Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 15
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
तन्मन्दलक्षणा स्त्री स्याद्रूपाभावान्नपुंसका दृश्यते मण्डलं यस्यां सगर्भां तां विवर्जयेत्
tanmandalakṣaṇā strī syādrūpābhāvānnapuṃsakā dṛśyate maṇḍalaṃ yasyāṃ sagarbhāṃ tāṃ vivarjayet
On dit qu’une femme est du type « tan-maṇḍala » ; en raison de l’absence de forme féminine, elle est tenue pour neutre (napuṃsaka). Celle chez qui l’on voit un signe circulaire (maṇḍala) distinct—si elle est enceinte—doit être évitée (exclue de la procédure ou du choix).
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Screening/exclusion criteria in women’s health or ritual/medical procedures: identifying bodily signs (maṇḍala) and avoiding intervention when pregnancy is suspected/confirmed.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Strī-lakṣaṇa & Garbha-niṣedha: Maṇḍala-darśana as exclusion sign","lookup_keywords":["strī-roga","garbha-niṣedha","maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa","napuṃsaka","selection-exclusion"],"quick_summary":"Defines a ‘tan-maṇḍala’ type and states that if a distinct circular mark is observed and the woman is pregnant, she should be excluded from the intended procedure/selection to prevent harm or inauspicious outcome."}
Concept: Anukampā and niṣedha: avoiding actions that may endanger pregnancy; ethical restraint guided by observable lakṣaṇas.
Application: Adopt conservative decision-making in procedures involving women when signs suggest pregnancy; defer or choose safer alternatives.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Strī-roga / Garbha-niṣedha-lakṣaṇa—female health and exclusions for procedures)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A clinical-ritual consultation scene: an elder vaidya/ācārya observes a circular bodily mark (maṇḍala) on a woman and signals exclusion/avoidance due to pregnancy, emphasizing care and restraint.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, dignified figures, vaidya/ācārya gesturing ‘do not proceed’, woman with modest depiction of a circular mark, attendants holding palm-leaf texts, calm compassionate mood.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold work, seated teacher with manuscript, woman respectfully standing, symbolic maṇḍala motif highlighted with gold, emphasis on auspicious restraint and protection.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: teacher pointing to a drawn maṇḍala sign on a diagram/palm leaf, indicating ‘garbhā—vivarjayet’, soft colors and clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate indoor consultation, physician and attendants, subtle depiction of a circular mark, careful gestures indicating avoidance, detailed textiles and instruments."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tanmandalakṣaṇā = tat-maṇḍala-lakṣaṇā; syādrūpābhāvāt = syāt rūpa-abhāvāt; rūpābhāvānnapuṃsakā = rūpa-abhāvāt na puṃsakā; (final -t + n → nn); दृश्यते is separate; sagarbhāṃ = sa-garbhām.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43 (lakṣaṇa-based determinations across topics); Agni Purana Ayurveda portions on strī-roga and garbha topics (related chapters)
FAQs
It gives a rule of screening based on observable bodily signs (maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa) and states that a pregnant woman (sa-garbhā) is to be excluded from the intended selection/procedure, reflecting precautionary medical/ritual eligibility criteria.
Alongside theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical diagnostic and eligibility rules—here, bodily signs, sexual classification (napuṃsaka), and pregnancy-based exclusion—showing its wide scope across applied health-knowledge and ritual administration.
Avoiding procedures involving a pregnant woman is framed as a dharmic precaution—preventing harm and impurity-risk—thereby supporting non-injury (ahiṃsā) and safeguarding auspicious outcomes in rites or regulated acts.