Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
जीर्णोद्धारः (Jīrṇoddhāra) — Renovation and Ritual Handling of Defective Liṅgas and Old Shrines
ततो ऽन्यत्रापि संस्थाप्य विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा न्यूनादिदोषनाशार्थं कृत्वेति झ न्यूनादिदोषनाशाय हुत्वेति घ , ज च कर्तर्भोगवत इति ख , छ च त्याज्या पिण्डीति घ निम्नमित्यर्थमिति ज सन्त्याज्यमिति झ सुस्थितं दुस्थितं वापि शिवलिङ्गं न चालयेत्
tato 'nyatrāpi saṃsthāpya vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā nyūnādidoṣanāśārthaṃ kṛtveti jha nyūnādidoṣanāśāya hutveti gha , ja ca kartarbhogavata iti kha , cha ca tyājyā piṇḍīti gha nimnamityarthamiti ja santyājyamiti jha susthitaṃ dusthitaṃ vāpi śivaliṅgaṃ na cālayet
Ensuite, l’ayant rétabli en un autre lieu par l’acte prescrit par la règle rituelle, on doit accomplir l’opération liturgique afin de détruire les défauts tels que l’insuffisance (dans la procédure). Que le Śiva-liṅga soit bien placé ou mal placé, on ne doit pas déplacer (troubler) le Śiva-liṅga.
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Operational rule for temple priests: if relocation is required, re-establish by prescribed rite and perform doṣa-nāśa acts; otherwise do not disturb the liṅga even if placement seems imperfect, to avoid greater ritual fault.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Doṣa-nivāraṇa and the prohibition on moving the Śiva-liṅga","lookup_keywords":["doṣa-nāśa","nyūna-doṣa","punar-sthāpana","liṅga-calana-niṣedha","pratiṣṭhā"],"quick_summary":"When re स्थापना is undertaken, it must follow śāstric procedure with rites to remove deficiencies. As a governing rule, the Śiva-liṅga should not be moved—whether well-placed or ill-placed—except under properly authorized corrective protocol."}
Concept: Consecration creates a binding sacred status; casual alteration violates dharma. Correction is allowed only through rule-governed rites aimed at doṣa-removal.
Application: Create temple SOPs: movement/relocation requires authorization, śāstric consultation, and complete doṣa-nivāraṇa sequence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-linga Pratishtha & Dosha-nivarana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priests and trustees debate moving a liṅga; an ācārya stops them, pointing to śāstra, while a formal re-installation setup is prepared elsewhere with fire-altar for doṣa-nāśa rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet restrained: ācārya with palm-leaf text gestures ‘do not move’, attendants holding ropes halted, homa-kuṇḍa prepared in corner, warm lamp-lit palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva-liṅga radiant, gold-leaf on lamps and arch, ācārya in authoritative pose, ritual vessels and homa fire indicating sanctioned doṣa-nivāraṇa","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: two panels—(1) prohibition signified by ācārya stopping movement, (2) proper punar-sthāpana with homa for nyūna-doṣa removal, clear composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, council-like temple interior with priests and patrons, detailed manuscripts, a halted attempt to move the liṅga, nearby fire-altar and ritual implements, fine architectural detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tato 'nyatrāpi: tataḥ + anyatra + api (visarga→’ before vowel). bhavet-type sandhis not central here. śivaliṅgaṃ: śiva + liṅgam. na cālayet: na + cālayet. Several mid-line items (jha/gha/ja/kha/cha) are recensional markers from the provided text; treated as editorial indeclinables.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pratiṣṭhā-vidhi (installation rules); Agni Purana: Jīrṇoddhāra chapter (renovation protocol); Agni Purana: Śānti/prāyaścitta materials (defect-removal logic)
FAQs
It teaches liṅga-pratiṣṭhā protocol: if relocation/alternate placement is required, it must be done strictly by injunctions, with remedial rites to remove procedural deficiencies (nyūnādi-doṣa); additionally, it prohibits disturbing the Śiva-liṅga once set.
It preserves detailed, practice-oriented temple and domestic worship procedure—covering installation, fault-remediation, and handling of sacred icons—showing the Agni Purana’s breadth beyond mythology into applied ritual science (pūjā-vidhi).
Non-disturbance of the liṅga safeguards sanctity and ritual stability; prescribed remedial acts for omissions are framed as purification measures that prevent ritual defects from producing adverse karmic or spiritual outcomes.