Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
हृषीकेशं दक्षिणायां पद्मनाभं तु गुल्फके दामोदरं पादयोश् च हृदयादिषडङ्गकं
hṛṣīkeśaṃ dakṣiṇāyāṃ padmanābhaṃ tu gulphake dāmodaraṃ pādayoś ca hṛdayādiṣaḍaṅgakaṃ
Par le nyāsa, qu’on place Hṛṣīkeśa du côté droit ; Padmanābha à la cheville ; et Dāmodara aux pieds. Ensuite, qu’on accomplisse la pose auxiliaire en six membres, commençant par le Cœur (hṛdaya-ādi ṣaḍ-aṅga).
Lord Agni (in dialogue instruction to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Completing Vishnu-nyasa with additional placements (Hrsikesha, Padmanabha, Damodara) and then performing hṛdaya-ādi ṣaḍaṅga (six ancillary limb mantras) to seal the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vishnu-nyasa with Hrsikesha–Padmanabha–Damodara and hṛdaya-ādi ṣaḍaṅga","lookup_keywords":["Hrsikesha","Padmanabha","Damodara","shadanganyasa","hṛdaya"],"quick_summary":"Place the specified Vishnu-names on right side/limb, ankle, and feet, then perform the standard sixfold ancillary nyasa beginning with the heart to complete mantra-anga sanctification."}
Concept: Ṣaḍaṅga as protective/empowering ‘seal’ (aṅga-samskara) that stabilizes mantra-siddhi and ritual integrity.
Application: After name-nyasa, apply the six ancillary placements (heart etc.) as a standardized closure before japa, dhyana, or archana.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa and Anga-devata placement in Vishnu worship)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Devotee touches right side, ankle, and feet while intoning Vishnu-names, then performs the sixfold heart-and-limbs nyasa as a protective circuit around the body.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sequential gesture depiction (right side, ankle, feet, then heart/head/topknot/armor/eyes/weapon), glowing aksharas ‘हृषीकेश’, ‘पद्मनाभ’, ‘दामोदर’, and six small yantric marks around the torso, temple interior ambiance","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold embossing, devotee in front of Vishnu altar, ornate borders, the sixfold nyasa shown as six golden emblems around the figure, inscriptions of the three Vishnu-names near limb points","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout: figure with numbered steps for placements, fine lines and soft colors, clear labeling of ṣaḍaṅga points, manuscript-like clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly atelier scene with a pandit instructing a disciple in nyasa, illustrated marginal notes showing the sixfold placements, delicate architecture and textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पादयोश् च → पादयोः + च (विसर्ग-सन्धि: ḥ + c → ś c); हृदयादिषडङ्गकम् → हृदयादि + षडङ्गकम् (समास/सन्धि)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59 (nyasa and aṅga-vinyasa instructions)
FAQs
It teaches a specific Viṣṇu-nyāsa sequence: assigning divine names to body points (right side, ankle, feet) and completing worship with the ṣaḍaṅga-nyāsa (heart and other protective/empowering limbs).
Beyond myth, it preserves hands-on liturgical technique—precise body-mantra mapping (nyāsa) and the standardized ṣaḍaṅga framework—showing the text’s coverage of practical ritual science alongside theology.
Nyāsa is intended to sacralize the practitioner’s body as a divine seat, concentrating attention and mantra-power; performed correctly, it is held to purify, protect, and make worship efficacious.