Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 24
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कम्बुग्रीवा त्रिरेखा सावटुर्घाटा कृकाटिका अधः स्याच्चिवुकञ्चौष्ठादथ गण्डौ गलो हनुः
kambugrīvā trirekhā sāvaṭurghāṭā kṛkāṭikā adhaḥ syāccivukañcauṣṭhādatha gaṇḍau galo hanuḥ
শঙ্খসদৃশ গ্ৰীৱা ‘কম্বুগ্ৰীৱা’; তিন ৰেখাযুক্ত গ্ৰীৱা ‘ত্রিৰেখা’। গলাৰ পিঠিভাগ/পশ্চকপাল অঞ্চল ‘সাৱটুৰ্ঘাটা’ আৰু গ্ৰীৱা-সন্ধি ‘কৃকাটিকা’। তলত ক্ৰমে: থুতনি ‘চিবুক’, ওষ্ঠ-অঞ্চল ‘চৌষ্ঠ’, তাৰপিছত গাল ‘গণ্ড’, গলা ‘গল’ আৰু জবা ‘হনু’।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic technical terminology)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Supports precise anatomical localization and samudrika/lakṣaṇa-based description of neck and facial regions for diagnosis, examination, and descriptive taxonomy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Neck and face-region nomenclature (kambugrīvā to hanu)","lookup_keywords":["kambugrīvā","trirekhā","kṛkāṭikā","civuka","hanu"],"quick_summary":"Defines named regions and mark-terms of the neck/face: conch-like neck, three neck-lines, nape/occipital area, cervical junction, chin, lip-region, cheeks, throat, and jaw."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (implicit metaphor in kambugrīvā: neck ‘as conch’)
Concept: Śarīra-saṃjñā and lakṣaṇa: naming and recognizing form as a means to knowledge and skilled action.
Application: Enables consistent diagnosis, sculpture, and literary depiction by shared anatomical vocabulary.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Lakshana-shastra / Samudrika: bodily marks and anatomical terminology)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A frontal and side profile head-and-neck diagram with labeled regions: conch-like neck, three neck lines, nape, cervical junction, chin, lips, cheeks, throat, jaw; an examiner points to each landmark.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized bust with emphasized neck folds and conch-like curve, labels near nape and jawline, traditional flat shading and decorative border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, idealized figure with kambugrīvā and trirekhā highlighted in gold accents, inset callouts for civuka/cauṣṭha/gaṇḍa/gala/hanu, ornate arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean anatomical illustration aesthetic within classical painting idiom, precise callouts to kṛkāṭikā and facial regions, soft palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court artist’s study of a model’s profile, delicate labeling of neck and face regions, refined linework and subtle shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्चिवुकम् = स्यात् + चिवुकम् (त् + च → च्च). चिवुकञ्च = चिवुकम् + च. चिवुकञ्चौष्ठात् = चिवुकम् + च + ओष्ठात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363.23 (hand/measure terminology); Agni Purana samudrika/lakṣaṇa and śārīra-related passages elsewhere
FAQs
It teaches precise Sanskrit nomenclature for neck–face anatomical regions used in Ayurvedic description and samudrika-lakshana (physiognomic) assessment.
Beyond theology, it catalogs specialist vocabulary—here, anatomical/physiognomic terms—showing the Purana’s role as a compendium that preserves technical knowledge alongside religious instruction.
Such definitions support dharmic discernment and disciplined observation in traditional learning; in samudrika contexts, correct identification of bodily marks is treated as aiding right judgment and orderly conduct rather than as a standalone ritual merit.