Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 35
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
मधुसूदनकं पृष्ठे वामनं जठरे न्यसेत् कक्ष्यान्त्रिविक्रमं न्यस्य जङ्घायां श्रीधरं न्यसेत्
madhusūdanakaṃ pṛṣṭhe vāmanaṃ jaṭhare nyaset kakṣyāntrivikramaṃ nyasya jaṅghāyāṃ śrīdharaṃ nyaset
Par le nyāsa, qu’on place « Madhusūdana » sur le dos ; qu’on place « Vāmana » sur le ventre. Après avoir placé « Trivikrama » aux aisselles ou aux flancs, qu’on place « Śrīdhara » sur les jambes inférieures (tibias).
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Vishnu-puja nyasa: mentally/ritually placing specific Vishnu-names on body parts to sacralize the worshipper and align the body as a mantra-mandala before japa/archana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vishnu-nama-nyasa on back, belly, flanks, shanks (Madhusudana–Vamana–Trivikrama–Shridhara)","lookup_keywords":["nyasa","Madhusudana","Vamana","Trivikrama","Shridhara"],"quick_summary":"Assign these four Vishnu-epithets to specified limbs as part of preparatory nyasa; it stabilizes attention and establishes the body as the seat of the deity for subsequent worship."}
Concept: Deha as devata-adhishthana (body as locus of the deity) through nama-mantra vinyasa.
Application: Use limb-wise placement to reduce distraction and maintain a consistent internal map during puja and japa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Nyasa (Vishnu-mantra and deity-placement ritual)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A seated devotee performing Vishnu-nyasa, touching back, belly, side-flanks/armpits, and shanks while visualizing the corresponding Vishnu-names as luminous syllables.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet rich colors, seated bhakta with sacred thread, subtle hand-gestures touching limbs, glowing Sanskrit aksharas ‘मधुसूदन’, ‘वामन’, ‘त्रिविक्रम’, ‘श्रीधर’ hovering near back/belly/flanks/shanks, Vishnu aura in the background, ornamental borders","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-leaf halo and embossing, Vishnu’s presence implied behind the devotee, bright jewel tones, the four names inscribed in gold cartouches near the indicated limbs, temple lamp and lotus motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional diagram feel: human figure with labeled limb placements for the four Vishnu-names, muted palette with precise annotations, calm devotional setting","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, fine detailing, a yogin-devotee in a pavilion performing nyasa, attendants holding a manuscript, the four names written as calligraphic labels near the body parts, soft landscape background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कक्ष्यान्त्रिविक्रमम् → कक्ष्या + त्रिविक्रमम्; न्यस्य = नि+अस् धातोः क्त्वान्त; अन्यत्र स्पष्ट-सन्धि न्यूनम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59 (Puja-vidhi: nyasa/anga-vinyasa sequence)
FAQs
It teaches Vishnu-nyāsa (a tantric/ritual technique) where specific epithets of Viṣṇu are mentally installed on designated body parts to consecrate the practitioner before mantra-japa and worship.
Beyond mythology, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—precise body-mapping rules for nyāsa—showing its compendium-like coverage of applied ritual systems alongside theology.
Nyāsa sacralizes the body as a seat of the deity, supporting purity, concentration, and devotional alignment; it is traditionally held to enhance the efficacy (siddhi) of mantra practice and worship.