Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 16
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
शक्तयो विमलाद्यास्तु इष्टकानान्तु देवताः न्यसनीया यथा योगं मध्ये न्यस्या त्वनुग्रहा
śaktayo vimalādyāstu iṣṭakānāntu devatāḥ nyasanīyā yathā yogaṃ madhye nyasyā tvanugrahā
বিমলা আদি শক্তিসকল আৰু ইষ্টকাৰ দেবতাসকলক যথাযোগ্য ক্ৰম-বিন্যাস অনুসাৰে ন্যাসে প্ৰতিষ্ঠা কৰিব; আৰু মধ্যত অনুগ্রহা (কৃপা-শক্তি) ন্যসিব।
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Specifies śakti-nyāsa and devatā-nyāsa on consecrated bricks, including central installation of Anugrahā for ritual completion.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Śakti-nyāsa on Iṣṭakās: Vimalā-ādi and Central Anugrahā","lookup_keywords":["Vimalā","śakti","nyāsa","Anugrahā","iṣṭakā-devatā"],"quick_summary":"Install the śaktis beginning with Vimalā and the brick-deities in proper sequence; place Anugrahā (grace-power) at the center to seal the rite."}
Concept: Order (yathā-yogam) and centrality (madhya) are vehicles for invoking anugraha (divine grace).
Application: When performing nyāsa, keep a fixed sequence and reserve the center for the culminating grace-installation to avoid incompleteness of the rite.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Vastu (Iṣṭakā-nyāsa and Devatā-nyāsa in altar/brick ritual)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual mandala of bricks where śaktis are installed in sequence around the perimeter, and a highlighted central brick receives Anugrahā-nyāsa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular/rectangular mandala of bricks, labeled śaktis beginning with Vimalā, central glowing Anugrahā, priests performing nyāsa with hand gestures, sacred symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, central brick with radiant gold halo for Anugrahā, surrounding śakti placements, rich ornamentation on ritual items, devotional composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: sequential placement arrows from Vimalā onward, center marked ‘Anugrahā’, fine detailing of bricks and hand-nyāsa mudrās","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard view of brick grid, attendants holding ritual trays, central highlighted spot for Anugrahā, delicate calligraphic labels"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विमलाद्यास्तु = विमल-आद्याः + तु; इष्टकानान्तु = इष्टकानाम् + तु; न्यस्या त्वनुग्रहा = न्यस्य + तु + अनुग्रहाः
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (nyāsa sequences; central placements in pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches iṣṭakā-nyāsa: ritually installing specific Śaktis (starting with Vimalā) and the presiding deities into consecrated bricks, with Anugrahā placed centrally, following the prescribed order.
It preserves a specialized, technical layer of temple/altar praxis—mapping deities and energies onto architectural/ritual components (bricks) via nyāsa—showing the Purana’s coverage of applied ritual science alongside theology.
By installing Śaktis and Anugrahā correctly, the rite is believed to sacralize the structure/altar, invite divine presence and grace, and ensure the ritual’s efficacy and purificatory merit.