Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
भूतये वस्त्रलिङ्गन्तु लिङ्गन्तात्कालिकं विदुः पक्वापक्वं मृण्मयं स्यादपक्वात् पक्वजं वरं
bhūtaye vastraliṅgantu liṅgantātkālikaṃ viduḥ pakvāpakvaṃ mṛṇmayaṃ syādapakvāt pakvajaṃ varaṃ
សម្រាប់សេចក្តីរុងរឿង (bhūti) គេបានកំណត់លិង្គធ្វើពីក្រណាត់; អ្នកប្រាជ្ញទទួលស្គាល់ថា លិង្គធ្វើពីសារធាតុបិទ/ម្សៅលាយ (kālika) ប្រសើរជាងលិង្គក្រណាត់។ លិង្គអាចធ្វើពីដីឥដ្ឋ ទាំងដុតឬមិនដុត; ក្នុងនោះ លិង្គដីឥដ្ឋដុត ប្រសើរជាងលិង្គមិនដុត។
Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for selecting appropriate temporary/ritual liṅga materials (cloth, paste/compound, baked/unbaked clay) with stated hierarchy for desired prosperity and quality.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Hierarchy of temporary liṅga materials: cloth, paste (kālika), baked/unbaked clay","lookup_keywords":["vastra-liṅga","kālika-liṅga","mṛṇmaya-liṅga","pakva-apakva","bhūti"],"quick_summary":"Ranks liṅga materials for ritual making: cloth for prosperity, paste/compound superior to cloth, and baked clay superior to unbaked clay."}
Concept: Appropriateness (yogyatā) of materials in worship and graded efficacy (tāratamya).
Application: For short-term worship, choose accessible materials but prefer more stable/pure forms (e.g., baked clay) when possible; follow the stated hierarchy to align intention and method.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Linga/Nirmalya & ritual materials)
Primary Rasa: samanya
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Ritual preparation table showing different liṅga materials: a cloth-formed liṅga, a paste/compound liṅga, and clay liṅgas—one baked and one unbaked—arranged to show hierarchy.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, priest preparing multiple temporary liṅgas on banana-leaf mats: cloth-wrapped form, dark paste form, reddish baked clay and pale unbaked clay, ritual lamps and vessels, temple courtyard feel.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, ceremonial display of four liṅga types on ornate plates with gold accents, priest in traditional attire, rich gold leaf borders, emphasis on prosperity (bhūti) symbolism.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout of liṅga materials with neat separation and labels, soft colors, focus on baked vs unbaked clay distinction.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier-like ritual scene with a scholar-priest explaining material hierarchy to patrons, trays holding cloth, paste, baked clay, unbaked clay liṅgas, fine textile detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: vastraliṅgantu = vastra-liṅgam + tu; liṅgantātkālikaṃ = liṅgāt + tāt-kālikam; syādapakvāt = syāt + apakvāt.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54 (material-specific liṅgas, continuing)
FAQs
It gives a practical hierarchy of acceptable liṅga materials used in worship—cloth-liṅga, paste/compound (kālika) liṅga, and clay liṅga—stating that fired (baked) clay is preferable to unfired clay.
By cataloguing even fine-grained ritual details—such as which construction materials are suitable and more meritorious for a worship-icon—the text functions like a manual spanning iconography, ritual procedure, and graded religious efficacy.
The verse links correct material choice with desired results (bhūti/prosperity) and implies that higher-grade, more stable ritual forms (e.g., fired clay) are spiritually preferable and yield better merit than inferior or less durable substitutes.