Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Chapter 53 — Liṅga-lakṣaṇa
Characteristics and Proportions of the Śiva-liṅga and Piṇḍikā
अः स्कन्दगणा दश विनायका इति ख, चिहिनितपुस्तकपाठः अत्र चण्डिकादशहस्तेषु खड्गशूलारिशक्तिधृगिति युक्तः पाठः अस्मल्लब्धपुस्तकपञ्चकेषु नायं पाठः अथ त्रिपञ्चाशत्तमोध्यायः लिङ्गलक्षणं भगवानुवाच लिङ्गादिलक्षणं वक्ष्ये कमलोद्भव तच्छृणु दैर्घ्यार्धं वसुभिर्भक्त्वा त्यक्त्वा भागत्रयं ततः
aḥ skandagaṇā daśa vināyakā iti kha, cihinitapustakapāṭhaḥ atra caṇḍikādaśahasteṣu khaḍgaśūlāriśaktidhṛgiti yuktaḥ pāṭhaḥ asmallabdhapustakapañcakeṣu nāyaṃ pāṭhaḥ atha tripañcāśattamodhyāyaḥ liṅgalakṣaṇaṃ bhagavānuvāca liṅgādilakṣaṇaṃ vakṣye kamalodbhava tacchṛṇu dairghyārdhaṃ vasubhirbhaktvā tyaktvā bhāgatrayaṃ tataḥ
„[Hinweis zur Variantenlesart:] ‚Die Scharen Skandas sind zehn Vināyakas‘ — so lautet die Lesart der gekennzeichneten Handschrift (kha). Hier, in der Beschreibung von Caṇḍikās zehn Händen, ist die passende Lesart: ‚Schwert, Speer, feindvernichtende Śakti (Wurfspieß) usw. tragend.‘ Diese Lesart findet sich jedoch nicht in den fünf uns vorliegenden Handschriften. Nun beginnt das dreiundfünfzigste Kapitel: die Kennzeichen des Liṅga. Der Erhabene Herr sprach: ‚O Lotosgeborener (Brahmā), ich werde die bestimmenden Merkmale des Liṅga und der verwandten Formen darlegen — höre. Teile die Hälfte der Länge in acht Teile; dann verwerfe davon drei Teile.‘“
Bhagavān (here functioning as the instructing deity; in Agni Purana context commonly Lord Agni narrating Purāṇic-ritual knowledge)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Standardizing liṅga proportions for carving and installation; also indicates textual-critical awareness (variant readings) for correct ritual manuals and iconographic prescriptions.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liṅga-lakṣaṇa: basic proportional rule (half-length divided into eight; remove three parts)","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-lakṣaṇa","māna","aṣṭa-bhāga","ardha-dairghya","pramāṇa"],"quick_summary":"For liṅga measurement, take half the total length, divide it into eight equal parts, and omit three parts—yielding a canonical remainder used as a key module in further construction."}
Concept: Śāstrīya-pramāṇa: sacred form is approached through measurable order (māna), making ritual and art reproducible and orthodox.
Application: Use the proportional rule as a baseline module when drafting liṅga drawings, selecting stone blanks, and checking artisan work before prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Shaiva-Lakshana (Linga-lakshana and iconographic measurement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A śilpin measures a Śiva-liṅga block with a measuring cord/rod, dividing a half-length into eight parts and marking off three parts to be omitted; Brahmā addressed by the Lord in a teaching setting.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, seated Śiva teaching Brahmā, beside them a craftsman marking a liṅga with measured segments, palm-leaf manuscript motif indicating variant readings, warm earthy palette with traditional ornamentation","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, Śiva as teacher with gold halo, Brahmā listening, foreground artisan with measuring scale and liṅga outline, gold embossing on crowns and ornaments, temple interior framing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional geometry: liṅga with segmented markings (8 parts on half-length), artisan demonstrating ‘omit three parts’, subtle gold highlights, calm didactic mood","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholarly atelier scene: manuscripts, scribes noting variants, Śiva instructing Brahmā, artisan measuring a stone liṅga with ruler and ink marks, fine architectural background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Śrī","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tacchṛṇu → tat śṛṇu; tripañcāśattamodhyāyaḥ → tri-pañcāśattamaḥ adhyāyaḥ; khaḍgaśūlāriśaktidhṛgiti → khaḍgaśūlāriśaktidhṛk iti; nāyaṃ → na ayam.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa ch. 53: subsequent liṅga varieties and pīṭha/yoni measures (implied continuation); Agni Purāṇa: earlier Devī-mūrti-lakṣaṇa notes referenced in the variant-reading preface
FAQs
It introduces liṅga-lakṣaṇa (Śiva-liṅga definition and proportions) and begins a concrete measurement rule: take half the total length, divide it into eight parts, and then omit three parts—an instruction used in iconographic/installation calculations.
Alongside theology, it preserves applied temple-science: precise proportional rules for sacred objects (iconometry) and even records manuscript variant readings—showing the text’s scope from ritual engineering to philological transmission.
Correct proportioning of the liṅga is treated as essential for valid installation and worship; accuracy supports ritual efficacy (śuddhi and siddhi) and is believed to secure merit through properly performed Śaiva devotion.