Agni Purana
by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596
This page describes The characteristics of the pedestal (pindika-lakshana) which is chapter 55 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.
Chapter 55 - The characteristics of the pedestal (辫颈峁囜笉颈办腻-lak峁峁嘺)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
The Lord said:
I. I shall describe (the characteristics of) the pedestal of images [i.e., 辫颈峁囜笉颈办腻]. They have the same length as (the height) of the image and have breadth half (the height) of (the image).
2. Or the breadth should be half or one-third of the measure of the height. The girdle should be equal to one-third of its breadth.
3. The cavity should be of the same measure and should be inclined towards the posterior part. A quarter of the breadth (should be left out) for the canal as outlet.
4. (The width) of the forepart (of the channel) should be half of the breadth of the base. The water-course should be one-third of the breadth (of the base).
5. Or else the length of the 濒颈峁単补 is said to be equal to half (the length) of the base or equal to the length (of the base).
6. The height (of the pedestal [i.e., 辫颈峁囜笉颈办腻]) should be divided into sixteen parts as before. The lower six divisions should be made to comprise two parts. The neck should be three parts.
7. The foundation, projections, joint, seat and other remaining parts should each comprise one part. This will hold good in the case of ordinary images.
8. The door-way (leading) to the image is said to be proportionate to the door-way of the temple. The canopy over the image should be endowed with elephants and tigers.
9. The pedestal of (the image of) Hari also should always be made beautiful. The measures (laid down) for the images of 痴颈峁ａ箛耻 shall apply to (the images of) all gods. Those measures set forth for the image of 尝补办峁墨 shall apply to all (images of) the goddesses.