Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
ललाटनासिकावक्त्रग्रीवायाञ्च विवर्तयेत् तकपाठः द्वैकहान्या सुताह्वयमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः ऋत्वग्निपदकल्पितमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः, मुखभागं प्रकर्तव्यं मूलाग्निपदकल्पितमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कर्णाभ्यां कुण्डलीकृत्वेति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः भुजाच्च पञ्चमांशेन भुजहीनं विवर्तयेत्
lalāṭanāsikāvaktragrīvāyāñca vivartayet takapāṭhaḥ dvaikahānyā sutāhvayamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ ṛtvagnipadakalpitamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ, mukhabhāgaṃ prakartavyaṃ mūlāgnipadakalpitamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ karṇābhyāṃ kuṇḍalīkṛtveti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ bhujācca pañcamāṃśena bhujahīnaṃ vivartayet
Il faut façonner comme il convient le front, le nez, le visage et le cou. En outre, en retranchant un cinquième de la mesure du bras, on formera la partie dite «sans bras» (c’est-à-dire réduite d’un cinquième par rapport à la mesure du bras), selon le canon proportionnel prescrit.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s technical sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Provides modeling instructions for forehead–nose–face–neck transitions and a proportional reduction rule (one-fifth relative to arm measure) for a corresponding ‘arm-less’/reduced component in the canon.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Modeling Forehead–Nose–Face–Neck and One-fifth Reduction from Arm Measure","lookup_keywords":["lalāṭa-nāsikā","vaktra-grīvā","vivartayet","pañcamāṃśa","bhuja-māna"],"quick_summary":"Instructs shaping of key head/neck contours and applies a one-fifth subtraction from the arm measure to derive a reduced corresponding dimension per the proportional canon."}
Concept: Canonical form emerges from both geometry (fractions) and plastic modeling (vivartana)
Application: When transferring measures across limbs/features, apply stated fractional reductions to maintain visual coherence; model transitions smoothly to avoid harsh breaks in mukha–grīvā.
Khanda Section: Vastu-Shastra / Pratima-Lakshana (Iconography and proportional measurement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Close-up of an icon’s head and neck being modeled: forehead, nose, face, neck planes refined; a diagram shows an arm measure with one-fifth removed to compute a reduced corresponding dimension.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan smoothing the icon’s forehead-nose-face-neck contours, alongside a simple fraction diagram (one-fifth reduction) painted in traditional flat style, warm tones","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, sculptor at work with gold-highlighted measurement strip showing 1/5 subtraction from arm length, icon head/neck contours emphasized, ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional composition: sequential head/neck modeling steps with clean outlines; separate panel showing bhuja measure and one-fifth reduction, labeled and precise","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop scene with a master demonstrating head-neck modeling and pointing to a folio diagram of one-fifth reduction from arm measure, intricate tools and fine detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: lalāṭanāsikāvaktragrīvāyāñca → lalāṭa-nāsikā-vaktra-grīvāyām + ca; bhujācca → bhujāt + ca. The middle portion of the provided Devanagari/IAST contains critical apparatus/variant readings (takapāṭhaḥ... cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ...) and is excluded from pada analysis as non-verse commentary.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54 (vivartana/modeling and aṅga-pramāṇa rules; passages with variant readings)
FAQs
It gives shilpa/vaastu technical guidance on iconometric proportioning—how to contour key facial/neck features and how to reduce a dimension by one-fifth using the arm as a standard unit.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied sciences like Shilpa- and Vastu-shastra, including practical proportional rules used by sculptors and temple-artisans for making images.
Correct proportions are treated as dhārmic accuracy in image-making; following the canon supports proper consecration and worship, aligning the crafted form with scriptural standards and thus with religious merit.