Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 46
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
भद्रपीठे निधायेशं ताडयित्वावगुण्ठयेत् स्नापयेत् पूजयित्वा तु मृदा काषायवारिणा
bhadrapīṭhe nidhāyeśaṃ tāḍayitvāvaguṇṭhayet snāpayet pūjayitvā tu mṛdā kāṣāyavāriṇā
Nachdem man den Herrn (das Götterbild) auf den glückverheißenden Sitz (bhadrapīṭha) gesetzt hat, soll man ihn rituell leicht beklopfen/berühren und dann verhüllen. Danach, nach vollzogener Verehrung, soll man ihn mit reinigender Erde (Ton) und mit kaṣāya-Wasser, einem adstringierenden Sud, baden.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"In deity installation/bathing, place the image on a bhadra-pīṭha, perform ritual tapping (tāḍana) and veiling (avagūṇṭhana), then bathe using cleansing clay and astringent decoction-water after pūjā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Bhadra-pīṭha placement, avagūṇṭhana, and snāna with mṛdā & kaṣāya-water","lookup_keywords":["bhadrapīṭha","tāḍana","avagūṇṭhana","mṛdā","kaṣāya"],"quick_summary":"Set the deity-image on an auspicious pedestal, ritually activate/protect it by tapping and veiling, then bathe it using purifying clay and astringent decoction-water as part of consecration."}
Concept: Śauca and rakṣā (purification and protection) precede upacāra (offerings) in devatā-sevā.
Application: Do not adorn before cleansing; protect the sanctum-object (covering/veiling) while transitioning between ritual operations.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi (Deity installation, purification, and bathing rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A deity-image placed on an auspicious pedestal; a priest gently taps it ritually, then covers it with a cloth; after worship, attendants prepare clay and a decoction vessel for bathing the image.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central deity on bhadra-pīṭha, priest performing tāḍana with ritual gesture, avagūṇṭhana cloth draped, bowls of clay and kaṣāya water shown, rich temple interior motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, deity on ornate pedestal with gold embellishment, priest veiling the image with a shimmering cloth, vessels of clay and herbal decoction highlighted with gold work","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction: pedestal, sequence of tapping then veiling, then bathing implements (clay bowl, decoction pot), delicate pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed workshop-temple setting, attendants holding cloth and vessels, priest mid-gesture of veiling, intricate textiles and architectural arches"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nidhāyeśaṃ = nidhāya + īśam; tāḍayitvāvaguṇṭhayet = tāḍayitvā + avaguṇṭhayet; kāṣāyavāriṇā = kāṣāya-vāriṇā.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (pūjā-vidhi and snāna-krama)
FAQs
It teaches a specific pūjā-sequence: placing the deity on a bhadrapīṭha, performing a ritual tap (tāḍana), veiling (avaguṇṭhana), and then snāna using cleansing clay and astringent decoction-water.
It preserves detailed temple-operational know-how—precise handling of the deity-image, purification media (mṛd and kāṣāya), and ordered actions—showing the Purāṇa’s practical ritual manuals alongside theology.
The sequence emphasizes ritual purity and reverent concealment during sanctifying acts; such regulated snāna and pūjā are traditionally held to remove impurity (aśauca/mala) and accrue merit through proper worship (vidhipūrvaka-sevā).