Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 62 — Lakṣmīpratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ
The Procedure for Installing Lakṣmī
शायन्तीयेन शय्यायां श्रीसूक्तेन च सन्निधिम् लक्ष्मीवीजेन चिच्छक्तिं विन्यस्याभ्यर्चयेत् पुनः
śāyantīyena śayyāyāṃ śrīsūktena ca sannidhim lakṣmīvījena cicchaktiṃ vinyasyābhyarcayet punaḥ
Mit dem Mantra «Śāyantīya» soll Nyāsa auf dem Lager vollzogen werden; mit dem «Śrī-sūkta» wird die Sannidhi, die Gegenwart der Gottheit, begründet; und mit dem Bīja-Mantra der Lakṣmī wird die «cicchakti», die Kraft des Bewusstseins, eingesetzt. Nachdem dies so niedergelegt ist, soll man erneut verehren.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa for Śrī-Lakṣmī upāsanā: placing specific mantras on the śayyā (ritual bed/seat), invoking sannidhi via Śrī-sūkta, and installing Lakṣmī-bīja as cicchakti before renewed arcana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śayyā-nyāsa with Śāyantīya, Śrī-sūkta sannidhi, and Lakṣmī-bīja cicchakti-vinyāsa","lookup_keywords":["śāyantīya mantra","śayyā nyāsa","śrī-sūkta","lakṣmī bīja","cicchakti vinyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Perform nyāsa on the ritual bed with the Śāyantīya mantra, establish Lakṣmī’s presence through the Śrī-sūkta, then install the Lakṣmī seed as consciousness-power; proceed to worship with the field thus energized."}
Concept: Mantra-śakti is layered: ādhāra-śuddhi (seat/bed), āvāhana/sannidhi (presence), and śakti-vinyāsa (cicchakti) culminating in effective worship.
Application: In Lakṣmī upāsanā, treat the worship-space and support (śayyā/āsana) as a conscious field; sequence the mantras to move from outer support to inner power.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrī-Lakṣmī upāsanā / mantra-nyāsa and arcana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual bed/seat is prepared; the practitioner touches and places mantras (nyāsa) on it, then invokes Lakṣmī’s presence with Śrī-sūkta and seals the rite with a Lakṣmī bīja as a radiant consciousness-force.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized śayyā with lotus motifs, priest performing nyāsa gestures (kara-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa cues), subtle aura indicating cicchakti, traditional reds/ochres, calm śānta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Lakṣmī’s presence implied above the śayyā with gold halo, priest placing mantras, rich textile patterns on the bed, heavy gold work on borders and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa on śayyā: hand positions, mantra placement points, neat composition, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor chamber with ornate bed, priest and assistant holding palm-leaf/mantra text, delicate illumination showing invoked presence, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चिच्छक्तिं → चित् + शक्तिम् (t + ś → cch). विन्यस्याभ्यर्चयेत् → विन्यस्य + अभ्यर्चयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 62 (Śrī upāsanā: nyāsa/arcana)
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa-and-arcana sequence for Śrī-Lakṣmī worship: install the Śāyantīya mantra on the ritual bed, invoke presence through the Śrī-sūkta, and establish consciousness-power via the Lakṣmī bīja before continuing worship.
It preserves a compact, procedural ritual manual—detailing mantra application (bīja), hymn-based invocation (Śrī-sūkta), and tantric-style nyāsa—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy alongside broader theology and dharma.
The instruction emphasizes correct mantra-installation and presence-invocation so worship becomes a properly “ensouled” rite, traditionally held to increase the efficacy (siddhi) of devotion and the merit (puṇya) of Lakṣmī-upāsanā.