Agni Purāṇa

55 - The characteristics of the pedestal

The Lord said:

1. Ishall describe (the characteristics of) the pedestal of images. They have the same length as (the height) of the image and have breadth half (the height) of (the image).

2. Or the breadthshould be half or one-third of the measure of the height. The girdleshould be equal to one-third of its breadth.

3. The cavityshould be of the same measure andshould 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-courseshould be one-third of the breadth (of the base).

5. Or else the length of the linga 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)should be divided into sixteen parts as before. The lower six divisionsshould be made to comprise two parts. The neckshould be three parts.

7. The foundation, projections, joint, seat and other remaining partsshould 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 imageshould be endowed with elephants and tigers.

9. The pedestal of the image of) Hari alsoshould always be made beautiful. The measures (laid down) for the images of Vishņushall apply to (the images of) all gods. Those measures set forth for the image of Lakshmishall apply to all (images of) the goddesses.

Summary of chapter 55 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:

The fifty-fifth chapter describes the procedures for the major annual festivals (utsava-s) at a consecrated temple. The Purāṇa explains that festivals serve to extend the darśana of Bhagavān to the entire community — including those who cannot enter the inner sanctum — by bringing the deity out in procession. The preparation of the processional icon (utsava-mūrti), its decoration with flowers and ornaments, the assembly of the four types of music (string, wind, percussion, and vocal), and the route of the procession through the streets of the town are described. The role of flag-raising (dhvajārohaṇa) on the day before the main festival, the daily sequence of events during a multi-day utsava, and the concluding avabhṛtha-snāna (the ritual bath that closes the festival) are outlined. The merit of participating in or even witnessing the deity's procession is affirmed to equal that of performing a major yajña.