Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 98 — गौरीप्रतिष्ठाकथनम्
Gaurī-Pratiṣṭhā: Installation and Worship of Gaurī; Īśāna-kalpa Elements
परशक्तिस्वरूपान्तां स्वाणुना शक्तियोगतः ततो न्यसेत् क्रियाशक्तिं पीठे ज्ञानञ्च विग्रहे
paraśaktisvarūpāntāṃ svāṇunā śaktiyogataḥ tato nyaset kriyāśaktiṃ pīṭhe jñānañca vigrahe
Nachdem man es (geistig) zur Vollendung in der eigenen Gestalt der Höchsten Macht (Para-Śakti) geführt und es durch Śakti-Yoga mit dem eigenen feinen Lebenshauch vereint hat, soll man dann Nyāsa vollziehen: die Kraft des Handelns (kriyā-śakti) auf dem pīṭha (Sitz) niederlegen und das Wissen (jñāna) auf dem vigraha (Kultbild) niederlegen.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa doctrine: internal union of sādhaka’s subtle prāṇa/anu with Parāśakti, then assigning Kriyā-śakti to the pīṭha and Jñāna to the vigraha as functional consecration mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa of Kriyā-śakti and Jñāna in Śākta Worship","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","kriyā-śakti","jñāna","pīṭha","vigraha"],"quick_summary":"Unite one’s subtle vital principle with Parāśakti, then perform nyāsa by placing Kriyā-śakti on the seat and Jñāna on the icon, establishing the deity’s operative and illuminative aspects."}
Concept: Śakti is approached through internalization (yoga) and externalization (nyāsa); action and knowledge are distinct yet coordinated powers in consecration.
Application: During pratiṣṭhā/pūjā, consciously differentiate and install operative power (kriyā) and illuminative presence (jñāna) to stabilize both ritual efficacy and contemplative awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Nyasa and Shakti-installation in worship)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual seat (pīṭha) and icon (vigraha) before the priest; subtle energy streams from the sādhaka’s heart/breath merging into a radiant Parāśakti, then dividing into Kriyā-śakti placed on the seat and Jñāna placed on the icon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic depiction of two śaktis: Kriyā as dynamic red-gold flame settling on pīṭha, Jñāna as cool white-gold radiance settling on vigraha; priest performing nyāsa mudrās; stylized lotus seat and temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Devi icon richly ornamented; gold-embossed aura; two labeled emanations (kriyā/jñāna) as decorative motifs; priest at side touching pīṭha then vigraha; heavy gold work on seat and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: clear pīṭha and vigraha, priest’s hand positions for nyāsa, subtle prāṇa lines from chest to objects; soft pastel palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual chamber; priest seated with rosary; translucent streams of light indicating śakti placement; meticulous rendering of pedestal, icon, and ritual implements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञानञ्च → ज्ञानम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch.98 nyāsa and śakti-āveśa instructions (adjacent verses); Agni Purana later pūjā-vidhi chapters on aṅga-nyāsa and kara-nyāsa
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa method: after uniting one’s subtle principle with Śakti, the practitioner installs kriyā-śakti on the ritual seat (pīṭha) and installs jñāna (gnosis) on the deity’s icon (vigraha).
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise operational details of temple/household worship—how divine powers are ritually ‘mapped’ onto altar components—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical tantra and pūjā-technology.
By aligning the worshipper’s subtle self with the Supreme Śakti and consecrating seat and icon with action-power and knowledge, the ritual is made spiritually efficacious, supporting purification and focused realization during worship.