Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
चन्दनेन समालभ्य वस्त्रैर् आच्छादयेच्छिलां स्वर्णोत्थमासनं दत्वा नीत्वा यागं प्रदक्षिणं
candanena samālabhya vastrair ācchādayecchilāṃ svarṇotthamāsanaṃ datvā nītvā yāgaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ
Nachdem man den heiligen Stein mit Sandelpaste bestrichen hat, soll man ihn mit Tüchern bedecken; nachdem man einen Sitz aus Gold (oder mit Gold geschmückt) dargebracht und zum Opferplatz geführt hat, soll man die Pradakṣiṇā vollziehen, die Umrundung in glückverheißender Richtung (im Uhrzeigersinn).
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pūjā handling of a sacred stone (śilā): anointing with sandal, covering with cloth, offering a golden seat, leading to the yajña-space, and performing clockwise circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śilā-pūjā: candana-lepa, vastra-ācchādana, suvarṇāsana and pradakṣiṇā","lookup_keywords":["śilā-pūjā","candana","vastra-ācchādana","suvarṇāsana","pradakṣiṇā"],"quick_summary":"Worship a sacred stone by sandal anointing and cloth covering, offer a (golden) seat, proceed to the sacrificial area, and complete the rite with auspicious clockwise circumambulation."}
Concept: Honor (satkāra) to the sacred support (ādhāra) and the maṅgala logic of pradakṣiṇā (keeping the deity to one’s right).
Application: In temple/home worship, treat even aniconic sacred supports with full upacāras and complete worship by pradakṣiṇā for auspicious closure.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual worship procedures and circumambulation rites)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred stone on a pedestal is anointed with sandal paste, draped in cloth, set upon a golden seat; devotees proceed to the yajña area and perform clockwise circumambulation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central śilā on pedestal with candana marks, cloth drape, golden āsana stylized, devotees in pradakṣiṇā around a yāga-maṇḍapa, lamps and floral motifs, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on the āsana and ornaments, sacred stone richly decorated with cloth and sandal, devotees mid-pradakṣiṇā, vibrant reds/greens, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction of steps: anointing, covering, offering āsana, then pradakṣiṇā around yāga-sthāna; fine detailing of vessels and textiles.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple courtyard with a small altar, sacred stone draped in fine cloth, attendants holding sandal bowl, devotees walking clockwise, delicate architectural rendering and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आच्छादयेच्छिलाम् = आच्छादयेत् + शिलाम्; स्वर्णोत्थमासनम् = स्वर्णोत्थम् + आसनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92 (pūjā-vidhi and upacāra sequence); Agni Purana śilpa/arcana-related chapters (general icon/installation contexts)
FAQs
It prescribes specific upacāras (ritual services): anointing with sandal paste, covering the sacred stone/pīṭha with cloth, offering a gold(-adorned) seat, and performing clockwise pradakṣiṇā around the yāga/altar.
By recording step-by-step liturgical procedure (materials, sequence, and movement like pradakṣiṇā), it preserves practical temple/household worship protocol alongside the Purāṇa’s broader teachings on many sciences and disciplines.
These acts are purificatory and honorific: sandal and cloth symbolize sanctification and reverence, the offered seat signifies hospitality to the deity, and pradakṣiṇā expresses devotion and right-order (dharma), traditionally held to accrue puṇya (religious merit).