Adhyaya 184: Installation of a Copper Icon (Tāmrārcā) and Its Consecratory Worship

Verse 1

अथ ताम्रार्चास्थापनम् ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ ताम्रेण प्रतिमां कृत्वा सुरूपां चैव भास्वराम् ॥ उचितेनोपचारेण वेश्ममध्यमुपानयेत्

Now, the installation of the copper icon. Śrī Varāha said: Having made an image of copper—well-formed and radiant—one should bring it to the middle of the house with appropriate ritual attendance.

Verse 2

ततो वेश्मन्युपागम्य स्थापयित्वा उदङ्मुखः ॥ चित्रायां चैव नक्षत्रे कुर्याच्चैवाधिवासनम्

Then, having come into the house and installed it while facing north, one should perform the consecratory adhivāsana when the lunar mansion is Citrā.

Verse 3

जलं च सर्वगन्धेन पञ्चगव्येन मिश्रितम् ॥ स्नापयेच्च ततो मां वै इमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत्

And with water mixed with all fragrances and with pañcagavya, one should then bathe me with it; and one should recite this mantra.

Verse 4

मन्त्रः— योऽसौ भवान्तिष्ठति सारभूतः त्वं ताम्रके तिष्ठसि नेत्रभूतः ॥ आगच्छ मूर्तौ सह पञ्चभूतैर्मया च पात्रैः सह विश्वधामन्

Mantra: “You who indeed stand as the essential reality—you stand in the copper (image) as the eye, the animating presence. Come into the form together with the five elements, O abode of the universe, along with me and with these vessels.”

Verse 5

अनेनैव तु मन्त्रेण स्थापयित्वा यशस्विनि ॥ पूर्वन्यायेन कर्तव्यमधिवासनपूजनम्

With this very mantra, having installed (the icon), O illustrious one, the adhivāsana and worship should be performed according to the earlier procedure.

Verse 6

व्यतीतायां च शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे ॥ ऋचा शुद्धिं विधायाथ स्नापयेन्मन्त्रपूर्वकम् ॥

When the night has passed and the sun has risen, having performed purification by means of a ṛc (a Vedic verse), one should then bathe the deity or installation with the prescribed mantras.

Verse 7

ब्राह्मणा वेदपाठांश्च कुर्युस्तत्र समागताः ॥ बहूनि मङ्गलान्यत्र मण्डपे स्थापयेत्ततः ॥

There, the assembled brāhmaṇas should perform Vedic recitations; then one should arrange many auspicious items in the maṇḍapa, the ritual pavilion.

Verse 8

सुगन्धद्रव्यसंयुक्तं जलं चादाय पूजकः ॥ ततो मे स्नपनं कार्यमिमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत् ॥

Taking water mixed with fragrant substances, the officiant should proceed to perform my bathing rite, and then recite this mantra.

Verse 9

मन्त्रः— ॐ योऽसौ भवान्सर्ववरः प्रभुश्च मायाबलो योगबलप्रधानः ॥ आगच्छ शीघ्रं च मम प्रियाय सन्तिष्ठ ताम्रेष्वपि लोकनाथ ॥

Mantra: Oṁ. You who bestow all boons and are the Lord—mighty through māyā, foremost in yogic power—come swiftly for my cherished rite; abide even within the copper vessels, O Lord of the world.

Verse 10

मन्त्रेणानेन मां स्थाप्य गन्धपुष्पादिदीपकैः ॥

Having established me with this mantra, one should worship with fragrances, flowers, lamps, and related offerings.

Verse 11

स्थापनामन्त्रः— ॐ प्रकाशप्रकाश जगत्प्रकाश विज्ञानमयानन्दमय त्रैलोक्यनाथात्रागच्छ इह सन्तिष्ठतां भवान्पुरुषोत्तम मामव इति ॥ अनेन स्थापनां कृत्वा मम शास्त्रानुसारतः ॥ शुक्लवस्त्रं समादाय इमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत् ॥

Sthāpana-mantra: Oṁ. O Radiance of radiance, Light of the world, formed of knowledge and bliss, Lord of the three worlds—come here; may you abide here. O Puruṣottama, protect me—thus. Having performed the establishment in accordance with my śāstra, taking a white garment one should recite this mantra.

Verse 12

मन्त्रः— ॐ शुद्धस्त्वमात्मा पुरुषः पुराणो जगत्सु तत्त्वं सुरलोकनाथ ॥ वस्त्राणि गृह्णीष्व मम प्रियाणि नमोऽस्तु तस्मै पुरुषोत्तमाय ॥

Mantra: Oṁ. You are the pure Ātman, the primordial Puruṣa; the principle within the worlds, O Lord of the divine realm. Accept these garments that are dear to me; homage be to that Puruṣottama.

Verse 13

वस्त्रैर्विभूषितं कृत्वा मम कर्मपरायणः ॥ यथान्यायेन मे शीघ्रमर्चनं तत्र कारयेत् ॥

Having adorned (the Lord) with garments, one devoted to my rite should then promptly have the worship (arcana) performed there according to proper rule.

Verse 14

अर्चनालङ्कृतं कृत्वा गन्धधूपादिभिः प्रभुम् ॥ सम्पूज्य विधिवन्मां तु नैवेद्यं परिकल्पयेत् ॥

Having duly adorned the Lord through worship with fragrance, incense, and the like, and having honored me according to rule, one should then arrange the food-offering (naivedya).

Verse 15

दत्त्वा स्वादु च नैवेद्यं शान्तिपाठं तु कारयेत् ॥ मन्त्रः— शान्तिर्भवतु देवानां विप्राणां शान्तिरुत्तमा ॥

Having offered the sweet food-offering (naivedya), one should then have the recitation of a peace-chant (śānti-pāṭha) performed: “May there be peace for the devas; supreme peace for the vipras (the learned).”

Verse 16

शान्तिर्भवतु राज्ञां च सराष्ट्राणां तथा विशाम् ॥ बालानां व्रीहिपण्यानां गर्भिणीनां च देहिनाम् ॥

May there be peace for kings, for entire realms, and likewise for the common people; peace also for children, for those who trade in rice and grain, and for pregnant women and all embodied beings.

Verse 17

शान्तिर्भवतु देवेश त्वत्प्रसादान्ममाखिला ॥ एवं शान्तिं पठित्वा तु ब्राह्मणांस्तत्र पूजयेत् ॥

O Lord of the gods, by your grace may complete peace be mine. Having thus recited the peace-invocation, one should then honor the brāhmaṇas there.

Verse 18

गुरुं भागवतं चैवमर्चयेच्च यथाविधि ॥ ब्राह्मणान्भोजयेत्तत्र यथोत्पन्नेन माधवि ॥

In this manner one should honor the guru and the devoted Vaiṣṇava according to proper rule; and there one should feed the brāhmaṇas with what has been duly obtained, O Mādhavī.

Verse 19

गुरुर्यस्य न तुष्टो वै तस्माद्दूरतरो ह्ययम् ॥ य एतेन विधानॆन कुर्यात्संस्थापनं मम ॥

For one whose guru is not truly satisfied, this rite is indeed far from fruition. But whoever performs my installation according to this procedure attains the intended result.

Verse 20

तारितं च कुलं तेन नवभिः सप्तविंशतिः ॥ एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे ताम्रार्चास्थापनं मम ॥

And by that act, a lineage is said to be carried across and benefited through twenty-seven and nine generations (that is, many). This, O fortunate one, is what I have explained to you regarding the installation of my copper image.

Verse 21

कथयिष्यामि ते ह्येवं कार्त्स्न्येन प्रतिमार्चनम् ॥ जलस्य बिन्दवो यावन्मम स्नाने च सुन्दरी ॥ तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि मम लोके महीयते ॥

I shall explain to you in full the worship of the image. O fair one, for as many drops of water as are used in my bathing, for that many thousands of years one is honored in my world.

Verse 22

ज्वलन पवनतुल्यावन भावन तपन श्वासन स्वयं तिष्ठ भगवन् पुरुषोत्तम ॐ ॥ इति ॥ ततो द्वारमुपागम्य वेश्म शीघ्रं प्रवेशयेत् ॥ आसने चापि मां स्थाप्य पूजयेद्भक्तिपूर्वकम् ॥

“(O Lord,) blazing; like the wind; protector; sustainer; heating; breathing—stand by yourself, O Bhagavan, Puruṣottama, Oṃ.” Thus. Then, approaching the doorway, one should quickly bring (the image) into the house; and placing me upon a seat, one should worship with devotion.

Verse 23

विशेषेण गुरुं पूज्य वस्त्रालङ्कारभोजनैः ॥ तेनाहं पूजितो भूमे सत्यमेतद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥

Especially, the guru should be honored with garments, adornments, and food. By honoring him, I am honored, O Earth; this I tell you truthfully.