Adhyaya 185: Installation of a Bronze (Kāṁsya) Icon (Arcā)

Verse 1

अथ कांस्यार्चास्थापनम् ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ कांस्येन प्रतिमां कृत्वा सुरूपां सुप्रतिष्ठिताम् ॥ सर्वाङ्गावयवैर्युक्तां विमलां कर्मनिर्मिताम् ॥

Now, the installation of a bronze/brass image. Śrī Varāha said: Having made an image in bronze—well-formed and well-prepared for establishment—endowed with all limbs and sub-limbs, flawless, and fashioned by skilled workmanship—

Verse 2

ज्येष्ठायां चैव नक्षत्रे मम वेश्मन्युपानयेत् ॥ गीतवादित्रशब्देन बहुभिर्मङ्गलैस्तथा ॥

And at the Jyeṣṭhā nakṣatra, one should bring it into my shrine/house, accompanied by the sound of singing and musical instruments, and by many auspicious rites and signs.

Verse 3

अर्घ्यं गृहीय यथान्यायमिमं मन्त्रं उदाहरेत् ।

Having taken the arghya-offering in the prescribed manner, one should then recite this mantra.

Verse 4

योऽसौ भवान् सर्वयज्ञेषु पूज्यो ध्येयो गोप्ता विश्वकामो महात्मा ॥ प्रसन्नात्मा भगवान् मे प्रसन्नः सुपूजितस्तिष्ठ हि लोकनाथ ।

You—worthy of worship in all sacrifices, to be meditated upon, the protector, the fulfiller of all aims, the great-souled one—may the Blessed Lord, serene in Himself, be gracious to me. O Lord of the world, having been duly worshipped, remain here.

Verse 5

अर्घ्यं दत्त्वा यथान्यायं स्थापयेत् तदुदङ्मुखः ॥ यथान्यायेन संस्थाप्य कुर्याच्चैवाधिवासनम् ।

After offering the arghya in the proper manner, facing north, one should establish it. Having duly set it in place, one should then perform the rite of consecratory ‘dwelling’ (ādhivāsana).

Verse 6

चतुरः कलशांश्चैव पञ्चगव्यसमन्वितान् ॥ सर्वगन्धैश्च लाजैश्च मधुना च विशेषतः ।

And one should also prepare four jars (kalaśas) furnished with pañcagavya, with all fragrant substances, with parched grains (lāja), and especially with honey.

Verse 7

चतुरः कलशान् पूर्य स्नानार्थं मे समन्त्रकम् ॥ ततश्चास्तंगते सूर्ये शुद्धैर्भागवतैः सह ।

Filling four jars for my bathing, together with the appropriate mantras—then, when the sun has set, along with purified Bhāgavata devotees, one should proceed (with the rite).

Verse 8

कुर्यात् संस्थापनं तत्र ममार्चायास्तु पूजकः ॥ गृहीत्वा कलशांस्तत्र शुद्धान् भागवतांस्तथा ।

There the officiant should perform the establishment and consecratory installation of my sacred icon (arcā). Having taken the purified jars there, and likewise assembling the purified Bhāgavatas, he should proceed.

Verse 9

नमो नारायणायेति उक्त्वा मन्त्रं उदाहरेत् ।

Having said, “Namo Nārāyaṇāya” (“Homage to Nārāyaṇa”), one should then pronounce the mantra.

Verse 10

विकार अविकार अकार सकार शकार षकार स्वच्छन्दरूपः क्षरमक्षरं धृतिरूपः अरूपमिति नमः पुरुषोत्तमायेति ॥ व्यतीतायां तु शर्वर्यामुदिते च दिवाकरे ॥ अश्वेन च मुहूर्तेन प्राप्ते मूलेषु चोत्तरे ।

“(You are) transformation and non-transformation; the syllables a, sa, śa, ṣa; of self-willed form; the perishable and the imperishable; of the form of steadfastness; formless”—thus: “Homage to Puruṣottama, the Supreme Person.” And when the night has passed and the sun has risen, and when the muhūrta called Aśvina has arrived, (with the moon) in Mūla and in the northern sector…

Verse 11

पूर्वोक्तेषु विधानेन मम शास्त्रानुदर्शिनाम् ॥ स्थापयेद्द्वारमूले तु मम वेष्मनि सुन्दरि ।

According to the procedure stated earlier, for those who follow my teachings, one should establish (it) at the base of the doorway in my shrine, O fair one.

Verse 12

सर्वशान्त्युदकं गृहीय सर्वगन्धफलानि च ॥ नमो नारायणायेति उक्त्वा मन्त्रं उदाहरेत् ।

Having taken the śāntyudaka, the water of universal appeasement, and all fragrant substances and fruits, and having said “Namo Nārāyaṇāya” (“Homage to Nārāyaṇa”), one should then pronounce the mantra.

Verse 13

मन्त्रः— ॐ इन्द्रो भवान् त्वं च यमः कुबेरो जलेश्वरः सोमबृहस्पती च॥ शुक्रः शनैश्चरबुधौ सह सैहिकेयकेतू रविश्चैव धरात्मजस्त्वम्॥

Mantra: “Oṁ—You are Indra, and also Yama, Kubera, the Lord of waters; you are Soma and Bṛhaspati. You are Śukra; and Śanaiścara and Budha, together with Rāhu and Ketu; and you are Ravi (the Sun) and the son of the Earth (Maṅgala).”

Verse 14

तथैव सर्वौषधयो जलानि वायुः च पृथ्वी च स वायुसारथिः॥ नागाः सयक्षाश्च दिशश्च सर्वास्तस्मै नमस्ते पुरुषोत्तमाय इति॥

“Likewise: all medicinal plants, the waters, the wind, and the earth—and he who has the wind as his charioteer; the nāgas, the yakṣas, and all the directions—obeisance to him, to Puruṣottama.”

Verse 15

अनेनैव तु मन्त्रेण कृत्वा कर्म सुपुष्कलम्॥ मम तां प्रतिमां गृह्य ततो वेश्मन्युपानयेत्॥

“By this very mantra, having performed the rite in full measure, one should take my image and then bring it into the residence (sanctified space).”

Verse 16

एकान्ते स्नापयेन मां च जलैः पूर्वाभिमन्त्रितैः॥ प्रगृह्य कलशेभ्यश्च जलं गन्धसमन्वितम्॥

“In a secluded place, one should bathe me with waters previously consecrated by mantra; taking water from the pitchers as well, water endowed with fragrance.”

Verse 17

गात्रसंशोधनार्थाय इमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत्॥

“For the purpose of purifying the limbs, one should recite this mantra.”

Verse 18

मन्त्रः— सरांसि ये ते च समस्तसागराः नद्यश्च तीर्थानि च पुष्कराणि॥ आयान्तु तान्येव तव प्रसादाच्छुद्ध्यै च मे स्युः पुरुषोत्तमाय इति॥

Mantra: “May those lakes, all the oceans, the rivers, the sacred fords (tīrthas), and the puṣkaras (sacred lotus-pools) come here by Your grace; and may they become for me the means of purification. Salutation to Puruṣottama.”

Verse 19

गन्धधूपादिभिश्चैव यथाविभवशक्तितः॥ पश्चाद्वस्त्राणि मे दद्यान्मम गात्रसुखानि च॥

“With perfumes, incense, and the like, according to one’s means and ability; thereafter one should offer garments to Me—garments that are pleasing to the body.”

Verse 20

तान्यानयित्वा वस्त्राणि ममाग्रे स्थापयेन्नरः॥ उभौ तौ चरणौ नत्वा इमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत्॥

“Having brought those garments, one should place them before Me; having bowed to those two feet, one should recite this mantra.”

Verse 21

मन्त्रः— वस्त्राणि देवेन्द्र मया हृतानि सूक्ष्माणि सौम्यानि सुखावहानि॥ गात्रस्य सन्तुष्टिकराणि तुभ्यं गृह्णीष्व देवेश सुलोकनाथ॥

Mantra: “O Devendra, I have brought garments—fine, gentle, and comfort-bestowing. Accept them, O Lord of the gods, O guardian of the good worlds; they are for the body’s satisfaction and ease.”

Verse 22

वेदोपवेद ऋग्वेद यजुर्वेद सामवेद अथर्वणवेद संस्तुत इति नमः परम्परायेति॥ अर्चितालङ्कृतं कृत्वा पूर्वन्यायेन सुन्दरी॥ पश्चान्मे प्रापणं दद्यान्मन्त्रवद्विधिपूर्वकम्॥

“‘Praised by the Vedas and the subsidiary disciplines (Upavedas)—the Ṛgveda, Yajurveda, Sāmaveda, and Atharvaveda’: thus one says, ‘salutation to the paramparā (sacred tradition).’ Having worshipped and adorned (the image) according to the prior procedure, O fair one, thereafter one should present to Me the concluding offering (prāpaṇa), with mantra and in accordance with the prescribed rule.”

Verse 23

दत्त्वा प्रापणकं तत्र दद्यादाचमनं ततः ॥ शान्तिपाठश्च वै कार्यो मन्त्रेणानेन सुन्दरि

Having offered the oblation there, one should then give water for ācamana (ritual sipping). After that, O fair one, a śānti-pāṭha—recitation for pacification—should indeed be performed with this mantra.

Verse 24

विद्याः सर्वे ब्रह्म च ब्राह्मणाश्च ग्रहाः सर्वे सरितः सागराश्च ॥ इन्द्राद्यष्टौ लोकपालाश्च सर्वे पूर्वोक्ता ये सर्वशान्तिं च कुर्युः

May all branches of sacred knowledge, Brahman, and the brāhmaṇas; may all the planets, the rivers, and the oceans; and may all the guardians of the worlds—Indra and the other seven—previously mentioned, bring about complete pacification and universal well-being.

Verse 25

आयाम यम कामदम वाम ॐ नमः पुरुषोत्तमायेति सूत्रम् ॥ वृत्तेष्वेवोपचारेषु मम कुर्यात्प्रदक्षिणम् ॥ अभिवादनं स्तुतिं चापि कृत्वा भागवतांश्छुचीन्

“Āyāma, yama, kāmadama, vāma; Oṃ—obeisance to Puruṣottama”: such is the formula. In the prescribed rounds of service, one should perform pradakṣiṇa (circumambulation) around me; and, having offered respectful salutations and praise, one should honor the Lord’s pure devotees.

Verse 26

सम्पूज्य ब्राह्मणान्पश्चाद्भोजयेत् पायसादिभिः ॥ तेभ्यः शान्त्युदकं गृह्य द्विजेभ्यः कमलेक्षणे

After duly honoring the brāhmaṇas, one should then feed them with pāyasa (rice-milk) and similar foods. Having received from them śānti-udaka, water for pacification, O lotus-eyed one, it is to be obtained from the twice-born (dvija).

Verse 27

दद्यादभ्युक्षणं मह्यं तेनाहं पूजितोऽभवम् ॥ सर्वान्विसर्जयित्वा तु कुर्याद्वै गुरुपूजनम्

One should sprinkle consecrated water upon me; by that I become honored. Then, having respectfully dismissed everyone, one should indeed perform veneration of the teacher (gurupūjana).

Verse 28

तेनाहं पूजितो देवि एवमेतन्न संशयः ॥ ब्राह्मणान्मम भक्तांश्च गुरूंश्चैव हि निन्दति

By that I am honored, O Goddess—so it is, without doubt. But one who reviles brāhmaṇas, my devotees, and teachers indeed acts contrary to this discipline.

Verse 29

नाशयिष्यामि तं देवि सत्यं मतेद्ब्रवीमि ते ॥ जलस्य बिन्दवो यावन्मम गात्रेषु तिष्ठति

I shall destroy him, O Goddess—this truth, as I understand it, I declare to you—as long as the drops of water remain upon my limbs.

Verse 30

तावद्वर्षसहस्राणि मम लोकेषु तिष्ठति ॥ य एतेन विधानेन स्थापयिष्यति मां नरः

For that many thousands of years he remains in my worlds—the man who, by this prescribed procedure, will establish me in the rite.

Verse 31

तारितं च कुलं तेन पितृजं मातृजं तथा ॥ एतत्ते कथितं भद्रे कांस्येन स्थापनं मम

And by him that lineage is carried across and benefited—both the paternal and the maternal. This, O auspicious one, I have told you: my establishment using bell-metal (kāṃsya).

Verse 32

कथयिष्यामि ते ह्येवं रौप्येण स्थापनं मम

And now, indeed, I shall explain to you in this manner my installation using silver.

Verse 33

मन्त्रः— आदिर्भवान्ब्रह्मयुगान्तकल्पः सर्वेषु कालेष्वपि कल्पभूतः ।। एको भवान्नास्ति कश्चिद्द्वितीय उपागतस्तिष्ठ हि लोकनाथ ॥

Mantra: “You are the Primordial One, the aeon that marks the end of Brahmā’s age; in every time you are the very foundation of the cosmic cycle. You alone are the One—there is no second. Having drawn near, remain here, O Lord of the worlds.”

Verse 34

एवं मां स्नाप्य विधिना मम कर्मानुसारिणः ।। एवं न्यायेन मां तत्र अर्चयित्वा यथोचितम् ॥

“Thus, having bathed me according to proper procedure, and acting in accordance with the prescribed rite; thus, by the proper method, having worshipped me there as is appropriate.”

Verse 35

अङ्गुलीयकवासोभिर्दानसम्माननादिभिः ।। यो गुरुं पूजयेद्भूमे भक्तियुक्तेन चेतसा ॥

“With rings, garments, and with gifts and honors and the like—whoever worships the teacher on earth with a mind endowed with devotion …”