Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
न्यस्याभ्यर्च्य यथान्यायं श्रीसूक्तेन चतुर्मुखं दत्वा तु श्रीफलादीनि आचार्यादेस्तु दक्षिणां
nyasyābhyarcya yathānyāyaṃ śrīsūktena caturmukhaṃ datvā tu śrīphalādīni ācāryādestu dakṣiṇāṃ
Après avoir accompli le nyāsa puis l’adoration selon la règle prescrite, on doit vénérer le Quatre-Visages (Brahmā) au moyen du Śrī Sūkta. Ensuite, on offrira des fruits auspices (śrī-phala) et autres présents, et l’on donnera la dakṣiṇā (honoraire rituel) à l’ācārya officiant et aux autres.
Lord Agni (in narration to Sage Vasiṣṭha, Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Perform nyāsa and worship Brahmā (caturmukha) using Śrī Sūkta; then complete the rite with maṅgala offerings (śrī-phala etc.) and pay dakṣiṇā to the officiants.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa and arcana with Śrī Sūkta; maṅgala-dravya and dakṣiṇā","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","śrī sūkta","caturmukha brahmā","śrī-phala","dakṣiṇā"],"quick_summary":"Sanctify the body/rite through nyāsa, worship Brahmā with Śrī Sūkta as prescribed, offer auspicious fruits, and conclude by giving dakṣiṇā to the ācārya and assistants."}
Concept: Ritual merit is ethically completed by honoring teachers (dakṣiṇā) and maintaining prescribed order (nyāsa → arcana → offering → remuneration).
Application: Do not omit dakṣiṇā and maṅgala offerings; treat them as integral limbs (aṅgas) of the rite, not optional add-ons.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrī/Lakṣmī worship and dakṣiṇā procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: shrngara
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priest performing nyāsa gestures, then worshipping a four-faced Brahmā image with flowers while reciting Śrī Sūkta; offerings of coconuts/auspicious fruits arranged; the ācārya receiving dakṣiṇā from the patron.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, Brahmā with four faces seated on lotus, priest in nyāsa mudrā, Śrī Sūkta recitation implied by palm-leaf text, coconuts and fruits in offering trays, dakṣiṇā exchange scene.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, Brahmā caturmukha with gold halo, lavish gold-embossed offering plates with śrī-phala, patron presenting dakṣiṇā to ācārya, rich temple interior.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, stepwise instructional panels: nyāsa mudrās, Brahmā arcana, offering of fruits, dakṣiṇā to ācārya; clean composition and readable ritual sequence.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, Brahmā idol on pedestal, priest reciting from manuscript, trays of fruits, patron handing coins/cloth as dakṣiṇā, fine textile and architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यस्याभ्यर्च्य → न्यस्य + अभ्यर्च्य; यथान्यायं → यथा-न्यायम्; श्रीफलादीनि → श्रीफल-आदीनि; आचार्यादेस्तु → आचार्य-आदेः + तु.
Related Themes: Agni Purana mantra sections citing Śrī Sūkta usage; Agni Purana dāna/dakṣiṇā guidelines in ritual chapters
FAQs
It prescribes a sequence in worship: perform nyāsa, do proper arcana, recite/apply the Śrī Sūkta in worship of Caturmukha (Brahmā), then conclude with offerings (fruits, etc.) and dakṣiṇā to the officiants.
It functions as a compact ritual manual entry—codifying mantra-usage (Śrī Sūkta), liturgical actions (nyāsa, arcana), and social-ritual obligations (dakṣiṇā)—showing the text’s coverage of practical temple/household worship procedures.
Correct procedure (yathā-nyāya) and completion through offerings and dakṣiṇā are treated as essential for a rite’s wholeness, supporting purity of intent, proper reciprocity to teachers/priestly agents, and the accruing of merit (puṇya) from the worship.