Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
सपादाङ्गुलमुत्सेधमङ्गुष्टस्य प्रकीर्तितं यवोनमङ्गुलं कार्यमङ्गुष्ठस्य नखं तथा
sapādāṅgulamutsedhamaṅguṣṭasya prakīrtitaṃ yavonamaṅgulaṃ kāryamaṅguṣṭhasya nakhaṃ tathā
ความสูงที่นูนของนิ้วหัวแม่มือกล่าวว่าเป็นหนึ่งอังคุลกับอีกหนึ่งส่วนสี่. เล็บนิ้วหัวแม่มือก็พึงทำให้ยาวหนึ่งอังคุลลบหนึ่งยวะ.
Lord Agni (in discourse to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Carving/painting precise thumb and thumbnail dimensions to maintain realistic and canonical hand proportions in icons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Formula","entry_title":"Aṅguṣṭha Utsedha and Nakha-pramāṇa","lookup_keywords":["aṅguṣṭha","utsedha","nakha","yava","aṅgula"],"quick_summary":"Specifies thumb projection as 1¼ aṅgulas and the thumbnail as 1 aṅgula minus 1 yava, giving a fine-grained rule for hand detailing."}
Concept: Micro-proportion (sūkṣma-pramāṇa) as essential to lifelike sacred form
Application: Use yava-level adjustments for nails and small features to avoid crude hands in sculpture/painting.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Pratima-Lakshana (Iconometry and measurements)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman measures a thumb on a clay/stone model; a scale shows 1¼ aṅgulas; the thumbnail is marked slightly under 1 aṅgula with a yava notch.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, close-up of a hand being outlined with measurement ticks, thumb emphasized, earthy palette, clear yava notch on a measuring strip","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, richly decorated hand of a deity with gold-highlighted measurement marks, artisan holding a small ruler, focus on thumb and nail detail","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, technical illustration of thumb and nail with precise annotations (1¼ aṅgula; 1 aṅgula − 1 yava), clean composition and soft colors","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier close-up: jeweler-like precision on a sculpted hand, tiny scale with yava divisions, meticulous detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सपादाङ्गुलमुत्सेधम् = स-पाद-अङ्गुलम् + उत्सेधम्; अङ्गुष्टस्य प्रकीर्तितम् (no sandhi); यवोनमङ्गुलं = यव-ऊनम् + अङ्गुलम्; कार्यमङ्गुष्ठस्य = कार्यम् + अङ्गुष्ठस्य
Related Themes: Agni Purana 44 (sub-units like yava; detailed limb measures)
FAQs
It gives iconometric standards (pramāṇa) for sculpting/depicting the thumb and its nail using traditional units (aṅgula and yava), ensuring canonical proportions in images (pratimā).
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical śilpa/ वास्तु specifications—fine-grained measurement rules used by artisans for temple and image-making—showing its coverage of technical sciences alongside religious instruction.
Correct proportions are traditionally held to preserve the sanctity and efficacy of sacred images; adherence to śāstric measurement supports proper consecration (pratiṣṭhā) and the intended devotional and ritual function of the icon.