Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 53 — Liṅga-lakṣaṇa
Characteristics and Proportions of the Śiva-liṅga and Piṇḍikā
मध्यसूत्रं समासाद्य ब्रह्मरुद्रान्तिकं बुधः षोडशाङ्गुललिङ्गस्य षड्भागैर् भाजितो यथा
madhyasūtraṃ samāsādya brahmarudrāntikaṃ budhaḥ ṣoḍaśāṅgulaliṅgasya ṣaḍbhāgair bhājito yathā
Après avoir établi la ligne médiane (axe), le sage officiant doit marquer les zones de Brahmā et de Rudra ; ainsi, pour un liṅga de seize aṅgula, on le divise en six parts égales.
Lord Agni (instructional narration to the sage Vasiṣṭha, standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Layout rule for marking the liṅga’s central axis (madhya-sūtra) and identifying Brahmā and Rudra zones; provides a worked example for a 16-aṅgula liṅga divided into six parts.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Madhya-sūtra and Brahmā–Rudra zones: ṣaḍbhāga division for 16-aṅgula liṅga","lookup_keywords":["madhya-sūtra","Brahmā-bhāga","Rudra-bhāga","ṣaḍbhāga","ṣoḍaśāṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Establish the central axis, then demarcate the Brahmā and Rudra regions; for a 16-aṅgula liṅga, divide the measure into six equal parts to place these zones correctly."}
Concept: Sacred installation requires aligning form with an inner cosmological map (zones) and an outer geometric order (axis/divisions).
Application: Before carving/installation, draw the axis and segment the measure (e.g., 16 aṅgulas into 6) to avoid ritual faults in zonal placement.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Lingodbhava-Linga-pratishtha (Linga measurement and installation rules)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest-architect draws a central line on the liṅga blank, then marks segmented bands labeled Brahmā and Rudra; a 16-aṅgula scale is shown divided into six parts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, ritual architect marking madhya-sūtra on a stone liṅga, bands for Brahmā and Rudra indicated, assistants holding measuring rod, sacred calm","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-embellished measuring scale, liṅga with zonal bands, priest-ācārya performing marking rite, ornate temple setting","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical plate: 16-aṅgula ruler divided into six, liṅga with central axis and labeled zones, crisp lines and didactic layout","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed scene of measurement and marking with calligraphic labels, central axis drawn, segmented bands, refined workshop interior"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: madhyasūtraṃ → madhya-sūtram; brahmarudrāntikaṃ → brahma-rudra-antikam; ṣoḍaśāṅgulaliṅgasya → ṣoḍaśa-aṅgula-liṅgasya; ṣaḍbhāgair → ṣaḍ-bhāgaiḥ (visarga sandhi/phonetic)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 53.5-53.8 (liṅga shaping and ratios)
FAQs
It teaches liṅga-pramāṇa (iconometric measurement): identify the central axis and divide a 16-aṅgula liṅga into six proportional sections, including the designated Brahmā- and Rudra-regions used in placement/marking during installation.
Beyond myth and theology, it preserves practical temple-technology—precise measurement, segmentation, and ritual mapping of sacred icons—showing the Purana as a manual of applied śāstra for priests and architects.
Correct proportioning and marking of the liṅga is treated as ensuring ritual purity and efficacy—supporting proper consecration (pratiṣṭhā) so worship yields intended merit and avoids doṣa (ritual fault).