Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 43
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
वदनं चिवुकं ग्रीवा युगभागैर् भुजाक्षिभिः कराभ्यां मुकुलीकृत्य प्रतिमायाः प्रमाणतः
vadanaṃ civukaṃ grīvā yugabhāgair bhujākṣibhiḥ karābhyāṃ mukulīkṛtya pratimāyāḥ pramāṇataḥ
ตามมาตราวัดแบบคัมภีร์ของรูปเคารพ ให้กำหนดสัดส่วนของพระพักตร์ คาง และลำคอด้วยหน่วยยุกะ; ทั้งแขนและดวงเนตรก็เช่นเดียวกัน. มือทั้งสองพึงทำให้หุบเป็นรูปดอกตูม (มุกุลิตะ) ให้สอดคล้องกับสัดส่วนอันถูกต้องของรูปเคารพ.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, within the Agni Purāṇa’s didactic narration)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Icon-makers use these yuga-based proportional units to lay out the mukha (face), civuka (chin), griva (neck), arms, eyes, and to form hands in a closed/bud-like configuration consistent with the icon’s pramana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Yuga-pramāṇa for Face–Neck–Arms and Mukulī-hasta Formation","lookup_keywords":["pratimā-pramāṇa","yuga-bhāga","mukulī-hasta","civuka","grīvā"],"quick_summary":"Defines proportional allocation (yuga-units) for key head/neck/limb features and prescribes bud-like closed hands to maintain canonical harmony in the image."}
Concept: Rūpa-sāmya (harmonious proportion) as a condition for auspicious, ritually fit imagery
Application: Use fixed units and standardized hand-forms to avoid doṣa (iconographic faults) and ensure temple-installation suitability.
Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra (Pratima-lakshana / Iconometry and image-making canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sculptor measures a partially carved icon: marking yuga-units on face, chin, neck, arms, and eyes; hands shown closed like a bud (mukulī).","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, artisan in traditional attire measuring a deity icon with marked proportional grids, emphasis on calm eyes and bud-like hands, earthy reds/ochres, flat perspective, sacred workshop ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, icon-making scene with gold-leaf highlights on measuring lines and ornaments, sculptor holding measuring cord, pratimā with clearly proportioned face-neck-arms, rich jewel tones, ornate border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, instructional diagram-like depiction of pratimā proportions using yuga units, clean linework, soft shading, labeled facial parts and mukulī-hasta, workshop setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, atelier scene with master sculptor and assistants, fine detailing of measurement tools and proportional marks on the icon, delicate architecture backdrop, subdued palette with precise linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: yugabhāgair → yuga-bhāgaiḥ; bhujākṣibhiḥ → bhuja-akṣibhiḥ (dvandva); pramāṇataḥ is tasil-avyaya from pramāṇa.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54 (Pratimā-lakṣaṇa/pramāṇa sections)
FAQs
It teaches pratimā-pramāṇa (iconometric proportioning): how to size the face, chin, neck, arms, and eyes using yuga-based units, and how to shape the hands in a mukulī (bud-like/closed) configuration according to canonical sculpture rules.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purāṇa preserves practical śilpa-śāstra—technical standards for temple icons—showing its coverage of applied arts (iconography, measurement systems, craft procedures) alongside ritual and doctrine.
Correct proportions and prescribed hand-forms are treated as ensuring the icon’s ritual fitness (pratiṣṭhā-yogyatā), supporting proper worship and the intended devotional merit by aligning the image with śāstric order.