Matsya Purana 261: adhyāyaḥ 261

261.1

nānādevapratimāpramāṇavarṇanam.

Sûta said:—The image of the Sun should be made with beautiful eyes seated in a chariot and holding a lotus—1

261.2

sūta uvāca.
prabhākarasya pratimāmidānīṃ śruṇuta dvijāḥ!.
rathasthaṃ kārayeddevaṃ padmahastaṃ sulocanam .. 261.1

261.3

saptāśvañcaika cakrañca rathaṃ tasya prakalpayet.
mukuṭena vicitreṇa padmagarbhasamaprabham .. 261.2

There should be seven horses and one chakra (wheel) in the chariot of the Sun and a coronet beaming red should be placed on His head—2

261.4

nānābharaṇabhūṣābhyāṃ bhujābhyāṃ dhṛtapuṣkaram.
skandhasthe puṣkare te tu līlayaiva dhṛte sadā .. 261.3

He should be decorated well with ornaments and the two hands holding blue lotuses, the latter should also be placed on His shoulders as if in a sport His body should be shown covered with a bodice and two pieces of cloth The feet should be made brilliant Two other figures named Danḍi and Piṅgala should be placed as guards with sword in their hands—5

261.5

colakacchannavapuṣaṃ kvaciccitreṣu darśayet.
vastrayugmasamopetaṃ caraṇau tejasāvṛtau .. 261.4

261.6

pratihārau ca kartavyau pārśvayordaṇḍipiṅgalau.
kartavyau khaḍgahastau tau pārśvayoḥ puruṣāvubhau .. 261.5

261.7

lokhanīkṛtahastañca pārśve dhātāramavyayam.
nānādevagaṇairyuktamevaṃ kuryāddivākaram .. 261.6

Somewhere close to the image of the Sun an image of Brahmâ should also be made holding a pen The image of the Sun should be surrounded by a number of Devas Aruṇa, the charioteer of the Sun, is resplendent like the lotus leaves and the horses nice and with long necks and well decked are to be on His either side They should also be properly held by reins of snakes The seven horses yoked to the chariot of the Sun should be tied together with the string of the serpent The image of the Sun should thus be made either seated in the chariot or on the lotus and holding a lotus The image of Agni, the bestower of all desires, should be made shining like gold seated on a throne looking like crescent having the face like that of the Sun, wearing a sacred thread and holding a pendant kurcha (bunch) with broad shoulders holding a Kamaṇḍalu in the left hand and a rosary of beads in the right A shining canopy [over its head] should also be made, and also the conveyance of goat—6-11

261.8

aruṇaḥ sārathiścāsya padminīpatrasannibhaḥ.
aśvau suvalayagrīvāvantasthau tasya pārśvayoḥ .. 261.7

261.9

bhujaṅgarajjubhirbaddhāḥ saptāśvā raśmisaṃyutāḥ.
padmasthaṃ vāhanasthaṃ vā padmahastaṃ prakalpayet .. 261.8

261.10

vahnestu lakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye sarvakāmaphalapradam.
dīptaṃ suvarṇavapuṣamardhacandrāsane sthitam .. 261.9

261.11

bālārkasadṛśaṃ tasya vadanañcāpi darśayet.
yajñopavītinaṃ devaṃ lambakūrcadharaṃ tathā .. 261.10

261.12

kamaṇḍaluṃ vāmakare dakṣiṇe tvakṣasūtrakam.
jvālāvitānasaṃyuktamajavāhanamujvalam .. 261.11

261.13

kuṇḍasthaṃ vāpi kurvīta mūrdhni saptaśikhānvitam.
tathā yamaṃ pravakṣyāmi daṇḍapāśadharaṃ viṃbhum .. 261.12

Or he is to have seven heads with seven burning rays and He is to be placed in the kuṇḍa sacrificial pit) The image of Dharmarâja should be made holding a mace and a noose, riding a huge buffalo black like soot and seated on a throne, with eyes sparkling like fire Round His image should be made the images of Chitragupta some formidable attendants, groups of quiet and formidable Demons and the great buffalo—12 14

261.14

mahāmahiṣamārūḍhaṃ kṛṣṇāñjanacayopamam.
siṃhāsanagatañcāpi dīptāgnisamalocanam .. 261.13

261.15

mahiṣaścitraguptaśca karālāḥ kiṅkarāstathā.
samantāddarśayettasya saumyā saumyān surāsurān .. 261.14

261.16

rākṣasendraṃ tathā vakṣye lokapālañca nairṛtam.
narārūḍhaṃ mahāmāyaṃ rakṣobhirbahubhirvṛtam .. 261.15

The image of Nairita Lokapâla the Lord of the Raksas should be made riding on a human being followed by a band of demons, armed with a sword, resplendent like a mountain of soot, wearing yellow robes decked with ornaments and having a chariot drawn by men The image of Lord Varuṇa should be made holding a noose in his hand looking courageous, having a colour white as a crystal, wearing white apparel riding a fish peaceful in appearance, adorned with armlets and a coronet The image of Vâyu should be made seated on a deer, smoky in complexion nicely dressed looking quite young, with knitted brows, adorned with banners, granting boons The image of Kuvera should be made wearing ear rings, with a huge form and a huge abdomen having a huge store of pelf and eight Nidhis surrounded by a number of attendants Guhyakas adorned with armlets &c, wearing white dress and a coronet, seated on a Vimâna drawn by men and giving wealth He is holding a club in one hand and with the other hand He is holding out the idea of ‘No fear’—15 22

261.17

khaḍgahastaṃ mahānīlaṃ kajjalācalasannibham.
narayuktavimānasthaṃ pītābharaṇabhūṣitam .. 261.16

261.18

varuṇāñca pravakṣyāmi pāśahastaṃ mahābalam‌.
śaṅkhasphaṭikavarṇābhaṃ sitahārāmbarāvṛtam .. 261.17

261.19

jhaṣāsanagataṃ śāntaṃ kirīṭāṅgadadhāriṇam.
vāyurūpaṃ pravakṣyāmi dhūmrantu mṛgavāhanam .. 261.18

261.20

citrāmbaradharaṃ śāntaṃ yuvānaṃ kuñcitabhruvam.
mṛgādhirūḍhaṃ varadaṃ patākādhvajasaṃyutam .. 261.19

261.21

kuberañca pravakṣyāmi kuṇḍalābhyāmalaṃkṛtam.
mahodaraṃ mahākāyaṃ nidhyaṣṭakasamanvitam .. 261.20

261.22

guhyakairbahubhiryuktaṃ dhanavyayakaraistathā.
hārakeyūraracitaṃ sitāmbaradharaṃ sadā .. 261.21

261.23

gadādharañca kartavyaṃ varadaṃ mukuṭānvitam.
narayuktavimānasthaṃ evaṃ rītyā ca kārayet .. 261.22

261.24

tathaiveśaṃ pravakṣyāmi dhavalaṃ dhavalekṣaṇam.
triśūlapāṇinaṃ devaṃ tryakṣaṃ vṛṣagataṃ prabhum .. 261.23

The image of Lord Iśâna should be made white with white eyes, armed with a trident, having three eyes, riding on a bull—23

261.25

mātṛṇāṃ lakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye yathāvadanupūrvaśaḥ.
brahmāṇī brahmasadṛśī caturvaktrā caturbhujā .. 261.24

The images of the different Mâtṛikâs should be made according to the forms of their respective Lords, viz—the image of Brahmânî should be seated on a crane having a Kamaṇḍalu and a rosary with four heads and four arms Maheśvarî should similarly be made according to the resemblance of Mâheśvara—24 25

261.26

haṃsādhirūr̤hāṃ kartavyā sākṣasūtrakamaṇḍaluḥ.
maheśvarasya rūpeṇa tathā māheśvarī matā .. 261.25

261.27

jaṭā mukuṭasaṃyuktā vṛṣasthā candraśekharā.
kapālaśūlakhaṭvāṅga varadāḍhyā caturbhujā .. 261.26

She should have matted hairs seated on a bull with Her forehead adorned with a crescent, armed with a sword and holding a skull, trident, khaṭvaṅga having 4 hands—26 The image of Kaumârî should be made of the form of Kârtika riding on a peacock, dressed in red, armed with a trident and a javelin, adorned with armlets, garlands holding a cock in Her hand—27

261.28

kumārarūpā kaumarī mayūravaravāhanā.
raktavastrādharā tadvacchūlaśaktidharā matā .. 261.27

261.29

hārakeyūrasampannā kṛkavākudharā tathā.
vaiṣṇavī viṣṇusadṛśā garuḍe samupasthitā .. 261.28

The image of Vaisnavî should be made with 4 hands, riding on Garuda holding a conch, a quoit, a club, &c, seated on a throne, having a child—28-29

261.30

caturbāhuśca varadā śaṅkacakragadādharā.
siṃhāsanagatā vāpi bālakena samanvitā .. 261.29

261.31

vārāhīñca pravakṣyāmi mahiṣopari saṃsthitām.
varāhasadṛśī devī śiraścāmaradhāriṇī .. 261.30

The image of the Goddess Vârâhî should be made riding on a buffalo, armed with a club, a quoit with a chowrie over Her head

261.32

gadācakradharā tadvaddānavendravināśinī.
indrāṇīmindrasadṛśīṃ vajraśūlagadādharām .. 261.31

The image of Indrânî should be made like Indra armed with a bolt, a club, and trident riding on an elephant, having many eyes, holding a keen sword, adorned with various divine ornaments, and of the colour of burnished gold—30-32

261.33

gajāsanagatāṃ devīṃ locanairbahubhirvṛtām.
taptakāñcanavarṇābhāṃ divyābharaṇabhūṣitām .. 261.32

261.34

tīkṣmakhaḍgadharāṃ tadvad vakṣye yogeśvarīmimām.
dīrghajihvāmūrdhvakeśīmasthikhaṇḍaiśca maṇḍitām .. 261.33

The image of Jogêśvarî should be made with a long tongue, hair, standing on their end adorned with pieces of bones having a set of ferocious teeth, slender waist, wearing a garland of skulls and heads covered with flesh and blood, holding a head in the left hand, soaked in a fatty liquid, holding a Śakti in the right hand, riding on a vulture or a crow, lean, with a scanty stomach, having a ferocious appearance She has three eyes—33 36

261.35

daṃṣṭrākarālavadanāṃ kuryyāccaiva kṛśodarīm .
kapālamālinīṃ devīṃ muṇḍamālāvibhūṣitām .. 261.34

261.36

kapālaṃ vāmahaste tu māṃsaśoṇitapūritam.
mastiṣkāktañca vibhrāṇāṃ śaktikāṃ dakṣiṇe kare .. 261.35

261.37

gṛdhrasthā vāyasasthā vā nirmāṃsā vinatodarī.
karālavadanā tadvat kartavyā sā trilocanā .. 261.36

261.38

cāmuṇḍā baddhaghaṇṭā vā dvīpicarmadharā śubhā.
digvāsāḥ kālikā tadvadrāsabhasthā kapālinī .. 261.37

When she assumes the form of Śri Châmundâ she is to wear tiger skin having a bell in the hand When she assumes the form of Kâlikâ she is represented as riding on an ass, holding a skull, undressed adorned with red flowers and banners with Vardhant The image of Gaṇeśa should be made near the images of these Mâtrikâs.—37-38

261.39

suraktapuṣpābharaṇā vardhanī dhvajasaṃyutā.
vināyakañca kurvīta mātṝṇāmantike sadā .. 261.38

261.40

vīreśvaraśca bhagavān vṛṣārūḍho jaṭādharaḥ.
vīṇāhastatriśūlī ca mātṝṇāmagrato bhavet .. 261.39

The image of Bhagavan Vîresvara should be placed in front of the images of the Mâtrikâs it should be on a bull, having plaited hairs, holding Vina and trident in a standing posture—39

261.41

śriyaṃ devīṃ pravakṣyāmi nave vayasi saṃsthitām.
suyauvanāṃ pītagaṇḍāṃ raktoṣṭhīṃ kuñcitabhruvam .. 261.40

The image of Śri Devî Lakṣmî should be made with a very youthful appearance, having thick cheeks, red lips, knitted brows, with thick and raised breasts adorned with jewels and ear rings with a round face, wearing head ornaments and lotus having conch, and beautiful separate l tresses of hair, adorned with garlands, armlets, having arms like the trunk of an elephant holding a lotus in the left hand, the fruit of an wood apple tree in the right, adorned with a lotus, a svastik, a conch, earrings and Alaka, breast covered with a bodice and wearing a necklace, with a girdle of bells shining like gold, dressed in fine robes Close by the image should be made the images of two female attendants holding chamaras in their hands The Goddess should be seated on a lotus-bed surrounded by the buzzing black bees and bathed by a couple of elephants with vases, prayed by the Gandharvas Guhyakas Similarly should be made the image of Yakṣinî prayed by the Gods and placed close to the Laksmi Devi—40-47

261.42

pīnonnatastanataṭāṃ maṇikuṇḍaladhāriṇīm.
sumaṇḍalaṃ mukhaṃ tasyāḥ śiraḥ sīmantabhūṣaṇam .. 261.41

261.43

padmasvastikaśaṅkhairvā bhūṣitāṃ kuṇḍalālakaiḥ.
kañcukābaddhagātrau ca hārabhūṣau payodharau .. 261.42

261.44

nāgahastopamau bāhū keyūrakaṭakojjvalau.
padmaṃ haste pradātavyaṃ śrīphalaṃ dakṣiṇe bhuje .. 261.43

261.45

mekhalābharaṇaṃ tadvattaptakāñcanasaprabhām.
nānābharaṇasampannāṃ śobhanāmvaradhāriṇīm .. 261.44

261.46

pārśve tasyāḥ striyaḥ kāryyā ścāmaravyagrapāṇayaḥ.
padmāsanopaviṣṭā tu padmasiṃhāsanamthitā .. 261.45

261.47

karibhyāṃ snāpyamānāsau bhṛṅgarābhyāmanekaśaḥ.
prakṣālayantau kariṇau bhṛṅgārābhyāṃ tathāparau .. 261.46

261.48

stūyamānā ca lokeśaistathā gandharvaguhyakaiḥ.
tathaiva yakṣiṇī kāryā siddhāsuraniṣevitā .. 261.47

261.49

pārśvayoḥ kalaśau tasyāstoraṇe devadānavāḥ.
nāgāścaiva tu kartavyāḥ khaḍgakheṭakadhāriṇaḥ .. 261.48

Near Her image should be placed vases The images of the Gods and the demons armed with swords as well as of the serpents should be made close by—48

261.50

adhastātprakṛtisteṣāṃ nābherūrdhvantu pauruṣī.
phaṇāśca mūrdhni kartavyādvijihvā bahavaḥ samāḥ .. 261.49

The lower parts of the serpents should be like (Prakriti) those of the natural serpents and the upper part is to be represented Paurusi and hoods on the head They have each a pair of tongues—49 Many demons, Râkṣasas, Bhûtas and Vetâlas should be made to reside at the gateway of Lakṣmî Devî. They are without flesh, terrible and hideous looking—50

261.51

piśācā rākṣasāścaiva bhūtavetālajātayaḥ.
nirmāṃsāścaiva te sarve raudrā vikṛtarūpiṇaḥ .. 261.50

261.52

kṣetrapālaśca kartavyo jaṭilo vikṛtānanaḥ.
digvāsā jaṭilasvadvacchvāgomāyu niṣevitaḥ .. 261.51

The images of Kṣetrapâlas should be made with plaited hair, formidable in appearance, undressed, surrounded by dogs and jackals, holding a head covered with the hair in the left hand, and a javelin in the right to destroy the demons—51-52

261.53

kapālaṃ vāmahaste tu śiraḥ keśaiḥ samāvṛtam.
dakṣiṇe śaktikāṃ dadyādasurakṣayakāriṇīm .. 261.52

261.54

athātaḥ sampravakṣyāmi dvibhujaṃ kusumāyudham.
pārśve cāśvamukhaṃ tasya makaradhvajasaṃyutam .. 261.53

Afterwards the image of Cupid with two hands should be made and close to it should be placed the head of a horse with the sign of a Makara (crocodile).—53

261.55

dakṣiṇe puṣpabāṇañca vāme puṣpamayaṃ dhanuḥ.
prītiḥ syāddakṣiṇe tasya bhojanopaskarānvitā .. 261.54

A floral arrow should be placed in the right hand of Cupid and a floral bow in the left one. To the right should be made the image of Prîti holding all kinds of victuals and to the left should be made Rati in a reposing posture having a bed and a crane. The drums and the figure of a donkey passionate with sexual desire, wells and Nandana garden should also be made.—54-55

261.56

ratiśca vāmapārśvetu śayanaṃ sārasānvitam.
paṭaśca paṭahaścaiva kharaḥ kāmāturastathā .. 261.55

261.57

pārśvato jalavāpī ca vanaṃ nandanameva ca.
suśobhanaśca kartavyo bhagavān kusumāyudhaḥ .. 261.56

Near by should also be made a pleasure grove with a pool of water reached by nice steps. The god Cupid is very well dressed and his posture is somewhat bent.—56

261.58

saṃsthānamīṣadvaktraṃ syādvismitavaktrakam .
etaduddeśataḥ proktaṃ pratimālakṣaṇaṃ mayā.
vistareṇa na śaknoti bṛhaspatirapi dvijāḥ ! .. 261.57

Suta—Riṣis! I have just given you a rough idea of the construction of the different images. It is indeed very difficult to explain all the broad details which even Vṛihaspati cannot do.—57