Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
सकलं विन्यसेद्दण्डे सूत्रात्मानं सजीवकं निष्कलं परमात्मानं ध्वजे ध्यायन् न्यसेद्धरिं
sakalaṃ vinyaseddaṇḍe sūtrātmānaṃ sajīvakaṃ niṣkalaṃ paramātmānaṃ dhvaje dhyāyan nyaseddhariṃ
Qu’on installe la forme « manifeste » (sakala) dans la hampe de l’étendard, en contemplant le Sūtrātman pourvu de souffle vital ; et, méditant le Soi suprême « sans forme » (niṣkala), qu’on installe Hari dans l’étendard.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Dhvaja-pratiṣṭhā: install sakala aspect in the staff as Sūtrātman with life-force, and install niṣkala Paramātman as Hari in the banner for temple/festival protection and sovereignty symbolism.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dhvaja-pratiṣṭhā: Sakala Sūtrātman in Staff and Niṣkala Paramātman as Hari in Banner","lookup_keywords":["dhvaja-pratiṣṭhā","daṇḍa","sūtrātman","sakala-niṣkala","hari-nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Consecrate the banner-staff by installing the manifest life-bearing Sūtrātman, then meditate on the formless Supreme and install Hari in the banner, making the dhvaja a theological and protective emblem."}
Weapon Type: Dhvaja (banner) as martial/royal standard
Concept: Sakala–niṣkala theology: the same Supreme is approached as manifest (life-bearing cosmic thread) and unmanifest (formless Paramātman).
Application: In ritual and meditation, integrate form-based worship with formless contemplation to avoid reifying the symbol while still empowering it.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dhvaja-pratishtha and Murti-nyasa / Vaishnava ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: vīra
Type: Temple precinct / festival ground
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A tall banner-staff is being consecrated: the officiant touches the staff for sakala installation while contemplating the subtle Sūtrātman; then he installs Hari into the fluttering banner while meditating on the formless Supreme.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, towering dhvaja-stambha with fluttering cloth, priest performing nyāsa, subtle depiction of a luminous thread (sūtra) running through the staff, calm temple courtyard, stylized devotees.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, grand dhvaja with gold-highlighted banner, Hari’s emblem on cloth, embossed aureoles, priest with ritual vessels, rich gold work on staff finial and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear two-step instructional scene: hand on staff (sakala), then gesture toward banner (niṣkala contemplation), fine lines, soft colors, labeled elements.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-temple courtyard with standard raised, detailed textiles of banner, officiant and attendants, subtle haloed presence indicating Hari, architectural depth and patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Shankara","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: विन्यसेद्दण्डे = विन्यसेत् + दण्डे; न्यसेद्धरिं = न्यसेत् + हरिम्; ध्यायन् is present participle used with main verb.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61 (dhvaja-related pūjā and nyāsa); Agni Purana ritual chapters on pratiṣṭhā and homa (contextual)
FAQs
It teaches dhvaja/daṇḍa-nyāsa: ritually placing the manifest principle (sakala, animated Sūtrātman) into the banner-staff and installing Hari in the banner while contemplating the formless Supreme Self (niṣkala Paramātman).
Alongside theology (sakala/niṣkala, Paramātman), it gives a concrete temple-ritual protocol (nyāsa for banner and staff), showing how the text integrates metaphysics with applied liturgy and consecration practice.
By uniting meditative realization (niṣkala Paramātman) with precise ritual installation (nyāsa of Hari), the worshipper sacralizes the temple emblem and aligns personal devotion with the all-pervading divine presence, traditionally understood to purify and confer merit.