Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 55 — Piṇḍikā-lakṣaṇa-kathana
Defining Features of the Pedestal/Base for Icons
मांशेनेति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः त्रिभागेन तु बाहुल्यमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः पिण्डिकार्धेन बाहुल्यमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दैर्घ्यं कुशस्येति ग, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कुशम्बाहुल्यदीर्घञ्चेति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः उच्छ्रायं पूर्ववत् कुर्याद्भागषोडशसङ्ख्यया अधः षट्कं द्विभागन्तु कण्ठं कुर्यात्त्रिभागकम्
māṃśeneti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ tribhāgena tu bāhulyamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ piṇḍikārdhena bāhulyamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dairghyaṃ kuśasyeti ga, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kuśambāhulyadīrghañceti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ ucchrāyaṃ pūrvavat kuryādbhāgaṣoḍaśasaṅkhyayā adhaḥ ṣaṭkaṃ dvibhāgantu kaṇṭhaṃ kuryāttribhāgakam
La hauteur doit être réalisée comme il a été dit précédemment, en la divisant en seize parts. Parmi celles-ci, la partie inférieure compte six parts ; la suivante (médiane) deux parts ; et le cou doit être fait de trois parts.
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Dividing the icon/structural height into a 16-part module and assigning specific part-counts to lower, middle, and neck sections for standardized construction and sculpting.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Ṣoḍaśa-bhāga vibhāga (16-part proportional division) for uच्छ्रāya","lookup_keywords":["ṣoḍaśa-bhāga","uच्छ्रāya","adhobhāga","kaṇṭha","pratimā-māna"],"quick_summary":"Use a 16-part scale for height; allocate 6 parts to the lower section, 2 to the middle section, and 3 to the neck, keeping the rest for remaining upper components per the prior rule."}
Concept: Modular proportionality (bhāga-vibhāga) as a rule-system for sacred design.
Application: Draft a 16-unit scale on the working surface/stone and transfer the unit counts to ensure repeatable, tradition-compliant proportions.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Prāsāda-Lakṣaṇa (Temple and iconometric measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A proportional diagram showing a vertical figure/structure divided into sixteen equal bands, with the lower six shaded, the next two marked, and the neck region labeled as three parts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural aesthetic, schematic yet sacred: a tall icon outline with 16 horizontal divisions, labeled segments for 6-2-3, artisan pointing with stylus, warm mineral colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold highlights on the segmented grid and labels, central icon silhouette divided into 16 parts, ornate frame, devotional-meets-technical presentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional chart: 16-part ruler beside icon outline, annotations for adhah-ṣaṭka, dvibhāga madhya, kaṇṭha tribhāga, delicate lines and pastel tones","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architect-scribe presenting a measured scroll with 16-part divisions to a patron, fine calligraphy-like labels, precise geometry and courtly workshop setting"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुर्याद्भागषोडशसङ्ख्यया = कुर्यात् + भागषोडशसङ्ख्यया; द्विभागन्तु = द्विभागम् + तु; कुर्यात्त्रिभागकम् = कुर्यात् + त्रिभागकम्. Verse contains multiple manuscript-variant notes (…इति ङ/ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः) treated as editorial, not analyzed as padas.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 55 (preceding 'pūrvavat' height rule context)
FAQs
It gives a vāstu/śilpa proportional rule: the total height is set in a 16-part module, allocating 6 parts to the lower section, 2 parts to the next section, and 3 parts to the neck (kaṇṭha/grīvā) of the structure.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical śilpa-vāstu engineering: precise modular ratios for temple/superstructure components, showing the text’s coverage of applied sciences alongside ritual and doctrine.
Correct proportions are treated as dhārmic correctness in sacred building: constructing a shrine according to prescribed māna is believed to support auspiciousness, stability, and ritual efficacy of worship performed there.