Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 57
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
शाम्भवेषु च लिङ्गेषु पादवृद्धेषु सर्वतः लक्ष्म देहस्य विष्कम्भो भवेद्वै यववर्धनात्
śāmbhaveṣu ca liṅgeṣu pādavṛddheṣu sarvataḥ lakṣma dehasya viṣkambho bhavedvai yavavardhanāt
De plus, lorsque les liṅga portent les signes corporels auspices dits Śāmbhava, et que les pieds/la base sont bien développés de tous côtés, c’est là une marque favorable (lakṣma) : l’ampleur du corps (viṣkambha) croît en vérité par l’accroissement des marques «yava».
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Physiognomic assessment (lakṣaṇa-śāstra) of auspicious bodily marks: interpreting well-developed feet and yava-based growth marks as indicators of bodily breadth (viṣkambha) and good fortune/health.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Śāmbhava Lakṣaṇa: Foot Development and Viṣkambha Increase by Yava-marks","lookup_keywords":["lakṣaṇa-śāstra","śāmbhava lakṣaṇa","pāda-vṛddhi","viṣkambha","yava-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Auspicious Śāmbhava signs include well-formed feet and yava-type marks whose increase correlates with greater bodily breadth (viṣkambha), read as a favorable indicator in lakṣaṇa evaluation."}
Concept: Lakṣaṇa (marks) are read as indicators of inner vitality and fortune; the body is treated as a text of signs.
Application: In traditional counseling/selection (e.g., for leadership, marriage, ritual roles), evaluate symmetry and development of feet and overall viṣkambha as favorable markers.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Lakṣaṇa-śāstra / Physiognomy and bodily marks in Agni Purana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A traditional examiner (vaidya/sāmudrika) observes a person’s feet and body breadth, noting auspicious yava-like marks and balanced development.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: seated examiner with palm-leaf manuscript, subject standing barefoot, emphasis on feet and proportional body breadth, warm earthy palette, stylized outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: auspicious figure with highlighted feet and decorative yava-mark motifs, gold accents around the examiner’s manuscript and auspicious symbols.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional panel showing foot development and body breadth (viṣkambha) with labeled points, delicate shading, calm didactic composition.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: physician-scholar examining a noble’s feet and posture, attendants nearby, fine detailing of textiles, subtle annotation of auspicious marks."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: भवेद्वै → भवेत् + वै (त् + व → द्)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (lakṣaṇa/measurement cluster; adjacent pramāṇa rules)
FAQs
It conveys lakṣaṇa-vidyā (physiognomic diagnostics): the presence of Śāmbhava (auspicious) signs and well-formed feet, along with increased ‘yava’ (barley-grain-like) marks, indicates a robust bodily breadth (viṣkambha) and is treated as an auspicious indicator.
Beyond theology and ritual, the Agni Purana preserves practical classificatory knowledge—here, bodily-sign interpretation (lakṣaṇa-śāstra) aligned with Ayurvedic-style observation—showing its wide coverage of traditional sciences used for assessing health, fortune, and personal qualities.
By identifying Śāmbhava (Śiva-linked) auspicious signs as ‘lakṣma,’ the verse frames bodily features as reflections of merit and благоприятность (puṇya/śubha-saṃskāra), encouraging a dharmic reading of embodied fortune and well-being.