Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 3
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
इष्टकाश् च सुपक्वाः स्युर्द्वादशाङ्गुलसम्मिताः सविस्तारत्रिभागेन वैपुल्येन समन्विताः
iṣṭakāś ca supakvāḥ syurdvādaśāṅgulasammitāḥ savistāratribhāgena vaipulyena samanvitāḥ
砖当烧制精熟，长十二指量（aṅgula），其宽为长度之三分之一，并具相称之厚度（深度）。
Lord Agni (narrating the technical injunctions of Vāstu/ritual construction)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Standardizing brick manufacture for sacred construction: ensuring proper firing and specifying canonical dimensions to achieve structural strength and ritual correctness.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Iṣṭakā-lakṣaṇa: well-fired bricks of 12 aṅgulas with one-third breadth","lookup_keywords":["iṣṭakā","brick dimensions","dvādaśāṅgula","supakva","māna"],"quick_summary":"Bricks for sacred building should be well-fired and standardized: 12 aṅgulas in length, breadth one-third of the length, with suitable thickness. This ensures uniform bonding, stability, and compliance with śāstric measure."}
Concept: Māna (measure) as dharma in craft: correct proportion is both technical and sacral.
Application: Adopt fixed brick proportions and proper firing to prevent structural weakness and ritual ‘doṣa’ from irregular materials.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra / Iṣṭakā-nirmāṇa (Brick-making and measurements for sacred construction)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Brick-making yard: bricks being molded to measured length, then fired in a kiln; a sthapati checks dimensions with an aṅgula/hasta measure, showing breadth as one-third of length.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, artisans near a kiln, stacks of uniform bricks, a master measuring with traditional scale, warm smoky tones, emphasis on orderly rows and proportion.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, decorative yet technical: gold accents on measuring tools and kiln flames, neatly stacked bricks of uniform size, master craftsman demonstrating 12-aṅgula length.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional diagram-like scene: brick with marked segments showing one-third breadth, kiln firing in background, craftsman measuring with calm precision.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed brick kiln and workshop, artisans shaping and firing bricks, a supervisor measuring with a small rule, fine textures of clay and firelight."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"fast","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्युर्द्वादशाङ्गुलसम्मिताः → स्युः द्वादश-अङ्गुल-सम्मिताः; सविस्तारत्रिभागेन → स-विस्तार-त्रि-भागेन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana Vāstu/Śilpa passages on māna (aṅgula, hasta) and material qualifications; Agni Purana sections on foundation and wall construction using iṣṭakā
FAQs
It specifies standardized Vāstu/ritual construction parameters for iṣṭakā (bricks): they must be properly fired and made to fixed proportions—12 aṅgulas in length with breadth set at one-third of the length, along with suitable thickness.
Beyond theology, the Agni Purana preserves practical technical standards—here, precise construction measurement rules used in altar/temple building—showing its coverage of applied sciences like Vāstu-śāstra alongside ritual and doctrine.
Using correctly proportioned, well-fired bricks supports the purity, stability, and efficacy of sacred structures and fire-rites; accurate materials are treated as part of ritual correctness (śuddhi) that sustains merit (puṇya) and proper worship outcomes.