Varaha Purana 182.3 — Adhyaya 182, Shloka 3

Installation of a Stone Image

Ritual Procedure for Consecration

Devanagari script

शीघ्रमालिख्य तं तत्र श्वेतवर्तिकया नरः ॥ प्रदक्षिणां ततः कृत्वा पूजयेदक्षतादिभिः ॥

Transliteration

śīghram ālikhya taṃ tatra śvetavartikayā naraḥ || pradakṣiṇāṃ tataḥ kṛtvā pūjayed akṣatādibhiḥ ||

Translation

وهناك يرسمه أو يعلّمه الإنسان سريعاً بعصا من الطباشير الأبيض؛ ثم بعد أداء البرادكشِنا (الطواف يميناً)، يعبده بالأكشَتا (أرز غير مكسور) وسائر القرابين.

Word by Word

• śīghram: quickly
• śīghram: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: śīghra (प्रातिपदिक used adverbially)
• Form: Avyaya-kalpa (अव्ययवत्), adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• ālikhya: having drawn
• ālikhya: Kriya (क्रियापूर्वक/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā + likh (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्), having drawn/inscribed

• tam: that (it)
• tam: Karma (कर्म/object of ālikhya)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); pronoun referring to the figure/design

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb of place

• śveta-vartikayā: with a white chalk/marker
• śveta-vartikayā: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śveta (प्रातिपदिक) + vartikā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); means/instrument

• naraḥ: a man/person
• naraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• pradakṣiṇām: circumambulation
• pradakṣiṇām: Karma (कर्म/object of kṛtvā)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradakṣiṇā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• tataḥ: then/thereafter
• tataḥ: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverb (thereafter)

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriya (क्रियापूर्वक/preceding action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), having done

• pūjayet: should worship
• pūjayet: Kriya (क्रिया/prescription)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: Vidhi-liṅ (विधिलिङ्, optative), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

• akṣata-ādibhiḥ: with unbroken rice and the like
• akṣata-ādibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣata (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); ādi = etc.; means/instrument of worship

Speaker

Varāha

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"None"}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"None","key_question":"None"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"Pradakṣiṇā is prescribed around the marked stone/icon-site as part of preparing sacred space.","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"None","instruction_summary":"Mark the selected stone with white chalk, perform pradakṣiṇā, then worship it with akṣata and allied offerings as a preparatory rite.","karmic_consequence":"Observance sanctifies the material and aligns the work with dharma; omission diminishes auspiciousness and may obstruct successful establishment."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ritual phenomenology","core_concept":"Saṃskāra transforms ordinary matter into a fit support for divine presence; bodily action (pradakṣiṇā) expresses inner reverence.","practical_application":"Before beginning sacred construction or installation, ritually demarcate the object/space, then honor it with simple sattvic offerings (akṣata) and respectful movement."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ritual Studies","Material Culture"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: icon-preparation site / temple precinct

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 182.2 (stone selection); Varāha Purāṇa 182.4–6 (lamp, bali, mantra, form-specific establishment)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A devotee/artisan marks the stone with a white chalk line, then walks clockwise around it, afterwards offering akṣata at its base.","item_prompts":["white chalk-stick (śveta-vartikā)","chalk markings on stone","clockwise circumambulation path","akṣata (unbroken rice) in a small bowl","simple pūjā items (flowers, water vessel)"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style: rhythmic depiction of pradakṣiṇā around a centrally placed stone; bold white chalk marks; minimal but clear pūjā tray with akṣata.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style: stone on decorated platform; devotee mid-pradakṣiṇā; gold-leaf highlights on pūjā plate and rice grains; ornate border.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style: refined chalk linework; serene devotee posture; detailed akṣata offering; soft temple interior lighting.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari style: narrative sequence feel—marking and circumambulation suggested in one frame; delicate landscape/temple courtyard; emphasis on gesture and devotion."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"ritual-guiding, devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman (for clarity and uplift)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"gentle-instructional"}

Tags

• Purāṇic Literature
• Temple Ritual
• Icon Preparation
• Sacred Space

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a sequence of preparatory actions—marking, circumambulation, and offering—useful for reconstructing ritual choreography in premodern South Asia.

Which geographic location is identified?

No geographic identifier appears; the verse describes a generalizable ritual action within a prepared space.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

Ritual precision and orderly procedure are emphasized, reflecting a norm of careful stewardship of sacred objects.