Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 11
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
तत्कालपूजिताश् चैताः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः अथ शैलमयीं वक्ष्ये शिला यत्र च गृह्यते
tatkālapūjitāś caitāḥ sarvakāmaphalapradāḥ atha śailamayīṃ vakṣye śilā yatra ca gṛhyate
Et ces formes, lorsqu’elles sont adorées au moment prescrit, accordent le fruit de tous les désirs. À présent, je décrirai l’image de pierre : la sorte de roche d’où l’on doit choisir la pierre.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Guidance for timing and efficacy of worship, then transition into technical criteria for selecting stone for permanent icons.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Commentary","entry_title":"Kāla-pūjā-phala and śailamaya-pratimā: śilā-grahaṇa-prastāva","lookup_keywords":["kāla-pūjā","sarvakāma-phala","śailamaya pratimā","śilā-grahaṇa","pāṣāṇa-parīkṣā"],"quick_summary":"Timely worship of properly made images yields desired results; for durable icons, stone selection is crucial. The text now pivots to criteria for choosing the right rock."}
Concept: Kāla (proper timing) and vidhi (proper method) condition ritual fruit; material correctness is part of dhārmic procedure.
Application: Schedule worship according to prescribed times; for long-term installations, prioritize correct stone selection before carving.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Murti-pratishtha (Icon worship and material selection)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs timely worship before a newly made icon; beside him, a sthapati examines raw stone blocks, indicating the next step—selecting the proper rock for carving.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: split scene—left, pūjā at the right time with lamps and offerings; right, sthapati touching and inspecting stone, temple interior ambiance, flat stylization.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: worship scene with gold lamps and ornate altar; adjacent vignette of stone blocks and tools, gold accents on ritual items, rich decorative frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional narrative—captioned steps: (1) kāla-pūjā (2) śilā-grahaṇa; delicate figures, clear tool depiction, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed shrine room with priest offering flowers; in the courtyard, artisans inspect stone slabs with measuring cords; architectural perspective and fine textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: pūjitāś caitāḥ = pūjitāḥ + ca + etāḥ (visarga sandhi); sarvakāmaphalapradāḥ is a multi-member tatpuruṣa; gṛhyate is passive/ātmanepada usage of √grah.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 43 (pūjā-vidhi; śilā-parīkṣā sections following)
FAQs
It teaches that worship performed at the prescribed time yields comprehensive desired results, and it introduces the technical topic of selecting suitable stone for crafting a stone icon.
It shifts from general worship-fruit doctrine to a practical, craft-oriented manual topic—materials and sourcing for icons—showing the text’s coverage of ritual, temple arts, and applied sacred technology.
It emphasizes that properly timed worship is karmically efficacious (yielding desired fruits) and that correct material selection for an icon supports purity and suitability for sacred installation and devotion.