Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 45
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
कर्णपादाधिकास्तस्य ललाटादीनि निर्दिशेत् भुजौ चतुर्भिर्भागैस्तु कर्तव्यौ पश्चिमोर्जितं
karṇapādādhikāstasya lalāṭādīni nirdiśet bhujau caturbhirbhāgaistu kartavyau paścimorjitaṃ
ในรูปเคารพนั้น พึงกำหนดหน้าผากและลักษณะอื่น ๆ ของพระพักตร์ให้มีขนาดมากกว่าหูและเท้า. ส่วนแขนให้ทำตามสัดส่วนสี่ส่วน และให้ส่วนด้านหลังมั่นคงทรงพลัง.
Lord Agni (teaching iconographic canons to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Guides detailing of facial features (starting with forehead etc.) with specified relative excess over ear/foot measures, and prescribes four-part arm construction with a strong posterior segment for visual stability.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Relative Measures for Facial Features and Four-part Arm Construction","lookup_keywords":["lalāṭa-pramāṇa","karṇa-māna","pāda-māna","bhuja-bhāga","paścima-ūrjita"],"quick_summary":"Directs how to set facial feature measures relative to ear/foot references and how to segment arms into four parts, emphasizing a firm posterior portion for balanced strength."}
Concept: Auspicious form requires both proportion (māna) and implied śakti (visual strength)
Application: In carving/casting, keep arm segmentation consistent and reinforce rear volumes to prevent visual/top-heavy imbalance and physical fragility.
Khanda Section: Vastu & Pratima-Lakshana (Iconography and proportional canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sculptor marks the forehead and facial planes with reference to ear and foot measures; the arm is drawn/blocked into four segments, with the back portion thickened for strength.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, artisan outlining facial planes and arm segments on a deity icon, strong posterior arm volume emphasized, warm mineral colors, sacred workshop mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, icon with highlighted forehead and arm segmentation bands in gold, sculptor holding stylus and measuring rod, ornate decorative border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, step-by-step instructional illustration: facial feature scaling vs ear/foot, arm divided into four labeled parts, posterior segment shaded to show firmness","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed atelier with measurement notes on a parchment beside the icon, careful depiction of arm segmentation and facial reference points, refined linework"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: karṇapādādhikāstasya → karṇa-pāda-adhikāḥ + tasya; caturbhirbhāgaistu → caturbhiḥ + bhāgaiḥ + tu; paścimorjitaṃ → paścima-urjitam (sandhi o + u → o).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 54 (bhuja-pramāṇa and aṅga-vibhāga passages)
FAQs
It gives pratिमा-लक्षण (iconographic) measurement rules—how to proportion facial features (forehead etc.) relative to ear/foot measures and how to construct the arms in defined segments with a strengthened posterior portion.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves applied shilpa-vidyā: practical standards for sculpting and temple-image construction, showing it functions as a technical manual alongside ritual and doctrinal material.
Correct proportions in a deity-image are traditionally held to support proper installation (pratiṣṭhā) and effective worship, aligning the form with prescribed sacred canons so the ritual presence is established without defect (doṣa).