Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 16
Chapter 53 — Liṅga-lakṣaṇa
Characteristics and Proportions of the Śiva-liṅga and Piṇḍikā
त्रिभागं मध्यतः खातं कृत्वा पीठं विभाजयेत् स्वमानार्धत्रिभागेण बाहुल्यं परिकल्पयेत्
tribhāgaṃ madhyataḥ khātaṃ kṛtvā pīṭhaṃ vibhājayet svamānārdhatribhāgeṇa bāhulyaṃ parikalpayet
Après avoir pratiqué au centre un évidement (khāta) d’un tiers, on doit proportionner et diviser le piédestal (pīṭha) ; et son bāhulya (saillie/largeur) doit être fixé à un tiers de la moitié de sa propre mesure.
Lord Agni (in dialogue tradition, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Creating a central recess (khāta) and setting pedestal projections by fractional rules to ensure correct seating, drainage, and visual balance.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pīṭha-vibhāga: tri-bhāga khāta and bāhulya by fractional measure","lookup_keywords":["khāta","tri-bhāga","pīṭha-vibhāga","bāhulya","madhyataḥ"],"quick_summary":"Cut a central recess of one-third and proportion the pīṭha accordingly; set the bāhulya (projection/width) by a specified fractional rule based on the pedestal’s own measure."}
Concept: Vibhāga (systematic division) as the basis of śilpa-pramāṇa
Application: Apply fractional division consistently to avoid disproportion and structural/ritual defects in sacred pedestals.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra (Temple/Altar Architecture and Measurement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A plan-view of a pedestal shows a central one-third recess marked out; the artisan calculates bāhulya using fractional divisions on a measuring board.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down schematic pedestal with central khāta shaded, artisan holding palm-leaf notes, bold outlines, warm tones, temple workshop setting.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, pedestal with inset recess rendered in relief-like gold accents, measuring cord and compass, decorative borders, devotional workshop mood.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition: pedestal grid with one-third center recess, fractional marks along edges, fine linework and pastel shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, mathematician-architect demonstrating fractional divisions on a wooden tablet, pedestal block beside him with central recess, intricate margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svamānārdhatribhāgeṇa → sva-māna-ardha-tri-bhāgeṇa (compound); no major external sandhi otherwise.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 53.15; Agni Purana 53.17; Agni Purana 53.18
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu-śāstra proportioning rule for constructing a pīṭha (pedestal/plinth): a central recess is set by a one-third measure, and the outward breadth/projection (bāhulya) is computed as one-third of half of the base’s own dimension.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves applied technical canons—here, architectural geometry for sacred construction—showing it functions as a compendium that includes Vāstu guidelines alongside ritual, dharma, and other sciences.
Correct proportioning of the pedestal used for icons/altars is treated as part of proper sacred construction; accuracy supports ritual correctness (śuddhi) and is traditionally held to aid auspiciousness and merit (puṇya) through well-ordered worship spaces.