🔥 Dikpala Agni – Iconography
Agni, the guardian of the southeast (Āgneya) direction, is one of the most dynamic Dikpalas in Odishan temple art. His form symbolizes fire, transformation, ritual purity, and cosmic energy.
✔ Compulsory (Essential) Features of Agni
- Direction: Guardian of the Southeast corner of the temple.
- Vāhana (Mount): Always shown with a ram, usually placed below or beside him.
- Flame Aura: Surrounded by a prabhāmaṇḍala of flames or rising flame tongues.
- Beard: Always depicted with a
— short, full, or pointed. - Pot-belly: Has a distinctive pot-belly, symbolizing his appetite for oblations.
⚠ Optional / Variable Features of Agni
- Number of Arms:
- Commonly two arms
- Sometimes four arms (e.g., Charda)
- Rarely more than four
- Postures:
- Padmāsana (seated cross-legged)
- Tribhaṅga (three-bend pose)
- Samabhaṅga
- Lalitāsana on the ram (e.g., Brahmeśvara)
- Slightly flexed standing pose (e.g., Rājarāṇī)
- Hand Attributes (vary by temple):
- Rosary (akṣamālā)
- Vase (kalaśa)
- Torch
- Bowl of fire
- Fan (rare, e.g., Lingarāja)
- Sometimes empty hands (early Markandeśvara image)
- Attendants and Figures:
- Diminutive attendants flanking him
- Vidyādharas in upper corners
- Dual small Agni figures on both sides (rare)
- Devotees in lower niches
- Flame Style Variations:
- Full body flame-aureole
- Waist-up flames
- Flames rising only from sides
- Ram Placement:
- Directly below the deity
- Beside Agni’s legs
- In a lower corner of the niche
- Beard Style:
- Short beard (e.g., Siṁhanātha)
- Pointed beard (e.g., Benusāgar)
- Full beard (later medieval)
Note: The Śakti of Agni is typically depicted with a fully idealized form, without the pot-belly of her male counterpart.