Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 18
Chapter 24 — कुण्डनिर्माणादिविधिः
Procedure for Constructing the Fire-pit and Related Rites
कुण्डकेन समन्वितमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः कण्ठकं द्व्यङ्गुलमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चन्द्राभं द्व्यङ्गुलमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गोपदन्तु यथा मग्नमल्पपङ्के तथा भवेत् उपलिप्य लिखेद्रेखामङ्गुलां वज्रनासिकां
kuṇḍakena samanvitamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kaṇṭhakaṃ dvyaṅgulamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ candrābhaṃ dvyaṅgulamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gopadantu yathā magnamalpapaṅke tathā bhavet upalipya likhedrekhāmaṅgulāṃ vajranāsikāṃ
(Bacaan varian: “disertai kuṇḍaka,” menurut satu naskhah bertanda; “kaṇṭhaka dua aṅgula,” menurut naskhah yang sama; “candrābha (seperti bulan) dua aṅgula,” menurut naskhah lain.) Kesan “tapak kaki lembu” hendaklah seperti jejak yang tenggelam dalam lumpur cetek. Setelah permukaan disapu/ditampal, lukislah garis panduan (rekhā) selebar satu aṅgula, dengan hujung runcing berbentuk “vajra-nāsikā” (seperti wajra/petir).
Lord Agni (narrating vāstu/technical instruction in Agni Purana’s encyclopedic discourse, traditionally to Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Surface preparation and precise guideline-marking (rekhā-lekhana) for architectural drawings, yantras, or altar layouts using standardized aṅgula measures and tool-tip profiles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Rekhā-lekhana: Gopada-impression and Vajra-nāsikā guideline","lookup_keywords":["rekhā-lekhana","aṅgula-māna","gopada","vajra-nāsikā","lekhana-upakaraṇa"],"quick_summary":"Prepare a slightly yielding base like a cow’s footprint in shallow mud, then after smearing the surface draw a one-aṅgula-wide guideline using a sharp vajra-nosed tip for clean, durable marking."}
Concept: Śāstra-based measurement and controlled execution (māna + kriyā) as the basis of correct form.
Application: Use standardized measures and tool-forms to avoid cumulative layout error in construction/ritual diagrams.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Rekhā-Lekhana (architectural measurement and marking)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman smears a prepared surface and draws a broad one-aṅgula guideline with a sharp vajra-nosed stylus; nearby are measurement marks and a shallow gopada-like impression in soft plaster/mud.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan in traditional attire marking a temple-floor layout, smeared ochre surface, bold contour lines, stylus with pointed vajra tip, gopada impression shown, earthy palette, sacred-work ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting style, gold-highlighted tools and measuring scale, artisan drawing a thick guideline on a prepared altar-floor, decorative border motifs, emphasis on precision and auspiciousness","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram feel: close view of hand drawing one-aṅgula-wide line, labeled aṅgula marks, stylus tip shaped like vajra-nāsikā, clean pastel shading","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop scene with architect-scribe drawing layout lines on plastered ground, fine detailing of measuring rod, shallow mud footprint impression, delicate linework and naturalistic tools"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: gopadantu → go-padam tu; magnamalpapaṅke → magnam alpa-paṅke; likhedrekhāmaṅgulāṃ → likhet rekhām aṅgulām; vjranāsikāṃ is treated as vajra-nāsikām (compound). Variant manuscript notes in the given Devanagari line are not analyzed as part of the main verse text.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 24 (Vāstu/Rekhā-lekhana context); Agni Purana Vāstu-prakaraṇa sections on māna (aṅgula, prādeśa)
FAQs
It teaches a vāstu/architectural marking method: after plastering the surface, draw a guideline of one aṅgula breadth, shaped with a sharp ‘vajra-like’ point, and make the ‘gopada’ impression like a cow’s hoof sunk in shallow mud—i.e., a precise standard for layout marks.
Beyond theology, it preserves practical craft knowledge—standardized measures (aṅgula), surface preparation (plastering), and layout conventions—showing the Agni Purana as a compendium that includes construction science (vāstu) alongside ritual and doctrine.
Accurate, rule-based marking is treated as part of dharmic building practice: correct measurements and clean layout support ritually pure construction (especially for sacred spaces), minimizing defects (doṣa) and aligning the work with auspicious order.