Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
जङ्घामध्ये तु विस्तारः सप्ताङ्गुल उदाहृतः त्रिगुणा परिधिश्चास्य जङ्घाग्रं पञ्चविस्तरात्
jaṅghāmadhye tu vistāraḥ saptāṅgula udāhṛtaḥ triguṇā paridhiścāsya jaṅghāgraṃ pañcavistarāt
ที่กึ่งกลางของชังฆา (หน้าแข้ง/น่อง) ความกว้างกล่าวว่าเป็นเจ็ดอังคุละ เส้นรอบวงเป็นสามเท่า และที่ชังฆา-อัคร (ปลายหน้า/ปลายบนของหน้าแข้ง) ความกว้างเป็นห้าอังคุละ
Lord Agni (teaching the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional mode)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Determining shin (jaṅghā) breadth and circumference at mid and upper/front end for accurate pratimā limb modeling.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Jaṅghā (shin/lower leg) mid-breadth, circumference, and jaṅghā-agra breadth","lookup_keywords":["jaṅghā","vistāra","pariṇāha","triguṇa","jaṅghā-agra"],"quick_summary":"Sets jaṅghā mid-breadth at 7 aṅgulas with circumference 3× that, and specifies jaṅghā-agra breadth as 5 aṅgulas for proper taper."}
Concept: Saṃsthāna (form) is preserved through proportional tapering rules, not merely absolute size.
Application: Use these ratios to carve consistent lower legs across different icon sizes by scaling aṅgula units.
Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra / Pratima-lakshana (Iconography & Measurement Canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Lower leg shown in two cross-sections: mid-shin labeled 7 aṅgulas with 3× circumference, and upper/front shin end labeled 5 aṅgulas, demonstrating taper.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan drawing shin proportions on a standing figure, bold outlines, traditional pigments, labels for 7 and 5 aṅgulas.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, standing deity with carefully proportioned calves, gold-highlighted contours, subtle measurement lines near jaṅghā and jaṅghā-agra.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical plate of jaṅghā measurements with arrows and aṅgula ticks, elegant calligraphy-like labels.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, workshop scene with sculptor checking calf thickness using a measuring cord, assistants holding a sketch showing 7-aṅgula and 5-aṅgula widths."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: jaṅghāmadhye → jaṅghā-madhye; paridhiścāsya → paridhiḥ ca asya; pañcavistarāt → pañca-vistarāt
Related Themes: Agni Purana 44.38-44.40 (knee–shin–foot continuum)
FAQs
It gives iconometric specifications for sculpting a sacred image: the shin’s mid-breadth (7 aṅgulas), its girth as triple the breadth, and the shin-end breadth (5 aṅgulas), aiding accurate pratimā construction.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical śilpa-śāstra standards—precise body proportions and measurement systems—showing its role as a multi-disciplinary manual for temple arts and applied knowledge.
By ensuring correct proportions in a consecrated image, the maker supports proper worship and dhārmic temple practice; accuracy in pratimā-lakṣaṇa is traditionally linked with the image’s suitability for installation and devotional efficacy.