Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 36
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
अधिवासविधानेन चक्रं दण्डं ध्वजं तथा जिताः शक्त्यादिचिह्नितमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः जिताः शक्रादिचिह्नितमिति ग, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विम्बार्धमानं चक्रन्तु इति ख, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः विचित्रञ्चैव वर्णकमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः देववत् सकलं कृत्वा मण्डपस्नपनादिकं
adhivāsavidhānena cakraṃ daṇḍaṃ dhvajaṃ tathā jitāḥ śaktyādicihnitamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ jitāḥ śakrādicihnitamiti ga, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vimbārdhamānaṃ cakrantu iti kha, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ vicitrañcaiva varṇakamiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ devavat sakalaṃ kṛtvā maṇḍapasnapanādikaṃ
Selon la procédure d’adhivāsa (installation pré-consacratoire), on doit également mettre en place le disque (cakra), le bâton (daṇḍa) et l’étendard, marqués de l’emblème de la massue (gadā) et d’autres insignes (certains manuscrits : d’Indra et d’autres emblèmes). Le disque doit être fait à la moitié de la mesure de l’icône et peint de manière bigarrée. Après avoir tout disposé comme pour une divinité, on accomplira les rites du pavillon, tels que le bain cérémoniel (snāpana) et les observances connexes.
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, in the usual Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Pre-consecration (adhivāsa) installation of ritual emblems (cakra, daṇḍa, dhvaja) with specified markings and proportions, followed by maṇḍapa rites like ceremonial bathing.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Adhivāsa of cakra-daṇḍa-dhvaja and maṇḍapa-snapana","lookup_keywords":["adhivāsa","cakra","daṇḍa","dhvaja","maṇḍapa-snapana"],"quick_summary":"Install cakra, staff, and banner by adhivāsa, marked with prescribed insignia (gadā etc. / variant readings), make the cakra half the icon’s measure and variegated in color, then perform pavilion rites such as ceremonial bathing."}
Weapon Type: Cakra and gadā as insignia/weapons; daṇḍa as staff/standard element
Concept: Upacāra extends beyond the main icon: associated emblems are sacralized through adhivāsa and treated as devavat (as a deity).
Application: During pratishṭhā/utsava preparation, consecrate not only the image but also its insignia and implements; follow proportion rules to maintain śāstric integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mandapa-vidhi (Icon consecration and pavilion rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Inside a consecration pavilion, priests perform adhivāsa: placing a discus, staff, and banner marked with mace/other emblems; the discus is shown half the icon’s size and painted in variegated colors; then snāpana vessels are prepared for pavilion bathing rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, consecration maṇḍapa with hanging lamps, priests placing cakra-daṇḍa-dhvaja on ritual stands, variegated cakra, sacred vessels for snāpana, stylized icon nearby","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central icon with gold aura, adjacent cakra and dhvaja with gold borders, priests performing adhivāsa, snāpana pots and conch, rich ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional layout: icon with half-sized cakra beside it, labeled emblems on staff/banner, maṇḍapa pillars, sequence of rites suggested visually","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed pavilion interior, priests arranging emblems on stands, painted cakra with intricate patterning, attendants bringing water vessels for ceremonial bathing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: Verse text contains extensive critical apparatus/readings (जिताः… इति, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः) which are editorial notes; excluded from pada-analysis. विचित्रञ्चैव etc. are also marked as variant readings; main readable pāda analyzed: ‘अधिवासविधानेन… देववत् सकलं कृत्वा मण्डपस्नपनादिकम्’.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61.33-35 (dhvaja materials/measures); Agni Purana pratishṭhā/maṇḍapa-vidhi passages (within Puja-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It prescribes the adhivāsa (pre-consecration) setup of ritual insignia—cakra, daṇḍa, and dhvaja—specifying emblem-marking, proportional sizing of the cakra relative to the bimba (icon), and decorative colouring, followed by maṇḍapa rites such as snapana (ceremonial bathing).
It records practical temple-ritual engineering: iconographic standards (insignia and proportions), manuscript-aware variant readings, and stepwise pavilion procedures—showing the Agni Purana functioning as a manual of applied ritual, not only narrative theology.
By treating the ritual implements and the setup “devavat” (as divine) and completing snapana and allied purifications, the rite sacralizes the space and objects, aiming at ritual purity (śuddhi) and merit (puṇya) through correct consecration protocol.