Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 1
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
इत्य् आदिमहापुराणे आग्नेये वासुदेवप्रतिष्ठादिकथनं नाम षष्टितमो ऽध्यायः अथ एकषष्टितमो ऽध्यायः द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः भगवानुवाच वक्षे चावभृतस्नानं विष्णोर् नत्वेति होमयेत् एकाशीतिपदे कुम्भान् स्थाप्य संस्थापयेद्धरिं
ity ādimahāpurāṇe āgneye vāsudevapratiṣṭhādikathanaṃ nāma ṣaṣṭitamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha ekaṣaṣṭitamo 'dhyāyaḥ dvārapratiṣṭhādhvajārohāṇādividhiḥ bhagavānuvāca vakṣe cāvabhṛtasnānaṃ viṣṇor natveti homayet ekāśītipade kumbhān sthāpya saṃsthāpayeddhariṃ
Ainsi, dans l’Agni Purāṇa, s’achève le soixantième chapitre intitulé « Exposé de l’installation de Vāsudeva et des sujets connexes ». Commence maintenant le soixante et unième chapitre : « Règles pour l’installation du portail, l’élévation de l’étendard et d’autres rites ». Le Seigneur Bienheureux dit : « Je décrirai le bain purificateur conclusif (avabhṛtha-snānā). Qu’on accomplisse le homa avec la formule “s’étant incliné devant Viṣṇu”. Après avoir disposé les vases d’eau rituels (kumbha) aux quatre-vingt-une positions, qu’on installe Hari (Viṣṇu). »
Bhagavān (Lord Agni as the narrator of the Agni Purana)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Temple installation protocol: avabhṛtha-snānā (concluding purification), homa with Viṣṇu-vandana, and placement of 81 kumbhas as a mandalic grid for installing Hari.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Avabhṛtha-snānā and 81-kumbha installation grid for Hari","lookup_keywords":["avabhṛtha-snānā","homa","Viṣṇu-natvā","ekāśīti-pada","kumbha-sthāpana"],"quick_summary":"Conclude with a purification bath, perform homa after bowing to Viṣṇu, and establish 81 ritual pots in prescribed positions to complete Hari’s installation and related rites (gateway/flag context)."}
Concept: Purification and mandalic ordering of space as prerequisites for divine presence (āveśa/pratiṣṭhā).
Application: Use a standardized 9x9 (81) kumbha layout (as per paddhati) for systematic sanctification; treat avabhṛtha as closure and reset of ritual impurities.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratishtha-vidhi (Temple ritual installation; Dvara-pratishtha and Dhvaja-arohana)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple courtyard ritual: priests perform homa while 81 kumbhas are arranged in a precise grid; the concluding avabhṛtha bath is prepared; Hari’s installation is underway with gateway and flag elements implied.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, wide courtyard with 9x9 kumbha grid, homa fire at center, priests in white performing offerings, Viṣṇu icon in sanctum, lamps and banana stems, stylized geometry emphasized","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold accents on kumbhas and flagstaff, central homa with priest, Viṣṇu in sanctum niche, symmetrical 81-pot arrangement, rich reds/greens, ornate temple pillars","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: 81 kumbhas in neat squares, labels for positions, priest performing 'Viṣṇuṃ natvā' homa, avabhṛtha bath vessel at side, clean pastel palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bird’s-eye view of courtyard with precise grid of pots, detailed costumes and utensils, architectural depth, flagstaff and gateway visible, fine border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity ādi- = ity ādi-; ṣaṣṭitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = ṣaṣṭitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ; ekaṣaṣṭitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = ekaṣaṣṭitamaḥ adhyāyaḥ; vakṣe cāvabhṛta- = vakṣe ca avabhṛta-; viṣṇor natvā = viṣṇoḥ natvā; saṃsthāpayeddhariṃ = saṃsthāpayet harim.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 60 (Vāsudeva-pratiṣṭhā); Agni Purana 61 (dvāra-pratiṣṭhā, dhvaja-ārohaṇa, avabhṛtha)
FAQs
It outlines core steps of temple-consecration procedure: performing a Viṣṇu-oriented homa, arranging kumbhas in an 81-position ritual layout, and completing rites with avabhṛtha-snānā as part of dvara-pratiṣṭhā and dhvaja-ārohaṇa protocols.
It exemplifies the Agni Purāṇa’s practical manuals on architecture-linked worship (vāstu + pūjā-vidhi), giving procedural details—placements, offerings, and completion rites—typical of its broad coverage of ritual technology alongside theology.
The avabhṛtha-snānā and Viṣṇu-directed homa function as ritual completion and purification, aiming to remove impurities, finalize consecration merit (puṇya), and establish the deity’s presence (saṃsthāpana) in a ritually valid manner.