Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 24
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कम्बुग्रीवा त्रिरेखा सावटुर्घाटा कृकाटिका अधः स्याच्चिवुकञ्चौष्ठादथ गण्डौ गलो हनुः
kambugrīvā trirekhā sāvaṭurghāṭā kṛkāṭikā adhaḥ syāccivukañcauṣṭhādatha gaṇḍau galo hanuḥ
颈如海螺之形者名“kambugrīvā”；颈（或喉）具三道纹理者名“trirekhā”。后枕/项部称“sāvaṭurghāṭā”，颈项交接处称“kṛkāṭikā”。其下依次为：下颏“civuka”、唇部区域“cauṣṭha”；继而两颊“gaṇḍa”、咽喉/颈“gala”、以及下颌“hanu”。
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in encyclopedic technical terminology)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Supports precise anatomical localization and samudrika/lakṣaṇa-based description of neck and facial regions for diagnosis, examination, and descriptive taxonomy.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Neck and face-region nomenclature (kambugrīvā to hanu)","lookup_keywords":["kambugrīvā","trirekhā","kṛkāṭikā","civuka","hanu"],"quick_summary":"Defines named regions and mark-terms of the neck/face: conch-like neck, three neck-lines, nape/occipital area, cervical junction, chin, lip-region, cheeks, throat, and jaw."}
Alamkara Type: Rupaka (implicit metaphor in kambugrīvā: neck ‘as conch’)
Concept: Śarīra-saṃjñā and lakṣaṇa: naming and recognizing form as a means to knowledge and skilled action.
Application: Enables consistent diagnosis, sculpture, and literary depiction by shared anatomical vocabulary.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Lakshana-shastra / Samudrika: bodily marks and anatomical terminology)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A frontal and side profile head-and-neck diagram with labeled regions: conch-like neck, three neck lines, nape, cervical junction, chin, lips, cheeks, throat, jaw; an examiner points to each landmark.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized bust with emphasized neck folds and conch-like curve, labels near nape and jawline, traditional flat shading and decorative border motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, idealized figure with kambugrīvā and trirekhā highlighted in gold accents, inset callouts for civuka/cauṣṭha/gaṇḍa/gala/hanu, ornate arch frame","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clean anatomical illustration aesthetic within classical painting idiom, precise callouts to kṛkāṭikā and facial regions, soft palette and fine detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, court artist’s study of a model’s profile, delicate labeling of neck and face regions, refined linework and subtle shading"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याच्चिवुकम् = स्यात् + चिवुकम् (त् + च → च्च). चिवुकञ्च = चिवुकम् + च. चिवुकञ्चौष्ठात् = चिवुकम् + च + ओष्ठात्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363.23 (hand/measure terminology); Agni Purana samudrika/lakṣaṇa and śārīra-related passages elsewhere
FAQs
It teaches precise Sanskrit nomenclature for neck–face anatomical regions used in Ayurvedic description and samudrika-lakshana (physiognomic) assessment.
Beyond theology, it catalogs specialist vocabulary—here, anatomical/physiognomic terms—showing the Purana’s role as a compendium that preserves technical knowledge alongside religious instruction.
Such definitions support dharmic discernment and disciplined observation in traditional learning; in samudrika contexts, correct identification of bodily marks is treated as aiding right judgment and orderly conduct rather than as a standalone ritual merit.