Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 98 — गौरीप्रतिष्ठाकथनम्
Gaurī-Pratiṣṭhā: Installation and Worship of Gaurī; Īśāna-kalpa Elements
शय्यायान्तांश् च विन्यस्य मन्त्रान्मूर्त्यादिकान् गुह आत्मविद्याशिवान्तञ्च कुर्यादीशनिवेशनं
śayyāyāntāṃś ca vinyasya mantrānmūrtyādikān guha ātmavidyāśivāntañca kuryādīśaniveśanaṃ
Nachdem man die Mantras durch Nyāsa angeordnet hat—beginnend mit den Mūrti-Mantras und so weiter—bis hin zu den auf dem Lager (śayyā) zu platzierenden, und zudem das Guha-Mantra sowie die Reihe von Ātmavidyā bis Śiva gesetzt hat, soll man sodann die Einsetzung/Anrufung Īśas vollziehen, nämlich das Īśāna-niveśana.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa mapping for a Śaiva ritual sequence: placing Mūrti-mantras through śayyā-anta placements, adding Guha-mantra and Ātmavidyā-to-Śiva series, culminating in Īśāna-niveśana (invocation/installation).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa-krama up to śayyā; Guha and Ātmavidyā–Śiva series; Īśāna-niveśana","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","mūrti-mantra","śayyā-nyāsa","guha-mantra","īśāna-niveśana"],"quick_summary":"Perform a structured nyāsa sequence across ritual loci (including the śayyā), incorporate Guha and the Ātmavidyā-to-Śiva mantra chain, then invoke/install Īśāna to seal the rite."}
Concept: Devatā-sannidhāna is established through ordered mantra-placement (nyāsa), culminating in a directional/ontological sealing via Īśāna.
Application: Maintains ritual integrity by insisting on sequence (krama) and completeness of mantra-loci before final invocation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric Mantra-nyasa and Īśāna-kalpa)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs nyāsa gestures over body and ritual implements, moving through a mapped sequence ending at a ritual bed (śayyā), then invokes Īśāna with a final sealing gesture.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural; priest with raised hands touching head, heart, shoulders in nyāsa, a decorated śayyā platform with cloth and yantra nearby, subtle depiction of Īśāna direction (northeast) with a small emblem, temple interior lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore; priest performing nyāsa before a richly ornamented śayyā and altar, gold leaf on ritual vessels, a stylized northeast corner marked, aura around the invoked presence of Īśāna.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore; diagrammatic yet artistic scene showing nyāsa points and implements (śayyā, kalaśa, yantra), priest in precise mudrā, clear spatial orientation to northeast for Īśāna-niveśana.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature; intimate indoor ritual with fine textiles on the śayyā, priest performing hand-gestures, manuscript open to mantra sequence, architectural corner highlighted to indicate Īśāna direction."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: शय्यायान्तान् → शय्या + अन्तान्; मन्त्रान्मूर्त्यादिकान् → मन्त्रान् + मूर्त्यादिकान्; आत्मविद्याशिवान्तञ्च → आत्मविद्याशिवान्तम् + च; कुर्यादीशनिवेशनम् → कुर्यात् + ईशनिवेशनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Puja-vidhi sections on nyāsa, āvāhana, and Śaiva mantra-krama (early 98th adhyāya context)
FAQs
It teaches a specific sequence of mantra-nyāsa: placing mantras (starting with Mūrti-series), adding Guha and the Ātmavidyā-to-Śiva series, and then performing Īśāna (Īśa) installation.
It preserves procedural liturgy—precise ordering of mantras, nyāsa, and deity-installation—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical temple/household ritual technology alongside its many other disciplines.
Correct nyāsa and Īśāna-installation are presented as means to sanctify the worship-space/body, align the practitioner with Śaiva divine power, and make the rite effective and purificatory.