śaṅkhañcaivetare dadyāt kaṭyarthaṃ bhūṣaṇojvalam.
pītavastraparīdhānaṃ caraṇaṃ maṇibhūṣaṇam .. 260.24

260.26

dakṣiṇārdhe jaṭābhāramardhendukṛtabhūṣaṇam.
bhujaṅgahāravalayaṃ varadaṃ dakṣiṇaṃ karam .. 260.25

The half of the right side of the body should be adorned with plaited hair and crescent the right arm with armlets of serpents should be made in the posture of making a gift, the other one should be decorated with a trident, putting on a serpent in place of the sacred thread, wearing a tiger skin, and the two feet a forned with jewels and serpents Such should be the image of Śiva and Nârâyaṇa blended into one—25-27

260.27

dvitīyañcāpi kurvīta triśūlavaradhāriṇam.
vyālopavītasaṃyuktaṃ kaṭyardhaṃ kṛttivāsasam .. 260.26

260.28

maṇiratnaiśca saṃyuktaṃ pādaṃ nāgavibhūṣitam.
śivanārāyaṇasyaivaṃ kalpayedrūpamuttamam .. 260.27

260.29

mahāvarāhaṃ vakṣyāmi padmahastaṃ gadādharam.
tīkṣṇadaṃṣṭrāgra ghoṇāsyaṃ medinīvāmakūrparam .. 260.28

Now I am describing to you the form of the Mahâ Varaha Lotus and club should be placed in the hands of Varâha the teeth should be sharp, and at the left elbow (knee) should be placed the world uplifted by the teeth from the Pat la and which bears calmly everything on Her His teeth are very sharp and face full of joy and wonder Thus for the upper part The right foot should be the turtle the left foot on the hood of the Śeṣa and his right hand is to be locate on his left Saktu All round the image should be made the images of the Lokapâlas in praying postures Now about the image of Nara Siṁha The image of Nṛisiṁha should be made with eight hands—28-31

260.30

daṃṣṭrāgreṇoddhṛtāṃ dāntāṃ dharaṇīmutpalānvitām.
vismayotphullavadanāmupariṣṭātprakalpayet .. 260.29

260.31

dakṣiṇaṃ kaṭisaṃsthantu karaṃ tasyāḥ prakalpayet.
kūrmopari tathā pādamekaṃ nāgendramūrdhani .. 260.30

260.32

saṃstūyamānaṃ lokeśaiḥ samantātparikalpayet.
nārasiṃhantu kartavyaṃ bhujāṣṭakasamanvitam .. 260.31

260.33

raudraṃ siṃhāsanaṃ tadvat vidāritamukhekṣaṇam.
stabdhapīna saṭākarṇaṃ dārayantanditeḥ sutam .. 260.32

The altar or seat of Nṛisiṁha should be made formidable his face terrible, the eyes should be split the mane should be raised, and the scene of ripping the breast of the demon Hiraṇyakaśyapu with blood gushing from it, as well as the angry looks of the Lord should also be well depicted.—32-33

260.34

vinirgatāntrajālañca dānavaṃ parikalpayet.
vamantaṃ rudhiraṃ ghoraṃ bhrukuṭīvadanekṣaṇam .. 260.33

260.35

yudhyamānaśca kartavyaḥ kvacitkaraṇabandhanaiḥ.
pariśrāntena daityena tarjyamāno muhurmuhuḥ .. 260.34
daityaṃ pradarśayettatra khaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇam.
stūyamānaṃ tathā viṣṇuṃ darśayedamarādipaiḥ .. 260.35

The fight of the Lord Nṛisiṁha with the demon with His nails and His terrible form and the attacks of the latter made repeatedly should also be shown.—34

At the same place the image of the demons armed with swords should also be made and the Lord is to be represented as frequently chastising the demons, and the images of Indra and the other Devas in praying posture should be made near Nṛisiṁha.—35

260.36

tathā trivikramaṃ vakṣye brahmāṇḍakramaṇolbaṇam.
pādapārśve tathā bāhumupariṣṭāt prakalpayet .. 260.36

Now about the Vâmana form of the Lord striding the three worlds, as if pervading all the Universe. The upper portion of the image of Vâmana should be made with arms by the side of His legs raised upwards, and the form of Vamana holding a goblet in the left hand and a small umbrella in the right. This is to be represented in the lower part of the figure. The face of the Lord should be extremely meek and appealing.—36-37

260.37

adhastādvāmanaṃ tadvatkalpayetsakamaṇḍalum.
dakṣiṇe chatrikāṃ dadyānmukhaṃ dīnaṃ prakalpayet . 260.37

260.38

bhṛṅgāradhāriṇaṃ tadvad baliṃ tasya ca pārśvataḥ.
bandhanañcāsya kurvantaṃ garuḍantasya darśayet .. 260.38

Near by should be made the image of Garuda holding the Bhṛiṅgâra. The image of Matsya should be in the form of a fish and that of Kûrma in that of a turtle.—38-39

260.39

matsyarūpaṃ tathā mātsyaṃ kūrmaṃ kūrmākṛtiṃ nyaset.
evaṃ rūpastu bhagavān kāryo nārāyaṇo hariḥ .. 260.39

260.40

brahmā kamaṇḍaludharaḥ kartavyaḥ sa caturmukhaḥ.
haṃsārūḍhaḥ kvacitkāryyaḥ kvacicca kamalāsanaḥ .. 260.40

The image of Lord Brahmâ should be made with four heads holding a kamaṇḍalu in one hand. He should be made riding on a swan or seated on a lotus, as the case may be.—40

260.41

varṇataḥ padmagarbhābha ścaturbāhuḥ śubhekṣaṇaḥ.
kamaṇḍaluṃ vāmakare sruvaṃ haste tu dakṣiṇe .. 260.41

The complexion should be reddish like the bed of the lotus with four hands, five faces, holding a kamaṇḍalu in the left hand, sacrificial ladle in the right and a staff and Sruva in the left and right of the other set of hands, and with the Devas, seers Gandharvas praying all round Him. He should be represented as engaged in the work of creation, wearing white raiments, deer skin, and a sacred thread.—41-43

260.42

vāmedaṇḍadharaṃ tadvat stuvañcāpi pradarśayet.
munibhirdevagandharvaiḥ stūyamānaṃ samantataḥ .. 260.42

260.43

kurvāṇamiva lokāṃstrīn śuklāmbaradharaṃ vibhum.
mṛgacarmadharañcāpi divyayajñopavītinam .. 260.43

260.44

ājyasthāliṃ nyasetpārśve vedāṃśca caturaḥ punaḥ.
vāmapārśve'sya sāvitrīṃ dakṣiṇe ca sarasvatīm .. 260.44

To the right of the image should be located the site for Homa with ghee, etc., and the four Vedas, and to the left should be placed the image of Sâvitrî, and on the right that of Sarasvatî. The Ṛiṣis should be placed in front of the Lord. Now about the image of Kartikeya. The image of Svâmi Kârtika should be made with a youthful appearance illustrious like the newly risen sun, of the hue of a lotus holding a staff and a deer skin, having a peacock for His conveyance.—44-46

260.45

agre ca ṛṣayastadvatkāryyāḥ paitāmahe pade.
kārtikeyaṃ pravakṣyāmi taruṇādityasaprabham .. 260.45

260.46

kamalodaravarṇābhaṃ kumāraṃ sukumārakam.
daṇḍakaiścīrakairyuktaṃ mayūravaravāhanam .. 260.46

260.47

sthāpayetsveṣṭanagare bhujān dvādaśa kārayet.
caturbhujaḥ kharvaṭe syādvane grāme dvibāhukaḥ .. 260.47

The image of Svâmi Kârtika with twelve hands should be placed in His newly chosen city, with 4 hands in a small town and the one with 2 hands in a forest or a small village.—47

260.48

śaktiḥ pāśastathā khaḍgaḥ śaraḥ śūlaṃ tathaiva ca.
varadaścaikahastaḥ syādathacābhayado bhavet .. 260.48

In the right hand decorated with a golden armlet should be placed a javelin, a noose, a sword, an arrow and a trident and the other hand should be left blank but in the posture of offering some gift, and holding out the idea "No fear."—48

260.49

ete dakṣiṇato jñeyāḥ keyūrakaṭakojvalāḥ.
dhanuḥ patākāmuṣṭiśca tarjanī tu prasāritā .. 260.49

All the arms arrow, and legs fist, pointed ring fingers and other ornaments and a sword should be made in the left hand. The two-armed figure is to have a Śakti in His right hand and the left hand resting on the peacock. The one with 4 hands should be made with a noose and a javelin in the left hand and Varâbhya in the right hand.—49-51 Now about the image of Gaṇeśa, the face of Gaṇeśa should have the trunk of an elephant, with three eyes, four arms, huge stomach, ears like those of an elephant, wearing a sacred thread, one large and long tusk holding with his right hand, a lotus and above a ball of sweet and with his left hand a battle axe and a ball of sweet, with extensive shoulders and huge arms and feet full of bliss riding a mouse He is the owner of Riddhi (success, prosperity) and Buddhi (intelligence)—52 55

260.50

kheṭakaṃ tāmracūḍañca vāmahaste tu śasyate.
dvibhujasya kare śaktirvāme syāt kukkuṭopari .. 260.50

260.51

caturbhuje śaktipāśo vāmato dakṣiṇe tvasiḥ.
varadobhayado vāpi dakṣiṇaḥ syātturīyakaḥ .. 260.51

260.52

vināyakaṃ pravakṣyāmi gajavaktraṃ trilocanam.
lambodaraṃ śūrpakarṇaṃ vyālayajñopavītinam .. 260.52

260.53

dhvastakarṇaṃ bṛhattuṇḍamekadaṃṣṭraṃ pṛthūdaram.
svadantaṃ dakṣiṇakare utpalañcāpare tathā .. 260.53

260.54

modakaṃ paraśuñcaiva vāmataḥ parikalpayet.
bṛhatvāt kṣiptavadanaṃ pīnaskandhāṅghripāṇikam.. 260.54

260.55

yuktantu ṛddhibuddhibhyāmadhastānmūṣakānvitam.
kātyāyanyāḥ pravakṣyāmi rūpaṃ daśabhujaṃ tathā .. 260.55

The image of the Goddess Kâtyâyani should be made of ten hands and as holding the weapons that are seen in the hands of Brahmâ, Viṣṇu and Śiva, with matted hair on Her head and a crescent with three eyes, face like the moon, shining like the âtasi flower, having beautiful eyes, youthful in appearance, adorned with all the ornaments having fine teeth and full breasts, standing with Her body curved in three directions—57 58

260.56

trayāṇāmapi devānāmanukārānukāriṇīm.
jaṭājūṭasamāyuktāmarddhendukṛtalakṣaṇām .. 260.56

260.57

locanatrayasampannāṃ padmendusadṛśānanām.
atasī puṣpasaṅkāśāṃ supratiṣṭhāṃ sulocanām .. 260.57

260.58

nava yauvanasampannāṃ sarvābharaṇabhūṣitām.
sucārudaśanāntadvat pīnonnatapayodharām .. 260.58

260.59

tribhaṅgasthānasaṃsthānāṃ mahiṣāsuramardinīm.
triśūlaṃ dakṣiṇe dadyāt śaṅkhaṃ cakraṃ tathaiva ca .. 260.59

The Destroyer of Mahiṣâsura, armed with a quoit, a trident, sharp pointed arrows, a javelin, holding a sword, a bow, a noose a goad a bell a battle axe in the left hands. Below Her image should be made the figure of the monster Mahiṣâsura with his severed head holding a sword in one hand soaked in blood, ferocious looking tied in the noose ejecting blood, his breast being pierced by the javelin of the Devi and his intestines coming out The conveyance of the Goddess in the form of a lion should also be made The right foot of the Goddess should be placed on the back of the lion and the toe of the left foot should be made touching the body of Mahiṣâsura Mahiṣa is made as encircled by a snake and Durgâ Devi as holding the hairs of the Demon with Her left hand Such a form of the Goddess should be made and Devas should be placed all round in praying posture—59 65

260.60

tīkṣṇaṃ bāṇaṃ tathā śaktiṃ vāmato'pi nibodhata.
kheṭakaṃ pūrṇacāpañca pāśamaṅkuśameva ca .. 260.60

260.61

ghaṇṭāṃ vā paraśuñcāpi vāmataḥ sanniveśayet.
adhastānmahiṣantadvadviśiraskaṃ pradarśayet .. 260.62

260.62

veṣṭitaṃ nāgapāśena bhrukuṭībhīṣaṇānanam.
vamadrudhiravaktrañca devyāḥ siṃhaṃ pradarśayet .. 260.63

260.63

devyāstu dakṣiṇaṃ pādaṃ samaṃ siṃhopari sthitam.
kiñcidūrdhvaṃ tathā vāmamaṃguṣṭhaṃ mahiṣopari .. 260.64

260.64

stūyamānañca tadrūpamamaraiḥ sanniveśayet .
idānīṃ surarājasya rūpaṃ vakṣye viśeṣataḥ .. 260.65

Now about the image of Indra the image of Indra should be made with a thousand eyes riding on an infuriated elephant with extensive thigh, chest, and face, shoulders broad like those of a lion, having long and mighty arms, holding a thunderbolt and lotus wearing a coronet and a couple of ear rings having beautiful eyes, armed with a club, adorned with various ornaments, adored by the Devas, the Gandharvas and the nymphs surrounded by a retinue of lady attendants each holding an umbrella and waiving châmara, seated on a throne with Indrâni on his left holding a lotus in Her hand—66 69

260.65

sahasranayanaṃ devaṃ mattavāraṇasaṃsthitam.
pṛthūruvakṣovadanaṃ siṃhaskandhaṃ mahābhujam .. 260.66

260.66

kirīṭakuṇḍaladharaṃ pīvarorubhujekṣaṇam.
vajrotpaladharaṃ tadvannānābharaṇabhūṣitam .. 260.67

260.67

pūjitaṃ devagandharvairapsarogaṇasevitam.
chatracāmaradhāriṇyaḥ striyaḥ pārśve pradarśayet .. 260.68

260.68

siṃhāsanagatañcāpi gandharvagaṇasaṃyutam.
indrāṇīṃ vāmataścāsya kuryyādutpaladhāriṇīm .. 260.69