Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 55 — Piṇḍikā-lakṣaṇa-kathana
Defining Features of the Pedestal/Base for Icons
प्रासादद्वारमानेन प्रतिमाद्वारमुच्यते गजव्यालकसंयुक्ता प्रभा स्यात् प्रतिमासु च
prāsādadvāramānena pratimādvāramucyate gajavyālakasaṃyuktā prabhā syāt pratimāsu ca
La porte du sanctuaire de l’image (pour l’icône) est prescrite en proportion de la mesure de la porte du prāsāda (temple) ; et, dans les icônes aussi, la prabhā (auréole/arc) doit être ornée de motifs d’éléphant et de vyālaka.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa narrative frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Coordinating shrine-door and icon-shrine door proportions with the main temple doorway, and prescribing prabhā (aureole/torana-like arch) ornamentation using gaja and vyālaka motifs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Pratimā-dvāra māna & prabhā-alaṅkāra (gaja–vyālaka)","lookup_keywords":["prāsāda-dvāra","pratimā-dvāra","prabhā","gaja","vyālaka"],"quick_summary":"Scale the icon-shrine doorway in relation to the temple doorway, and decorate the icon’s prabhā with elephant and vyālaka motifs to match canonical temple aesthetics."}
Concept: Harmony between macro-architecture (temple) and micro-architecture (icon-shrine and icon ornaments).
Application: When designing subsidiary shrines or icon niches, derive door proportions from the main doorway and keep ornament vocabulary consistent (gaja/vyālaka).
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Pratimā-Lakṣaṇa (Temple architecture and iconometric canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple façade with a main doorway, and a smaller icon-shrine doorway scaled to it; an icon stands with a prabhā arch decorated by elephants and vyālakas on either side.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, frontal temple doorway and inner icon niche, prabhā arch with stylized elephants and vyālakas, strong outlines, warm ochres and greens, symmetrical composition","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, richly gilded prabhā with embossed gaja and vyālaka motifs, temple doorway proportions emphasized, jewel-like colors and ornate frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, architectural elevation drawing rendered artistically: main dvāra and pratimā-dvāra with proportional marks, prabhā ornament details of gaja/vyālaka, clean instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple gateway scene with sculpted arch, icon with ornate aureole featuring elephants and vyālakas, fine patterning and perspective architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्रासादद्वारमानेन = प्रासाद + द्वार + मानेन; प्रतिमाद्वारमुच्यते = प्रतिमाद्वारम् + उच्यते; गजव्यालकसंयुक्ता = गज + व्यालक + संयुक्ता.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 55 (prāsāda-lakṣaṇa and pratimā-lakṣaṇa linkage)
FAQs
It gives śilpa/vāstu guidance: the icon’s doorway should follow the proportional measure of the temple doorway, and the icon’s prabhā (aureole/arch) should be ornamented with gaja (elephant) and vyālaka motifs.
Beyond theology, it preserves applied temple-arts knowledge—architectural proportioning and iconographic ornament standards—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of practical śilpaśāstra alongside religious instruction.
Correct proportion and prescribed icon-ornamentation are treated as supports for proper worship: they maintain ritual propriety (śuddhi and maryādā) and help ensure the deity’s installation and veneration are performed in an auspicious, merit-bearing manner.