Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 37
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
नेत्रोन्मीलनकं त्यक्ता पूर्वोक्तं सर्वमाचरेत् अधिवासयेच्च विधिना शय्यायां स्थाप्य देशिकः
netronmīlanakaṃ tyaktā pūrvoktaṃ sarvamācaret adhivāsayecca vidhinā śayyāyāṃ sthāpya deśikaḥ
En laissant de côté le rite de « l’ouverture des yeux » (netronmīlana), le maître officiant doit accomplir toutes les procédures énoncées précédemment ; puis, selon la règle, effectuer l’adhivāsana (repos consacratoire) après avoir placé (la divinité/l’image) sur le lit rituel.
Lord Agni (in dialogue, instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Guiding the officiant (deśika) in consecration sequence: omit netronmīlana, perform prior steps, then conduct adhivāsana by placing the image/deity on the ritual bed.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Adhivāsana on śayyā; omission of netronmīlana","lookup_keywords":["netronmīlana","adhivāsana","śayyā","deśika","pratiṣṭhā-krama"],"quick_summary":"Except for the eye-opening rite, complete the earlier procedures; then the officiating teacher places the deity/image on the ritual bed and performs adhivāsana according to rule."}
Concept: Ritual life-cycle of the icon: staged sanctification culminates in adhivāsana; selective omission (netronmīlana) indicates variant krama and contextual adaptability.
Application: In a given pratiṣṭhā-krama, follow the authorized sequence under a qualified deśika; perform śayyā-adhivāsana carefully as the stabilizing prelude to final rites.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Diksha & Pratishtha / Temple and Icon Ritual Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration pavilion where the deśika places the image on a decorated ritual bed (śayyā) and performs adhivāsana; attendants hold lamps and vessels; the ‘eye-opening’ rite is explicitly not shown, emphasizing omission.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, serene maṇḍapa interior, deśika placing icon on ornate śayyā, oil lamps, ritual pots, calm faces, flat vivid palette and temple motifs","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, icon on jeweled ritual bed with gold foil highlights, deśika performing rites with conch and lamp, rich textiles and ornamental borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear stepwise depiction: prior rites implied, focus on śayyā placement and adhivāsana gestures, soft colors, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed textiles of the ritual bed, priestly figures in precise postures, architectural pavilion with patterned floor, subdued sacred ambiance"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वमाचरेत् = सर्वम् + आचरेत्; अधिवासयेच्च = अधिवासयेत् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61.36 (adhivāsa and maṇḍapa rites); Agni Purana Puja-vidhi/pratiṣṭhā sections (netronmīlana and related saṃskāras, general)
FAQs
It teaches sequencing in image-consecration: omit the netronmīlana step at this point, complete the earlier rites, and then perform adhivāsana by placing the image/deity on the ritual śayyā under the deśika’s supervision.
It preserves a precise, manual-like protocol for pratiṣṭhā (installation/consecration), showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual technology—step order, specialist roles (deśika), and specific sub-rites (netronmīlana, adhivāsana).
Correct performance and order of consecration rites is held to ensure ritual purity and effective invocation of divine presence; adhering to vidhis is traditionally linked with merit (puṇya) and avoidance of doṣa (ritual fault).