Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
प्रतिष्ठायां निविष्ठानि तत्त्वान्येतानि भावयेत् पञ्चविंशतिसङ्ख्यानि खादियान्ताक्षराणि च
pratiṣṭhāyāṃ niviṣṭhāni tattvānyetāni bhāvayet pañcaviṃśatisaṅkhyāni khādiyāntākṣarāṇi ca
Während der Weihe (pratiṣṭhā) soll man diese Prinzipien (tattvas) als dort eingesetzt vergegenwärtigen—fünfundzwanzig an der Zahl—und ebenso die Silben, die mit „kha“ beginnen und mit „ya“ enden.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"In icon-installation (pratiṣṭhā), perform tattva-bhāvanā: visualize the tattvas as ‘seated/installed’ in the locus (icon/altar/space), and coordinate them with the phonemic matrix (varṇa-mālā) from ‘kha’ to ‘ya’ for nyāsa and stabilization of the deity-seat.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratiṣṭhā Bhāvanā: Installing 25 Tattvas and Varṇa-nyāsa (kha–ya)","lookup_keywords":["pratiṣṭhā","tattva-bhāvanā","pañcaviṃśati","varṇa-nyāsa","kha-ādi ya-anta"],"quick_summary":"During consecration, contemplate the full set of principles as present in the installation-site and align them with the phonemic series (kha…ya) for mantra-nyāsa, making the seat ritually complete."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: tattvas and phonemes are installable powers; the deity-seat is constituted through ordered principles and sound.
Application: In pratiṣṭhā/nyāsa, systematically place tattvas and varṇas (kha–ya) with focused bhāvanā to ‘animate’ and stabilize the consecrated locus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratiṣṭhā-kalpa (Icon-installation and consecration ritual)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration scene: the priest meditatively ‘places’ tattvas into the installed icon/seat, while visualizing a garland of syllables from kha to ya encircling the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sanctum-like setting, deity image on pedestal, priest performing nyāsa mudrās, luminous Sanskrit syllables (kha…ya) as a halo, earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, deity on ornate throne with gold foil, priest at side with ritual implements, syllabic halo (kha–ya) in stylized script, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction: numbered placements of tattvas on icon/āsana, syllable band labeled kha-to-ya, clean composition for pedagogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple interior, priest and assistants, floating calligraphic syllables forming an arch over the icon, fine textile and lamp details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्त्वान्येतानि = तत्त्वानि + एतानि (इ/ए संयोगे य्-आगम); खादियान्ताक्षराणि = खादि-यान्त-अक्षराणि.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa ch. 85: tattva-mantra enumeration (85.2) as the content to be installed; Agni Purāṇa: nyāsa and mantra-śodhana discussions in adjacent ritual chapters
FAQs
It teaches tattva-nyāsa and varṇa/mātṛkā-nyāsa as part of pratiṣṭhā: mentally installing the 25 Sāṃkhya tattvas and a specified letter-series (kha-to-ya) into the deity/image or altar during consecration.
It blends metaphysics (Sāṃkhya’s 25 tattvas) with applied ritual technology (nyāsa using phonemic matrices), showing how the Agni Purana integrates philosophy, mantra-science, and temple praxis in a single procedural instruction.
By contemplating and installing tattvas and sacred phonemes during consecration, the practitioner sacralizes the image/space as a living seat of cosmic principles, aiming at purification, steadiness of worship, and the accrual of religious merit through correctly performed pratiṣṭhā.