Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Vāsudevādi-pratimā-lakṣaṇa-vidhiḥ
Iconographic and Iconometric Procedure for Vāsudeva and the Vyūha Forms
नाभिमेढ्रान्तरन्तालं द्वितालावूरुकौ तथा तालद्वयेन जङ्घा स्यात् सूत्राणि शृणु साम्प्रतं
nābhimeḍhrāntarantālaṃ dvitālāvūrukau tathā tāladvayena jaṅghā syāt sūtrāṇi śṛṇu sāmprataṃ
ช่วงระหว่างสะดือกับอวัยวะเพศกำหนดเป็นหนึ่งตาละ; ต้นขาสองตาละ; และหน้าแข้ง (ช่วงขาล่าง) สองตาละ. บัดนี้จงฟังสูตรว่าด้วยการวัด.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing a sage—commonly transmitted to Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Pratimā-nirmāṇa (icon-making): fixing canonical body proportions in tāla-units for sculpting, casting, and painting sacred images.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Tāla-pramāṇa: lower-body proportions (nābhi to meḍhra, ūru, jaṅghā)","lookup_keywords":["tāla-pramāṇa","pratimā-lakṣaṇa","ūru-jaṅghā-māna","nābhi-meḍhra-antara"],"quick_summary":"Defines standard tāla-based measures for the lower body: navel-to-genital interval, thighs, and shanks. Used to keep icons anatomically and ritually proportionate."}
Concept: Rūpa-siddhi through pramāṇa (right form arises from right measure).
Application: Use proportional canons to avoid doṣa (fault) in icons and to ensure ritual acceptability of the image.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra / Śilpa-śāstra (Iconometry and proportional measurement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A master sculptor demonstrates a standing icon’s lower-body measurements using a measuring cord, marking navel, genital region, thighs, and shanks in tāla units on a proportional grid.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, warm earthy palette, guru-śilpin holding a white measuring cord (sūtra) against a standing pratimā outline, clear marks at nābhi and meḍhra, annotated tāla divisions, traditional workshop setting with palm-leaf manuscripts.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf accents on the pratimā outline and tools, artisan measuring the lower body with a cord, stylized lotus motifs, rich reds and greens, emphasis on sacred craftsmanship.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework, instructional diagram feel: standing figure with segmented tāla bands, labels for ūru and jaṅghā, artisan with measuring cord, muted elegant colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with a craftsman measuring a figure on paper and a small clay model, precise detailing of cord and markings, architectural studio background, delicate borders."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nābhimeḍhrāntarantālaṃ → nābhi-meḍhra-antara-antālam; dvitālāvūrukau → dvi-tālau + ūrukau; तालद्वयेन unchanged; जङ्घा स्यात् (syāt from √as); no further sandhi required.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa Pratimā-lakṣaṇa / Tāla-pramāṇa sections (surrounding verses in adhyāya 44)
FAQs
It teaches śilpa-śāstra iconometry: specific body-part proportions expressed in tāla units (navel-to-genitals = 1 tāla; thighs = 2 tālas; shanks = 2 tālas) used when designing or sculpting images.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical technical sciences—here, standardized proportional rules for icon-making and temple arts—showing its coverage of Vāstu/Śilpa alongside ritual, polity, medicine, and poetics.
Correct proportions support a ‘properly formed’ sacred image, which is traditionally held to enhance the efficacy of installation and worship, aligning artistic craft with dharma and devotional merit.