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
Die Śaktis, beginnend mit Vimalā, sowie die Gottheiten der geweihten Ziegel (iṣṭakā) sind durch nyāsa in der rechten Reihenfolge und Anordnung zu installieren; und in der Mitte soll Anugrahā, die Kraft der göttlichen Gnade, eingesetzt werden.
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.