Agni Purana — Kosha, Shloka 27
Chapter 363: नृब्रह्मक्षत्रविट्शूद्रवर्गाः
Groups of terms for Men, Brahmins, Kṣatriyas, Vaiśyas, and Śūdras
कर्णिका तालपत्रं स्याल्लम्बनं स्याल्ललन्तिका मञ्जीरो नूपुरं पादे किङ्किणी क्षुद्रघण्टिका
karṇikā tālapatraṃ syāllambanaṃ syāllalantikā mañjīro nūpuraṃ pāde kiṅkiṇī kṣudraghaṇṭikā
Karṇikā 与 tāla-patra 是耳饰之名；lambana 与 lalantikā 亦为垂挂饰物的称谓。于足部，mañjīra 与 nūpura 指脚镯；kiṅkiṇī 则为用作装饰的小铃。
Lord Agni (traditional framing: Agni instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Natya","practical_application":"Identification and correct naming/selection of ornaments (ear, hanging ornaments, anklets, bells) for iconography, costume design, and literary description.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Ornament synonyms: ear, hanging ornaments, anklets, and bells","lookup_keywords":["karṇikā","tāla-patra","lambana","mañjīra","nūpura"],"quick_summary":"Provides a compact synonym-list for common ornaments: ear-ornaments, hanging ornaments, anklets, and small bells—useful for shilpa, nāṭya costuming, and precise kāvya vocabulary."}
Concept: Systematization of material culture vocabulary as a support for arts (śilpa/nāṭya) and textual clarity.
Application: Use these terms when commissioning icons, describing dancers, or interpreting older texts where variant ornament names occur.
Khanda Section: Shilpa-shastra / Alankara-abharaṇa (Ornaments and decorative terminology)
Primary Rasa: shringara
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A close study of ornaments: ear-ornaments (karṇikā/tāla-patra), a hanging ornament (lambana/lalantikā), anklets (mañjīra/nūpura) with small bells (kiṅkiṇī) shown in detail.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style ornament study: dancer’s profile with prominent ear-ornaments labeled karṇikā and tāla-patra; feet with mañjīra/nūpura and tiny kiṅkiṇī bells; bold outlines, saturated reds/greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore jewelry-focused composition with gold embossing: ornate ear-ornaments and anklets with bell clusters; rich textile background, heavy gold highlights on kiṅkiṇī bells.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional plate: neatly arranged ornaments on a cloth with callout labels—karṇikā, tāla-patra, lambana, lalantikā, mañjīra, nūpura, kiṅkiṇī; fine lines and soft colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature atelier scene: jeweler presenting ear-ornaments and anklets with bells to a court dancer; intricate metalwork detail, patterned floor and cushions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्याल्लम्बनम् = स्यात् + लम्बनम्; स्याल्ललन्तिका = स्यात् + ललन्तिका (त् + ल → ल्ल).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 363 (ornament and costume terminology cluster)
FAQs
It provides standardized nomenclature for specific ornaments—ear ornaments, hanging pendants, and foot-ornaments (anklets and small bells)—useful for shilpa-shastra, iconography, and descriptive literature.
By cataloging precise vocabulary for adornments, it functions like a technical glossary—preserving cultural and craft knowledge (jewelry types and their names) alongside the Purana’s broader ritual, artistic, and practical subjects.
Indirectly, correct identification and use of ornaments supports accurate iconographic description and proper decoration in worship contexts; such correctness is traditionally linked with ritual propriety (yathā-vidhi) and merit through well-formed devotion.