Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
स्कन्धावष्टाङ्गुलौ कार्यौ त्रिकलावंशकौ शुभौ सप्तनेत्रौ स्मृतौ बाहू प्रबाहू षोडशाङ्गुलौ
skandhāvaṣṭāṅgulau kāryau trikalāvaṃśakau śubhau saptanetrau smṛtau bāhū prabāhū ṣoḍaśāṅgulau
หัวไหล่ (สกันธะ) พึงทำให้มีขนาดแปดอังคุละ. ต้นแขนเป็นมงคลเมื่อทำตามมาตราสามกะลาและหนึ่งวังศะ. แขนยาวเจ็ดเนตร และท่อนแขน (ประพาหุ) ยาวสิบหกอังคุละ.
Lord Agni (teaching sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Used by sculptors (sthapati/shilpin) to set canonical proportions of shoulders, arms, and forearms while carving or casting a deity image; also useful for checking symmetry during finishing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Pratima-pramāṇa: Skandha–bāhu–prabāhu māna","lookup_keywords":["skandha pramāṇa","bāhu māna","prabāhu māna","aṅgula","pratimā-lakṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Gives fixed measures for shoulders, arms, and forearms in aṅgulas and traditional units (kalā, vaṁśa, netra). These serve as a proportional checklist for iconometric correctness."}
Concept: Śāstra-pramāṇa (authoritative measure) as a means to manifest auspiciousness (śubha) in sacred form.
Application: Follow fixed canons rather than personal whim to ensure ritual acceptability and aesthetic harmony of images.
Khanda Section: Vastu-Shastra / Pratima-Lakshana (Iconometry and sacred image proportions)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sthapati measures a partially carved stone deity torso, marking shoulder width and arm/forearm lengths with a measuring cord and aṅgula scale; assistants hold palm-leaf manuals with pramāṇa tables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, earthy reds and ochres, sthapati with measuring cord (rajju) and aṅgula scale, unfinished stone murti on pedestal, palm-leaf manuscript with pramāṇa notes, calm workshop ambience, flat decorative background","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, rich colors and gold leaf accents, deity image outline with highlighted shoulders and arms, sthapati demonstrating 8-aṅgula shoulder measure, ornate borders, luminous workshop lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional diagram feel: labeled skandha, bāhu, prabāhu with aṅgula ticks, artisan pointing with stylus, soft pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed atelier scene with craftsmen, measuring instruments, annotated margins showing aṅgula and netra units, architectural workshop setting, delicate textiles and tools"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: skandhāvaṣṭāṅgulau → skandhau + aṣṭa-aṅgulau; trikalāvaṃśakau → tri-kalā-vaṃśakau; saptanetrau → sapta-netrau; ṣoḍaśāṅgulau → ṣoḍaśa-aṅgulau
Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (Pratimā-lakṣaṇa/pramāṇa sections); Agni Purana 42-43 (related iconographic topics, if present in the recension)
FAQs
It gives iconometric standards (aṅga-pramāṇa) for sculpting a sacred image—specifically the prescribed measures for shoulders, arms, and forearms using units like aṅgula, kalā, vaṁśa, and netra.
Beyond myth and devotion, the text preserves applied technical knowledge—here, Vastu/Śilpa guidelines for temple imagery—showing the Purana functioning as a practical manual for ritual arts and sacred architecture.
Correct proportions are treated as śubha (auspicious): a properly measured image is believed to support effective worship, invite divine presence, and avoid inauspiciousness arising from flawed iconographic construction.