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🔥 Features of Agni Found in Odisha Temples

The sculptural depictions of Agni in Odishan temples show a wide variety of artistic styles. The following features are those that actually appear in temple carvings across Bhubaneswar and Odisha.

✔ Commonly Found (Almost Universal) Features

  • Southeast Direction: Agni is always placed in the Āgneya corner of the temple.
  • Ram Mount: A ram is present in nearly all images—either below, beside, or in a corner of the niche.
  • Flame Surround: Agni is usually encircled by a fire halo (prabhāmaṇḍala), or flames rise on both sides.
  • Bearded Face: A beard is consistently shown—short, pointed, or thick.
  • Pot-Belly: The deity often has a visible pot-belly, symbolizing his fiery appetite.

⚠ Sometimes Found Features (Temple-Specific)

  • Number of Arms:
    • 2 arms in many early temples (e.g., Siṁhanātha)
    • 4 arms in several later temples (e.g., Charda)
    • Arms may be broken in many sculptures
  • Poses Observed in Temples:
    • Padmāsana (e.g., Markandeśvara)
    • Samabhaṅga holding rosary and vase (Benusāgar)
    • Tribhaṅga flexed posture (Charda)
    • Lalitāsana sitting on ram (Brahmeśvara)
    • Slightly bent pose (Rājarāṇī)
  • Hand Attributes Seen in Sculptures:
    • Rosary (akṣamālā)
    • Vase (kalaśa)
    • Fan (rare example—Lingarāja)
    • Torch or bowl of fire (seen in late medieval images)
    • No attributes (early images where hands are empty)
  • Attendant Figures:
    • Small attendants on both sides (Rājarāṇī, Somesvara)
    • Vidyādharas in upper corners
    • Duplicate small figures of Agni (rare example)
    • Seated devotee in lower corner
  • Flame Variations:
    • Full-body ring of flames
    • Flames rising only on each side
    • Flames extending from feet to head (Brahmeśvara)

✨ Rare Features (Appearing in Only One or Two Temples)

  • Four-armed fragmented image with broken attributes (Charda).
  • Agni holding a fan—unique to Lingarāja temple depiction.
  • Dual small Agni miniature figures flanking the main image (very rare).
  • Torch in left hand and fire-bowl in right (seen in medieval Vishnupur area).
Note: The Śakti of Agni is also found in some temples, shown as a beautiful idealized form without the pot-belly.