Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 57 — कुम्भाधिवासविधिः
Kumbhādhivāsa-vidhi: Rite of Installing/Consecrating the Ritual Jar
वामनं दिक्षु वाय्वादौ श्रीधरञ्च हृषीकपं पद्मनाभं दामोदरमैशान्यां स्नानमण्डपे
vāmanaṃ dikṣu vāyvādau śrīdharañca hṛṣīkapaṃ padmanābhaṃ dāmodaramaiśānyāṃ snānamaṇḍape
Dans le pavillon du bain (snāna-maṇḍapa), on doit assigner le nom de Vāmana aux directions en commençant par celle de Vāyu (nord-ouest), ainsi que Śrīdhara et Hṛṣīkeśa; et Padmanābha et Dāmodara dans la direction Īśāna (nord-est).
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Dik-nyāsa of Viṣṇu-nāmas within the snāna-maṇḍapa to sacralize directions before bathing/abhisheka rites.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Viṣṇu Nāma-Nyāsa in Snāna-maṇḍapa (Vāmana, Śrīdhara, Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha, Dāmodara)","lookup_keywords":["snāna-maṇḍapa","dik-nyāsa","Vāmana","Padmanābha","Dāmodara"],"quick_summary":"Assign specific Viṣṇu names to directions (starting from Vāyu/NW) and to Īśāna/NE within the bathing pavilion to prepare for ritual bathing and consecration."}
Concept: Nāma as presence: placing divine names into space (dik-nyāsa) transforms a pavilion into a consecrated field for purification.
Application: Use consistent directional nyāsa before snāna/abhisheka to maintain ritual focus and continuity across ceremonies.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Snana-maṇḍapa & Dikpāla/Viṣṇu-nāma-nyāsa)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a snāna-maṇḍapa, the officiant assigns Viṣṇu names to directions—beginning at the Vāyu quarter (NW) and culminating in Īśāna (NE) with Padmanābha and Dāmodara—preparing the space for bathing rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, pavilion with carved wooden beams, directional compass motif on floor, priest gesturing nyāsa to quarters, small symbolic depictions: Vāmana (dwarf), Padmanābha with lotus-navel, Dāmodara with waist cord; warm mineral pigments.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented snāna pavilion, gold-leaf accents on pillars and halos, five Viṣṇu name-forms arranged around a central ritual area, Īśāna corner emphasized with brighter gold and lotus motifs.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: labeled directions (Vāyu/NW, Īśāna/NE), neat depiction of pavilion plan, icons for each Viṣṇu name-form placed at their quarters, soft pastel washes and precise outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, architectural interior with geometric floor, the officiant pointing to corners as attendants hold ritual items, small cartouches naming Vāmana/Śrīdhara/Hṛṣīkeśa/Padmanābha/Dāmodara, fine detailing and border illumination."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional-devotional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: śrīdharañca → śrīdharam + ca; dāmodaramaiśānyām → dāmodaram + aiśānyām; snānamaṇḍape → snāna-maṇḍape.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 57.7-57.8 (snāna-maṇḍapa setup and kalaśa-sthāpana following nyāsa)
FAQs
It teaches directional assignment (dik-nyāsa) of specific Viṣṇu names within a snāna-maṇḍapa, mapping divine epithets to quarters (e.g., beginning with the Vāyu quarter and specifically the Īśāna quarter).
It blends liturgy (Viṣṇu-nāma usage) with spatial ritual design (maṇḍapa/dik-vinyāsa), illustrating how the Agni Purāṇa preserves both devotional theology and practical temple/ritual layout knowledge.
Correct directional invocation sanctifies the bathing space, supports ritual purity, and is believed to align the worshipper with auspicious cosmic order (ṛta), enhancing the merit (puṇya) of the rite.