Agni Purana — Dharma-shastra, Shloka 10
Mahāpātaka-ādi-kathana
Account of the Great Sins) — concluding note incl. ‘Mārjāra-vadha’ (killing of a cat
यदि तत्र विपत्तिः स्यादेकपादो विधीयते घण्टाभरणदोषेण तथैवर्धं विनिर्दिशत्
yadi tatra vipattiḥ syādekapādo vidhīyate ghaṇṭābharaṇadoṣeṇa tathaivardhaṃ vinirdiśat
Si en ese caso ocurre un percance, se prescribe un solo pāda (una parte) como medida expiatoria; asimismo, por el defecto del adorno de campana, ha indicado la pena como la mitad.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Establishes proportional penalties/expiations for defects arising in image-making/ornamentation: a mishap may require a 'one-foot' measure; bell-ornament defect entails half-penalty—useful for workshop standards and ritual rectification.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Pratimā-doṣa prāyaścitta: ekapāda and ardha for ghaṇṭābharaṇa-doṣa","lookup_keywords":["pratimā-doṣa","ekapāda","ghaṇṭābharaṇa","ardha-daṇḍa","śilpa-prāyaścitta"],"quick_summary":"For certain mishaps in the prescribed context, an expiation/penalty measured as 'one pāda' is assigned; for a defect in the bell-ornament, the measure is half."}
Concept: Sacred craft is governed by proportional accountability; defects are not merely aesthetic but dharmic/ritual faults requiring measured remedy.
Application: Maintain workshop inspection standards; if a defect occurs, apply the prescribed graded rectification rather than improvising.
Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra / Pratima-lakshana (Iconography and image-making rules)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Temple/Workshop
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sculptor’s workshop where an image’s foot area has suffered a mishap; an elder śilpin or priest indicates the prescribed 'one-pāda' remedy, and separately points to a bell-ornament defect assessed as half.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: temple workshop with artisans, unfinished stone/metal image, highlighted foot region, hanging bell-ornament shown with a flaw, a supervising priest-figure indicating ekapāda and ardha measures, warm ochres and greens","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: richly framed depiction of a deity image being crafted, gold-highlighted ornaments, a bell-ornament shown with a marked defect, a scroll indicating 'ardha', ceremonial seriousness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: technical illustration of pratimā parts—foot and bell-ornament—annotated with proportional penalty markers (1 pāda, 1/2), clean and didactic","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: artisan atelier with tools, detailed ornament rendering, supervisor assessing defects with measured tokens, architectural interior with fine patterns"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्यादेकपादः = स्यात् + एकपादः; तथैव = तथा + एव; विनिर्दिशत् in input normalized to विनिर्दिशेत् (optative) per syntactic expectation.
Related Themes: Agni Purana pratima-lakṣaṇa chapters on doṣa-prāyaścitta and ornamentation; Agni Purana temple/image consecration (pratiṣṭhā) related rules
FAQs
It gives a technical corrective rule/penalty scale for faults arising during icon-making or ornamentation—prescribing a full unit (“one foot”) for a serious mishap, and a half-unit for a specific ornament defect (the bell-ornament).
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a practical manual, preserving Shilpa-shastra style compliance rules—fine-grained defect classifications and proportional remedies—alongside its broader religious teachings.
By prescribing proportionate rectification for defects, it protects ritual purity and ensures the icon remains fit for worship, thereby preventing the fault from maturing into negative karmic or ritual consequences for patrons and artisans.