Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
बलिं दत्वा कर्मशस्त्रं टङ्कादिकमथार्चयेत् हुत्वाथ शालितोयेन अस्त्रेण प्रोक्षयेच्छिलां
baliṃ datvā karmaśastraṃ ṭaṅkādikamathārcayet hutvātha śālitoyena astreṇa prokṣayecchilāṃ
Après avoir d’abord offert le bali (oblation rituelle), on doit ensuite vénérer les instruments de travail—tel le ciseau et les autres. Puis, après l’offrande au feu, on aspergera la pierre d’eau de riz en récitant l’Astra-mantra, afin de la consacrer.
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Consecration workflow for sacred construction/image-making: bali offering, worship of tools (chisel etc.), homa, and purification of stone by rice-water sprinkling empowered by Astra-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karma-śastra-pūjā & Śilā-prokṣaṇa with Astra-mantra","lookup_keywords":["bali","ṭaṅka (chisel)","karmāyudha-pūjā","astra-mantra","śāli-toya prokṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Before working the stone, offer bali, worship the tools, perform homa, then sprinkle the stone with rice-water while applying the Astra-mantra—ritually purifying and authorizing the craft action."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric weapon principle)
Concept: Karma-śuddhi through mantra and upacāra: tools and materials become fit (yogya) for sacred purpose by worship and mantric protection.
Application: Adopt a disciplined pre-work rite: honor instruments, perform offerings, and ritually purify materials to reduce errors, accidents, and ritual impurity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-vidhi (Ritual procedure for consecration and tool-worship; purification by astric sprinkling)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration scene: bali offering placed, artisans’ tools (chisel, hammer) arranged and worshiped with flowers; homa fire burning; a priest sprinkles rice-water on a large stone while reciting Astra-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest with kamaṇḍalu sprinkling śāli-toya on a stone, tools laid on a cloth with flowers, homa fire to the side, stylized mantra aura around the stone, warm earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted tools and vessels, priest mid-sprinkle, radiant aura around stone indicating Astra-mantra, ornate borders, deep reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic layout—bali plate, tool-pūjā arrangement, homa kuṇḍa, and prokṣaṇa action; fine lines, labeled feel, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed workshop-ritual fusion, artisans and priest, precise depiction of chisel set, rice-water sprinkling captured mid-air, architectural interior with patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṭaṅkādikamathārcayet = ṭaṅka-ādikam atha arcayet; hutvātha = hutvā atha; prokṣayecchilām = prokṣayet śilām (t + ś → cch by sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi/pratiṣṭhā sequences around tool worship and prokṣaṇa; Agni Purana mantra sections describing protective mantras (astra-related)
FAQs
It teaches a consecration sequence: offer bali, worship the work-implements (like chisels), perform homa, and then ritually purify/consecrate the stone by prokṣaṇa (sprinkling) with rice-water empowered by the Astra-mantra.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical ritual-technology: procedures for sanctifying materials and tools used in construction/installation, integrating mantra, homa, and purity-rites—showing the text’s coverage of applied disciplines such as Vāstu and temple praxis.
By worshipping tools and sanctifying the stone through homa and astric sprinkling, the act of construction/installation is converted into a dharmic, purified undertaking—minimizing ritual impurity and aligning the work with protective and merit-generating rites.