Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 49
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
प्रभामण्डलसंस्थौ तौ प्रभा हस्त्यादिभूषणा पद्माभं पादपीठन्तु प्रतिमास्वेवमाचरेत्
prabhāmaṇḍalasaṃsthau tau prabhā hastyādibhūṣaṇā padmābhaṃ pādapīṭhantu pratimāsvevamācaret
Ces deux figures doivent être placées dans un disque d’auréole (prabhāmaṇḍala) ; l’éclat doit être orné de motifs tels que des éléphants et autres. Le piédestal des pieds (pādapīṭha), quant à lui, doit être semblable à un lotus. Ainsi doit-on procéder pour façonner les images.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, in the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Specifies halo (prabhāmaṇḍala) placement and decoration, plus lotus-like pedestal design—used by sculptors and temple committees to standardize image ensembles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prabhāmaṇḍala and Padma-pīṭha construction for attendant images","lookup_keywords":["prabhāmaṇḍala","prabhā-alaṅkāra","hasti-bhūṣaṇa","padma-pīṭha","pratimā-ācāra"],"quick_summary":"Place the figures within a halo-disc and ornament the radiance with motifs (e.g., elephants). Provide a lotus-like foot-pedestal; follow this as the standard method for image-making."}
Concept: Iconic radiance (prabhā) and lotus pedestal symbolize divinity and purity; correct material form supports ritual meaning.
Application: In commissions, specify back-slab/halo and pedestal motifs explicitly (including elephant motifs) to match canonical expectations.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratima-lakshana (Iconography and image-installation procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Attendant icons stand before a carved halo-disc; the halo is decorated with elephant motifs, and the figures rest on a lotus-shaped pedestal.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, luminous prabhāmaṇḍala behind figures, stylized elephant motifs around the halo rim, lotus pedestal rendered with bold petal geometry, temple interior ambiance","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on halo and ornaments, elephant motifs embossed on the prabhā ring, lotus pedestal with gold highlights, jewel-toned palette","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical clarity of halo/back-slab and lotus pīṭha, fine linework on elephant motifs, gentle shading, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, sculptural tableau with ornate halo featuring elephants, lotus pedestal, artisans or devotees nearby, intricate patterning and architectural setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रभामण्डलसंस्थौ = प्रभा + मण्डल + संस्थौ; हस्त्यादिभूषणा = हस्ति + आदि + भूषणा; पद्माभं = पद्म + आभम्; पादपीठन्तु = पादपीठम् + तु; प्रतिमास्वेवमाचरेत् = प्रतिमासु + एवम् + आचरेत्।
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 44 (halo, ornaments, pedestal context); Agni Purāṇa 45 (piṇḍikā/pedestal measurements expand this)
FAQs
It gives pratimā-nirmāṇa (image-making) specifications: the deity figures should be set within a prabhāmaṇḍala (aureole), the halo may bear decorative motifs (e.g., elephants), and the pādapīṭha (foot-pedestal) should be lotus-formed.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves applied temple-arts knowledge—iconographic layout, sculptural design elements, and pedestal/halo conventions—showing it functions as a practical manual for ritual art and sacred architecture alongside its religious narratives.
By prescribing correct sacred form (lakṣaṇa) for worship-images, it supports proper upāsanā: accurate iconography is treated as enabling focused devotion and ritually valid worship, thereby strengthening religious merit (puṇya) and purity of practice.