Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 47 — शालग्रामादिपूजाकथनं
Teaching the Worship of Śālagrāma and Related Sacred Forms
आसनं द्वादशार्णेन तत्र स्थाप्य शिलां यजेत् अस्तेन च समस्तेन स्ववीजेन यजेत् क्रमात्
āsanaṃ dvādaśārṇena tatra sthāpya śilāṃ yajet astena ca samastena svavījena yajet kramāt
Après avoir établi l’āsana (siège rituel) au moyen du mantra à douze syllabes, on y installe la pierre sacrée et on la vénère. Ensuite, selon l’ordre prescrit, on accomplit le culte avec l’astra‑mantra, avec l’ensemble complet (des mantras) et avec son propre bīja‑mantra (mantra‑graine).
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-based installation and worship sequence: establish āsana with a twelve-syllabled mantra, install the śilā (sacred stone), then worship sequentially using astra-mantra, the full mantra-set, and one’s bīja for empowerment and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśākṣara-āsana and Śilā-sthāpana with Astra and Bīja worship","lookup_keywords":["dvādaśākṣara mantra","āsana sthāpana","śilā installation","astra mantra","bīja mantra"],"quick_summary":"Create the ritual seat with a twelve-syllable mantra, install the sacred stone, then proceed in order with astra-mantra (protective sealing), complete mantra set, and personal bīja to finalize empowerment."}
Concept: Mantra precedes and empowers form: āsana is mantra-made, the installed object becomes worship-worthy through ordered mantra application (astra → full set → bīja).
Application: In daily arcana, keep the sequence: seat-consecration, installation, protective astra, then main mantras, concluding with bīja for consolidation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-deity installation and worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest establishes an āsana marked by a twelve-syllable mantra, places a sacred stone on it, then performs protective astra gestures and subsequent mantra offerings, ending with bīja recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before a low altar, mantra-inscribed āsana cloth, dark stone (śilā) centered, dynamic protective astra gesture, subtle aura around the stone","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold halo around the installed śilā, mantra letters ornamenting the seat border, priest offering flowers and performing astra sealing, rich temple lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear step-by-step tableau: āsana with dvādaśākṣara, placement of śilā, then astra-mantra and bīja recitation, fine linework and instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine interior, calligraphic mantra on the seat cloth, polished stone emblem, priest and assistants with offerings, precise depiction of ritual sequence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थाप्य is gerund (ल्यप्) from √स्था; क्रमात् used adverbially ‘in sequence’. Some ritual terms (अस्त) are tradition-specific.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 47 (āsana, mantra-nyāsa, astra usage in pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-sequence: establish the āsana with a twelve-syllabled mantra, install the śilā, then worship using the astra-mantra (for protection/consecration), the full mantra-set, and finally the bīja-mantra.
By preserving a step-by-step liturgical protocol (mantra-nyāsa and pūjā-krama) alongside other disciplines, it shows the Agni Purana’s role as a practical manual of ritual technology within its broader encyclopedic coverage.
Performing installation and worship in the correct mantra-sequence is held to purify the rite, protect it from obstacles (via astra-mantra), and make the offering efficacious—thereby generating merit through properly ordered devotion and consecration.