Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 45 — Piṇḍikā-Lakṣaṇa
Characteristics and Measurements of the Pedestal/Plinth
भ्रुवौ यवाधिके कार्ये यवहीना तु नासिका गोलकेनाधिकं वक्त्रमूर्ध्वं तिर्यग्विवर्जितं
bhruvau yavādhike kārye yavahīnā tu nāsikā golakenādhikaṃ vaktramūrdhvaṃ tiryagvivarjitaṃ
Les sourcils doivent être faits d’un yava (mesure d’un grain d’orge) plus grands, tandis que le nez doit être d’un yava plus petit. Le visage doit être accru d’un gola (mesure ronde) et orienté vers le haut, en évitant toute inclinaison de côté.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vashistha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Apply yava and gola units to sculpt/paint facial proportions (brows, nose, face orientation) for a pratimā or portrait so the icon is aesthetically correct and ritually acceptable.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Mukha-pramāṇa: Bhru-Nāsā-Vaktra Māna and Urdhva-dṛṣṭi","lookup_keywords":["bhru-pramāṇa","nāsikā-māna","gola","vaktra-pramāṇa","tiryag-doṣa"],"quick_summary":"Increase eyebrow measure by one yava, reduce nose by one yava, enlarge the face by one gola, and keep the face subtly uplifted without sideways tilt—key canons for auspicious icon facial geometry."}
Concept: Pramāṇa (measured proportion) is a vehicle of śobha (beauty) and maṅgala (auspiciousness); deviation (tiryag-doṣa) is treated as a fault in sacred form.
Application: Use standardized micro-units (yava, gola) and alignment rules to avoid doṣa in icon-making and ensure consistent tradition across artisans.
Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra (Iconography / Pratima-lakshana)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sculptor marks a deity face on stone/wood with measured guidelines: eyebrows slightly extended, nose slightly reduced, face broadened, and the head held subtly upward without lateral tilt.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan drawing facial grid on a Devī/Lakṣmī visage, clear eyebrow and nose markings, head gently uplifted, bold outlines, earthy pigments, lotus border motifs.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, close-up of Lakṣmī face with emphasized symmetrical brows, refined nose, slightly enlarged face, gold-highlighted contours, jewel tones, ornate halo framing the upward orientation.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical plate: face diagram with yava and gola annotations, arrows showing +1 yava brows, −1 yava nose, +1 gola face, note ‘no tiryag tilt’, clean instructional aesthetic.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with master artisan instructing apprentice, measuring with small grains/marked scale, deity portrait panel showing corrected brow/nose/face proportions, fine linework and patterned textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: यवाधिके = यव + अधिके; यवहीना = यव + हीना; गोलकेनाधिकम् = गोलकेन + अधिकम्; वक्त्रमूर्ध्वम् = वक्त्रम् + ऊर्ध्वम्; तिर्यग्विवर्जितम् = तिर्यक् + विवर्जितम्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 45 (pratimā-lakṣaṇa sequence: facial features and proportional units)
FAQs
It teaches shilpa-shastra iconographic proportioning—precise adjustments to eyebrows, nose, and face using traditional measurement units (yava, gola), and correct facial orientation (no lateral tilt) for a sacred image.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical canons for temple arts and sculpture—standardized measurements and aesthetic rules—showing its role as a compendium spanning ritual, architecture, and technical craftsmanship.
In iconography, correct proportions and orientation are treated as prerequisites for a properly consecrated, ritually effective image; accuracy supports auspiciousness and avoids defects (doṣa) that could diminish the intended religious merit.