Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7

Chapter 53 — Liṅga-lakṣaṇa

Characteristics and Proportions of the Śiva-liṅga and Piṇḍikā

Devanagari script

त्रिषु भागेषु सदृशमायामं यस्य चिस्तरः तद्विभागसमं लिङ्गं सर्वकामफलप्रदं

Transliteration

triṣu bhāgeṣu sadṛśamāyāmaṃ yasya cistaraḥ tadvibhāgasamaṃ liṅgaṃ sarvakāmaphalapradaṃ

Translation

ลึงค์ที่มีความยาวและความกว้างได้สัดส่วนตามการแบ่งสามส่วนเท่า ๆ กัน คือทำด้วยมาตราที่สอดคล้องกับสามส่วนนั้น กล่าวกันว่าเป็นผู้ประทานผลแห่งความปรารถนาทั้งปวง

Word by Word

• triṣu: in three
• triṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुंसक), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन); numeral adjective

• bhāgeṣu: in parts/sections
• bhāgeṣu: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sadṛśam: equal/similar
• sadṛśam: Karma-predicative (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sadṛśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with āyāmam

• āyāmam: length/extent
• āyāmam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• yasya: whose/of which
• yasya: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); relative pronoun

• vistaraḥ: breadth/width
• vistaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vistara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• tat-vibhāga-samam: equal to that division/proportion
• tat-vibhāga-samam: Karma-predicative (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vibhāga (प्रातिपदिक) + sama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः ‘tasya vibhāgasya samam’ used adjectivally qualifying liṅgam

• liṅgam: the liṅga
• liṅgam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: liṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• sarva-kāma-phala-pradam: granting the fruits of all desires
• sarva-kāma-phala-pradam: Karma-predicative (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + kāma (प्रातिपदिक) + phala (प्रातिपदिक) + prada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); बहुपद-तत्पुरुषः ‘sarveṣāṃ kāmānāṃ phalāni pradadāti’

Speaker

Lord Agni (in discourse to the sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)

Vidya Category

Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Selecting/constructing a liṅga with auspicious proportions (length and breadth aligned to a three-part proportional scheme) believed to yield desired results for patrons and temple communities.","sutra_style":true}

Encyclopedic Reference

Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Sarvakāma-phala-prada liṅga: tri-bhāga proportion rule","lookup_keywords":["tri-bhāga","āyāma","vistāra","liṅga-lakṣaṇa","sarvakāma"],"quick_summary":"A liṅga whose length and breadth conform harmoniously to a three-part proportional division is declared auspicious and fruit-giving for all desired aims."}

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Right form (rūpa) aligned with right measure (māna) supports right results (phala) in ritual life.

Application: When commissioning a liṅga, prefer tri-bhāga proportional harmony as an auspicious specification.

Khanda Section

Khanda Section: Vastu & Linga-Lakshana (Iconography / Temple-architecture guidelines)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A finished liṅga is shown with marked three equal divisions, demonstrating balanced length and breadth; priests and patrons observe, signifying auspicious selection.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene sanctum-adjacent scene with a liṅga marked in three divisions, priests discussing proportions, subdued sacred palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central liṅga with tri-bhāga markings, gold aura-like embellishment indicating sarvakāma-phala, attendants with offerings","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional plate: liṅga silhouette with tri-bhāga grid overlay, annotations for āyāma and vistāra harmony, clean composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, patron and architect examining a proportioned liṅga with measuring staff, refined courtly setting blended with temple workshop"}

Audio Atmosphere

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

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: sadṛśamāyāmam → sadṛśam āyāmam; tadvibhāgasamaṃ → tat-vibhāga-samam; cistaraḥ in IAST appears as a typo for vistaraḥ (विस्तरः)

Cross References

Related Themes: Agni Purana 53.6 (śiras shaping); Agni Purana 53.8 (diameter-to-length ratio)

Characters & Entities

• Śiva-liṅga

FAQs

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

It gives a vastu/iconographic rule for constructing a Śiva-liṅga: its length (āyāma) and breadth (vistāra) should be proportionate according to three equal divisions, indicating a standardized sacred proportion for installation and worship.

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

Beyond mythology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical temple-arts knowledge—measurement canons and iconographic standards—showing its role as a compendium that includes ritual architecture (vāstu) alongside theology.

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

Correct proportional construction of the liṅga is presented as spiritually efficacious, promising “sarva-kāma-phala”—the attainment of desired results—through properly aligned sacred form and worship.