Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
प्रसारितभुजस्येह मध्यमाग्रद्वयान्तरं उच्छ्रायेण समं यस्य न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलः
prasāritabhujasyeha madhyamāgradvayāntaraṃ ucchrāyeṇa samaṃ yasya nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalaḥ
ഇവിടെ ‘ന്യഗ്രോധ-പരിമണ്ഡലം’ എന്നത്—ഭുജങ്ങൾ പൂർണ്ണമായി നീട്ടുമ്പോൾ മദ്ധ്യമവിരലുകളുടെ അഗ്രങ്ങൾ തമ്മിലുള്ള ദൂരം വ്യക്തിയുടെ ഉയരത്തോട് തുല്യമാകുന്ന അളവാണ്।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Anthropometric canon (pramāṇa) for determining ideal bodily proportion used in iconometry, architecture modules, and human-measure based planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala (banyan-circle proportion)","lookup_keywords":["nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala","pramāṇa-lakṣaṇa","anthropometry","armspan equals height","pratimā-māna"],"quick_summary":"Defines the nyagrodha measure: a person’s height equals the span between middle-finger tips with arms outstretched. Used as a normative proportion in pramāṇa and iconometric planning."}
Concept: Cosmic order reflected in measurable human proportion; pramāṇa as a bridge between body and sacred form.
Application: When carving/painting or planning, verify the figure’s ‘nyagrodha’ by checking armspan-height equivalence to maintain canonical harmony.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Pramana-lakshana (iconography and measurement canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman-measurer demonstrates the nyagrodha proportion: a standing figure with arms fully outstretched, measuring the distance between middle-finger tips and comparing it to height using a measuring cord.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan with measuring cord, standing model with outstretched arms, clear geometric emphasis, temple workshop setting with tools and wooden panels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold detailing on measuring instruments and workshop shrine, central standing figure in samabhanga with arms extended, artisan marking equal measures, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic yet elegant: height line and armspan line shown with annotations ‘ucchrāya’ and ‘madhyama-agra-dvaya-antara’, calm instructional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature workshop scene, master craftsman and apprentices, fine textiles and tools, a measuring cord stretched fingertip-to-fingertip, height compared beside a ruled staff."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhujasyeha = bhujasya+iha. madhyamāgradvayāntaram = madhyama+agra+dvaya+antaram. nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalaḥ = nyagrodha+parimaṇḍalaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 242 (pramāṇa-lakṣaṇa cluster); Agni Purana shilpa/pratimā-lakṣaṇa chapters (iconometry sections)
FAQs
It defines a formal proportional canon (nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala): a person’s arm-span (middle-fingertip to middle-fingertip) must equal their height—used for standardizing images, architectural modules, and human/figure proportions in Śilpa/Vāstu practice.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical standards from applied sciences like Vāstu and Śilpa—here giving a precise anthropometric rule that artisans and planners can directly apply in design and iconometry.
By prescribing correct proportions for sacred forms and built spaces, it supports ‘śāstra-sammat’ (scripturally aligned) construction and representation, believed to enhance auspiciousness, ritual efficacy, and the merit (puṇya) of commissioning or crafting such works.