Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
सपादाङ्गुलमुत्सेधमङ्गुष्टस्य प्रकीर्तितं यवोनमङ्गुलं कार्यमङ्गुष्ठस्य नखं तथा
sapādāṅgulamutsedhamaṅguṣṭasya prakīrtitaṃ yavonamaṅgulaṃ kāryamaṅguṣṭhasya nakhaṃ tathā
La hauteur (saillie) du pouce est proclamée d’une aṅgula et un quart (1¼). L’ongle du pouce, de même, doit être d’une aṅgula moins un yava (mesure d’un grain d’orge).
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Carving/painting precise thumb and thumbnail dimensions to maintain realistic and canonical hand proportions in icons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Aṅguṣṭha Utsedha and Nakha-pramāṇa","lookup_keywords":["aṅguṣṭha","utsedha","nakha","yava","aṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Specifies thumb projection as 1¼ aṅgulas and the thumbnail as 1 aṅgula minus 1 yava, giving a fine-grained rule for hand detailing."}
Concept: Micro-proportion (sūkṣma-pramāṇa) as essential to lifelike sacred form
Application: Use yava-level adjustments for nails and small features to avoid crude hands in sculpture/painting.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Pratima-Lakshana (Iconometry and measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman measures a thumb on a clay/stone model; a scale shows 1¼ aṅgulas; the thumbnail is marked slightly under 1 aṅgula with a yava notch.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, close-up of a hand being outlined with measurement ticks, thumb emphasized, earthy palette, clear yava notch on a measuring strip","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly decorated hand of a deity with gold-highlighted measurement marks, artisan holding a small ruler, focus on thumb and nail detail","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical illustration of thumb and nail with precise annotations (1¼ aṅgula; 1 aṅgula − 1 yava), clean composition and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier close-up: jeweler-like precision on a sculpted hand, tiny scale with yava divisions, meticulous detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सपादाङ्गुलमुत्सेधम् = स-पाद-अङ्गुलम् + उत्सेधम्; अङ्गुष्टस्य प्रकीर्तितम् (no sandhi); यवोनमङ्गुलं = यव-ऊनम् + अङ्गुलम्; कार्यमङ्गुष्ठस्य = कार्यम् + अङ्गुष्ठस्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (sub-units like yava; detailed limb measures)
FAQs
It gives iconometric standards (pramāṇa) for sculpting/depicting the thumb and its nail using traditional units (aṅgula and yava), ensuring canonical proportions in images (pratimā).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical śilpa/ वास्तु specifications—fine-grained measurement rules used by artisans for temple and image-making—showing its coverage of technical sciences alongside religious instruction.
Correct proportions are traditionally held to preserve the sanctity and efficacy of sacred images; adherence to śāstric measurement supports proper consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and the intended devotional and ritual function of the icon.