Adhyaya 68

Verse 1

इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये जीर्णोद्धारकथनं नाम सप्तषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः भूषिताञ्च यजेद् गुरुरिति घ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अथ अष्टषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः यात्रोत्सवविधिकथनं भगवानुवाच वक्ष्ये विधिं चोत्सवस्य स्थापिते तु सुरे चरेत् तस्मिन्नब्दे चैकरात्रं त्रिरात्रञ्चाष्टरात्रकं

Thus, in the Agni Purāṇa, within the Primeval Mahāpurāṇa, ends the sixty-seventh chapter entitled “Account of Renovation (Jīrṇoddhāra).” (Marked variant reading: “And the officiating preceptor should worship the deity, duly adorned.”) Now begins the sixty-eighth chapter, “Account of the Procedure for the Processional Festival (Yātrā-Utsava).” The Blessed Lord said: “I shall explain the rule for conducting the festival. When the deity has been duly installed, one should observe it; and in that very year (after installation) [it may be held] for one night, for three nights, or for eight nights.”

Verse 2

उत्सवेन विना यस्मात् स्थापनं निष्फलं भवेत् अयने विषुवे चापि शयनोपवने गृहे

Since, without a festival (utsava), the installation of the deity becomes fruitless, one should therefore perform the prescribed rites at the solstices and the equinoxes as well—whether in the sleeping-chamber, in a pleasure-grove, or in the house.

Verse 3

कारकस्यानुकूले वा यात्रान्देवस्य कारयेत् मङ्गलाङ्कुररोपैस्तु गीतनृत्यादिवाद्यकैः

When the officiant (ritual agent) is in a favorable condition—or when the circumstances are favorable—one should have the deity’s procession (yātrā) conducted, accompanied by the planting of auspicious sprouts and by songs, dances, and musical instruments.

Verse 4

शरावघटिकापालीस्त्वङ्कुरारोहणे हिताः यवाञ्छालींस्तिलान् मुद्गान् गोधूमान् सितसर्षपान्

Shallow dishes, small pots, and bowls are suitable for raising sprouts; one may sprout barley, śālī-rice, sesame, green gram, wheat, and white mustard.

Verse 5

कुलत्थमाषनिष्पावान् क्षालयित्वा तु वापयेत् पूर्वादौ च बलिं दद्यात् भ्रमन् दीपैः पुरं निशि

Having washed horse-gram, black-gram, and chickpeas, one should sow them; and beginning in the eastern quarter, one should offer bali (ritual food-offerings), then, at night, circumambulate the town carrying lamps.

Verse 6

इन्द्रादेः कुमुदादेश् च सर्वभूतेभ्य एव च अनुगच्छन्ति ते तत्र प्रतिरूपधराः पुनः

They follow there the command of Indra and the rest, and also that of Kumuda and others; and again, taking on corresponding forms, they accompany all beings.

Verse 7

पदे पदे ऽश्वमेधस्य फलं तेषां न संशयः आगत्य देवतागारं देवं विज्ञापयेद् गुरुः

At every step (taken in this observance) they obtain the merit of an Aśvamedha-sacrifice—of this there is no doubt. Having come to the deity’s shrine, the guru should formally announce the rite and its intent to the Deity.

Verse 8

तीर्थयात्रा तु या देव श्वः कर्तव्या सुरोत्तम तस्यारम्भमनुज्ञातुमर्हसे देव सर्वथा

O God—best among the gods—the pilgrimage to the tīrthas, the sacred fords, to be undertaken tomorrow: deign in every way to grant permission for its commencement.

Verse 9

देवमेवन्तु विज्ञाप्य ततः कर्म समारभेत् प्ररोहघटिकाभ्यान्तु वेदिकां भूषितां व्रजेत्

Having duly informed (invoked and announced the rite to) the deity, one should then commence the ritual act. Then, with the sprout and the ritual water-pot (ghaṭa), one should proceed to the adorned altar (vedī).

Verse 10

शयनोत्थापने गृहे इति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः शयनोत्थापने हरेरिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः समाचरेदिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः चतुःस्तम्भान्तु तन्मध्ये स्वस्तिके प्रतिमां न्यसेत् काम्यार्थां लेख्यचित्रेषु स्थाप्य तत्राधिवासयेत्

In a pavilion of four pillars, in its middle, one should place the deity’s icon upon a svastika-diagram. For the fulfillment of a desired aim, having installed it amid painted or drawn ritual images, one should perform its preliminary consecration (adhivāsana) there.

Verse 11

वैष्णवैः सह कुर्वीत घृताभ्यङ्गन्तु मूलतः घृतधाराभिषेकं वा सकलां शर्वरीं बुधः

A wise person should perform (the rite) together with Vaiṣṇavas, applying a ghee (ghṛta) unction and massage from the very root, that is, from the base. Or else, throughout the entire night, he should carry out an abhiṣeka by pouring a continuous stream of ghee.

Verse 12

दर्पणं दर्श्य नीराजं गीतवाद्यैश् च मङ्गलं व्यजनं पूजनं दीपं गन्धपुष्पादिभिर्यजेत्

Having shown a mirror, one should perform the nīrājana (ceremonial waving of lights) and the auspicious rites accompanied by song and instrumental music; then one should offer fanning with a chāmara, formal worship, and a lamp, and worship with fragrances, flowers, and the like.

Verse 13

हरिद्रामुद्गकाश्मीरशुक्लचूर्णादि मूर्ध्नि प्रतिमायाश् च भक्तानां सर्वतीर्थफलं धृते

When turmeric, green-gram powder, Kashmir saffron, white powders, and the like are placed upon the crown of the deity’s image, the devotees thereby obtain merit equivalent to bathing at all sacred tīrthas (pilgrimage-fords).

Verse 14

स्नापयित्वा समभ्यर्च्य यात्राविम्बं रथे स्थितं नयेद्गुरुर् नदीर्नादैश्छत्राद्यै राष्ट्रपालिकाः

Having bathed the deity and duly worshipped it, the guru should lead the festival-icon (yātrā-vimba) placed upon a chariot in procession; and the realm’s protectors (royal officials) should proceed with river-like surging sounds, accompanied by parasols and other regal insignia.

Verse 15

निम्नगायोजनादर्वाक् तत्र वेदीन्तु कारयेत् वाहनादवतार्यैनं तस्यां वेद्यान्निवेशयेत्

At a spot lower than the measured alignment marked by the cord and pegs, one should have the vedi, the sacrificial altar, constructed there. Then, having made him descend from the vehicle, one should seat him upon that altar-platform.

Verse 16

चरुं वै श्रपयेत् तत्र पायसं होमयेत्ततः अब्लिङ्गैः वैदिकैर् मन्त्रैस्तीर्थानावाहयेत्ततः

There one should cook the caru, the ritual rice-porridge; then one should offer pāyasa, milk-rice, into the fire as a homa oblation. Thereafter, using Vedic mantras called ‘abliṅga’—not restricted by any particular sectarian mark or deity-sign—one should invoke the sacred tīrthas into the rite.

Verse 17

आपो हिष्ठोपनिषदैः पूजयेदर्घ्यमुख्यकैः पुनर्देवं समादाय तोये कृत्वाघमर्षणं

With the Vedic water-formula beginning “Āpo hi ṣṭhā…”, one should worship the Deity by offering arghya and the other principal water-oblations; then, taking the Deity again into one’s attention/hand, one should perform the Aghamarṣaṇa rite in water for the removal of sin.

Verse 18

स्नायान्महाजनैर् विप्रैर् वेद्यामुत्तार्य तं न्यसेत् पूजयित्वा तदह्ना च प्रासादं तु नयेत्ततः पूजयेत् पावकस्थन्तु गुरुः स्याद्भुक्तिमुक्तिकृत्

After bathing, the learned Brahmins and venerable elders should lift him (the consecrated fire/installed sacred element) onto the altar and set it in place. Having worshipped it, on that very day one should then take it into the temple (sanctum). One should worship the One established in the fire; such a guru becomes the bestower of both bhukti (worldly enjoyment) and mukti (liberation).