Agni Purana — Raja-dharma, Shloka 22
Chapter 242 — पुरुषलक्षणं
Purusha-Lakshana): Marks of a Man (Physiognomy
प्रसारितभुजस्येह मध्यमाग्रद्वयान्तरं उच्छ्रायेण समं यस्य न्यग्रोधपरिमण्डलः
prasāritabhujasyeha madhyamāgradvayāntaraṃ ucchrāyeṇa samaṃ yasya nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalaḥ
Dito, ang “nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala” (sukat na bilog ng punong balete) ay yaong sukat na kapag lubos na iniunat ang mga bisig, ang layo sa pagitan ng dulo ng dalawang gitnang daliri ay kapantay ng taas ng tao.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Anthropometric canon (pramāṇa) for determining ideal bodily proportion used in iconometry, architecture modules, and human-measure based planning.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala (banyan-circle proportion)","lookup_keywords":["nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala","pramāṇa-lakṣaṇa","anthropometry","armspan equals height","pratimā-māna"],"quick_summary":"Defines the nyagrodha measure: a person’s height equals the span between middle-finger tips with arms outstretched. Used as a normative proportion in pramāṇa and iconometric planning."}
Concept: Cosmic order reflected in measurable human proportion; pramāṇa as a bridge between body and sacred form.
Application: When carving/painting or planning, verify the figure’s ‘nyagrodha’ by checking armspan-height equivalence to maintain canonical harmony.
Khanda Section: Vastu-shastra / Pramana-lakshana (iconography and measurement canons)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A craftsman-measurer demonstrates the nyagrodha proportion: a standing figure with arms fully outstretched, measuring the distance between middle-finger tips and comparing it to height using a measuring cord.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisan with measuring cord, standing model with outstretched arms, clear geometric emphasis, temple workshop setting with tools and wooden panels.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold detailing on measuring instruments and workshop shrine, central standing figure in samabhanga with arms extended, artisan marking equal measures, ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, diagrammatic yet elegant: height line and armspan line shown with annotations ‘ucchrāya’ and ‘madhyama-agra-dvaya-antara’, calm instructional palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature workshop scene, master craftsman and apprentices, fine textiles and tools, a measuring cord stretched fingertip-to-fingertip, height compared beside a ruled staff."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: bhujasyeha = bhujasya+iha. madhyamāgradvayāntaram = madhyama+agra+dvaya+antaram. nyagrodhaparimaṇḍalaḥ = nyagrodha+parimaṇḍalaḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 242 (pramāṇa-lakṣaṇa cluster); Agni Purana shilpa/pratimā-lakṣaṇa chapters (iconometry sections)
FAQs
It defines a formal proportional canon (nyagrodha-parimaṇḍala): a person’s arm-span (middle-fingertip to middle-fingertip) must equal their height—used for standardizing images, architectural modules, and human/figure proportions in Śilpa/Vāstu practice.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves technical standards from applied sciences like Vāstu and Śilpa—here giving a precise anthropometric rule that artisans and planners can directly apply in design and iconometry.
By prescribing correct proportions for sacred forms and built spaces, it supports ‘śāstra-sammat’ (scripturally aligned) construction and representation, believed to enhance auspiciousness, ritual efficacy, and the merit (puṇya) of commissioning or crafting such works.