Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 13
Chapter 47 — शालग्रामादिपूजाकथनं
Teaching the Worship of Śālagrāma and Related Sacred Forms
अष्टारमब्जं विलिखेत् गुर्वाद्यं पूर्ववद्यजयेत् चतुर्भिः पूर्ववद्यजेदिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गन्धाद्यैर् इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अष्टार्णेनासनं दत्वा तेनैव च शिलां न्यसेत् पूजयेद्दशधा तेन गायत्रीभ्यां जितं तथा
aṣṭāramabjaṃ vilikhet gurvādyaṃ pūrvavadyajayet caturbhiḥ pūrvavadyajediti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ gandhādyair iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ aṣṭārṇenāsanaṃ datvā tenaiva ca śilāṃ nyaset pūjayeddaśadhā tena gāyatrībhyāṃ jitaṃ tathā
On doit tracer un lotus à huit pétales (diagramme). En commençant par le Guru, on doit rendre le culte comme il a été prescrit auparavant; et, avec les quatre (éléments/parties), on doit adorer de la même manière antérieure (selon la leçon marquée du manuscrit). Avec des parfums et autres (selon la leçon marquée), après avoir offert l’āsana au moyen du mantra de huit syllabes, on doit placer la śilā (pierre sacrée) par ce même mantra. Ensuite, on doit adorer selon dix modes par ce (mantra); ainsi cela s’accomplit aussi par les deux Gāyatrī.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Draw an eight-petalled lotus yantra; perform guru-ādi worship and upacāras (including gandha etc. per variant reading); give āsana with the eight-syllable mantra, install the stone with the same, then perform tenfold worship and complete with the two Gāyatrīs.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṣṭadala-abja-yantra: Aṣṭākṣara-āsana, Śilā-nyāsa, Daśadhā-pūjā, Gāyatrī-samāpana","lookup_keywords":["aṣṭadala","aṣṭākṣara","śilā-nyāsa","daśadhā-pūjā","gāyatrī-dvaya"],"quick_summary":"Construct an eight-petalled lotus diagram, worship from the guru onward with standard offerings, seat and install the stone using the eight-syllable mantra, perform tenfold worship, and seal/complete with the two Gāyatrīs."}
Concept: Mantra as both seat (āsana) and installer (nyāsa): the same mantra establishes, sustains, and structures the worship through graded modes (daśadhā).
Application: In mantra-pūjā, keep one mantra as the operative core for āsana + installation + repeated upacāra cycles, then conclude with universal Vedic seals (Gāyatrī-dvaya).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Yantra-Mantra and Devata-nyasa ritual procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: Ritual space (yantra/maṇḍala-bhūmi)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A chalk-drawn eight-petalled lotus yantra on the floor; the guru-seat at the head; offerings of fragrance and flowers; a sacred stone placed on a small pedestal while the eight-syllable mantra is recited; tenfold worship sequence culminating in Gāyatrī recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, top-down aṣṭadala lotus yantra with bold petal shapes, priest offering gandha and flowers, sacred stone on pedestal, subtle mantra glyph motifs around petals, warm lamp-lit temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central eight-petalled lotus rendered with gold embossing, priest and altar with ornate vessels, sacred stone highlighted with gold halo effect, rich reds/greens, decorative borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional panel showing: draw aṣṭadala, guru-ādi worship, gandha offerings, aṣṭākṣara āsana, śilā-nyāsa, daśadhā pūjā steps, then Gāyatrī completion; fine lines and clear sequencing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, artisan-priest drawing an eight-petalled lotus on the floor, attendants holding perfume and flowers, stone icon placed carefully, manuscript with marginal notes indicating variant readings, intricate textiles and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अष्टारमब्जम् = अष्टारम् + अब्जम्; पूर्ववद्यजयेत् = पूर्ववत् + यजयेत्; गन्धाद्यैर् = गन्धाद्यैः; अष्टार्णेनासनम् = अष्टार्णेन + आसनम्; पूजयेद्दशधा = पूजयेत् + दशधा
Related Themes: Agni Purana 47 (pūrvavat instructions; earlier mention of Gāyatrī-dvaya and mudrā; sections on maṇḍala-lekhana and nyāsa)
FAQs
It teaches a concrete pūjā-sequence: draw an eight-petalled lotus yantra, worship starting from the guru-principle, offer scent and related upacāras, give an āsana using the eight-syllabled mantra, install the śilā with the same mantra, and complete a tenfold worship—also achievable through two Gāyatrī-mantras.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves a manual-style ritual technology—yantra-lekhana (diagram drawing), mantra-nyāsa (ritual placement/installation), and graded upacāra-pūjā—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy alongside theology.
By correctly combining yantra, mantra, and installation (nyāsa), the worship is said to be “accomplished” (jita)—i.e., made efficacious—supporting purification, steadiness of devotion, and the successful invocation/presencing of the deity in the ritual seat and icon.