Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 31

Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ

Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms

Devanagari script

तर्जन्यनामिका चैव तस्मादर्धाङ्गुलं विना कनिष्ठाङ्गुष्ठकौ कार्यौ चतुरङ्गुलसम्मितौ

Transliteration

tarjanyanāmikā caiva tasmādardhāṅgulaṃ vinā kaniṣṭhāṅguṣṭhakau kāryau caturaṅgulasammitau

Translation

นิ้วชี้และนิ้วนางพึงทำให้สั้นกว่ามาตรานั้นครึ่งอังคุละ; ส่วนนิ้วก้อยและนิ้วหัวแม่มือพึงทำตามมาตราสี่อังคุละ.

Word by Word

• तर्जनी: index finger
• तर्जनी: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (feminine, nominative/accusative, dual)

• नामिका: ring finger
• नामिका: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नामिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, द्विवचन (feminine, nominative/accusative, dual)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपात (conjunction/particle: 'and')

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (emphatic particle: 'indeed/just')

• तस्मात्: from that (measure/point)
• तस्मात्: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी, एकवचन (ablative singular: 'from that/therefrom')

• अर्ध-अङ्गुलम्: half a finger-breadth
• अर्ध-अङ्गुलम्: Karma (कर्म) / Parimana (परिमाण-निर्देश)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (neuter, accusative singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive/determinative: 'half of a finger')

• विना: without/excluding
• विना: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/अपवर्जन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: विना (अव्यय)
• Form: अपवर्जनार्थक-अव्यय; द्वितीयासह (indeclinable 'without', governs accusative)

• कनिष्ठ-अङ्गुष्ठकौ: the little finger and the thumb (pair)
• कनिष्ठ-अङ्गुष्ठकौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुष्ठक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (masculine, nominative dual); कर्मधारय (descriptive: 'little-finger and thumb' as a pair/measure-term)

• कार्यौ: should be made
• कार्यौ: Karta (कर्ता) (agreement adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कृ (धातु) + य (प्रत्यय) → कार्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विधिलिङ्गार्थे भाव्य-कर्तव्यता; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (gerundive/obligatory: 'to be made', masc. nom. dual agreeing with कनिष्ठ-अङ्गुष्ठकौ)

• चतुर्-अङ्गुल-सम्मितौ: measuring four finger-breadths
• चतुर्-अङ्गुल-सम्मितौ: Karta (कर्ता) (agreement adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्गुल (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्मित (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √मा 'to measure')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (masc. nom. dual); तत्पुरुष (determinative: 'measured as four fingers')

Speaker

Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s technical-ritual sections)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Standardizing hasta-mudrā and ritual hand-measures for worship, nyāsa, and image-making consistency.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Hasta-aṅgula Pramāṇa: Finger-length Rules","lookup_keywords":["hasta-mudra","aṅgula-pramāṇa","tarjanī","anāmikā","aṅguṣṭha"],"quick_summary":"Gives proportional shortening for index and ring fingers and fixes the length of little finger and thumb at four aṅgulas, ensuring uniform ritual/technical hand-measures."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Pramāṇa (authoritative measure) as a basis for correct ritual form.

Application: Use fixed units (aṅgula) to avoid arbitrary variation in mudrā and craft practice.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Mudra-vidhi / Tantra (Hasta-mudrā and ritual hand-measures)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman-priest demonstrates hand measurement with aṅgula units, showing relative finger lengths for ritual mudrā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, priest measuring fingers with aṅgula marks, palm facing viewer, minimal background, sacred workshop ambience.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on measuring scale and ornaments, priest-artisan holding hand up, clear finger-length differences, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, fine linework, instructional diagram-like hand with labeled aṅgula measures, calm studio setting.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed hand study with measuring strip, artisan and scribe beside a manuscript, delicate shading and patterned textiles."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: चैव = च + एव; तस्मादर्धाङ्गुलं = तस्मात् + अर्ध-अङ्गुलम्; कनिष्ठाङ्गुष्ठकौ = कनिष्ठ + अङ्गुष्ठकौ; चतुरङ्गुलसम्मितौ = चतुर्-अङ्गुल-सम्मितौ.

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (Mudrā-vidhi / Pratimā-lakṣaṇa context)

Characters & Entities

• Agni Purana
• Aṅgula (unit of measure)
• Hasta-pramāṇa (hand-measurement)

FAQs

What technical or ritual knowledge (Vidya) is imparted in this verse?

It gives a precise proportional rule for finger lengths using the aṅgula unit—useful in prescribing correct hand-formation for mudrā/hasta-pramāṇa standards in ritual and technical applications.

How does this verse contribute to the 'Encyclopedic' nature of the Agni Purana?

Beyond theology, it preserves practical technical standards—measurement science applied to the body (hand/fingers)—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual technology, iconographic norms, and procedural precision.

What is the spiritual or karmic significance of this specific instruction?

In ritual contexts, correct measure and form are treated as safeguards for efficacy: accurate mudrā/proportion supports proper performance (śuddhi) and helps ensure the intended rite bears its stated religious fruit.