Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
प्रवक्ष्ये ऽहं प्रकारेणेति ग चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः रत्नजमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः हस्ते तु विविधं शैलमिति ग चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चलमङ्गुलमानेन द्वारगर्भकरैः स्थितम् अङ्गुलाद् गृहलिङ्गं स्याद्यावत् पञ्चशाङ्गुलं
pravakṣye 'haṃ prakāreṇeti ga cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ ratnajamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ haste tu vividhaṃ śailamiti ga cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ calamaṅgulamānena dvāragarbhakaraiḥ sthitam aṅgulād gṛhaliṅgaṃ syādyāvat pañcaśāṅgulaṃ
«Exporei o procedimento» (assim lê um manuscrito assinalado). Outra leitura traz «feito de joias»; e outra, «na mão, de pedras variadas». Usando a medida móvel do aṅgula, o liṅga doméstico deve ser colocado no rebaixo interno do umbral/reentrância da porta, estabelecido segundo as medidas do «ventre da porta»; o liṅga do lar deve ter de um aṅgula até cinco aṅgulas (em altura/tamanho).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Determining the correct small (gṛha/household) Śiva-liṅga size and its placement at the inner doorway recess using aṅgula-based measurement for domestic worship and vāstu-alignment.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Gṛha-liṅga (Household Liṅga): Aṅgula-measure and Door-recess Placement","lookup_keywords":["gṛha-liṅga","aṅgula-māna","dvāra-garbha","pratiṣṭhā-sthāna","kanyasañcala"],"quick_summary":"For household use, the liṅga is measured in aṅgulas and placed at the inner threshold/door-recess according to the door/garbha measurements. The smallest class ranges from 1 to 5 aṅgulas."}
Concept: Sacral order (ṛta) expressed through proportion and correct placement; the divine is approached through measured form.
Application: Use standardized aṅgula units and prescribed loci (door-recess) to avoid ritual/architectural impropriety in home installation.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-vidyā (Temple/House Iconography and Measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A small household shrine at a doorway recess: an artisan-priest measures a tiny Śiva-liṅga with aṅgula units and positions it precisely at the inner threshold niche aligned to the door-garbha proportions.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest with palm-leaf measure marking aṅgulas, small black stone liṅga in a doorway recess, subtle sacred geometry lines, lamp glow, minimal background architecture.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf highlights on doorway arch and lamps, compact household sanctum, small liṅga on pedestal at inner threshold niche, priest holding measuring strip, rich reds and greens, ornate borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework showing aṅgula ticks on a measuring rod, clear architectural cutaway of dvāra and recess, small liṅga placement diagrammatically accurate, soft pastel washes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed interior of a house with carved doorway, artisan-priest measuring a tiny liṅga, precise architectural perspective, delicate textiles, subdued jewel tones, annotated measurement marks."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pravakṣye 'ham = pravakṣye + aham; syād yāvat = syāt + yāvat. Editorial apparatus words (ga/kha/cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ etc.) omitted from pada analysis as non-verse critical notes.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54.9-54.12 (liṅga proportions, ninefold garbha measure, 108 measures, movable classes)
FAQs
It gives a vāstu/iconometric rule: the domestic (gṛha) Śiva-liṅga should be measured in aṅgulas (using the patron-specific ‘cala aṅgula’) and installed with reference to the doorway’s inner recess (dvāragarbha), with a recommended small size of 1–5 aṅgulas.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical architectural and ritual standards—precise measurement systems (aṅgula, kara), material options (jewel/stone), and placement rules—showing the Purāṇa as a compendium of applied sacred arts (vāstu + pūjā-vidhi).
By prescribing correct size and placement for a household liṅga, the verse frames domestic worship as orderly and dharmic; proper installation supports regular pūjā, purity of the home, and the steady accrual of religious merit through correctly performed devotion.