Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 62 — Lakṣmīpratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ
The Procedure for Installing Lakṣmī
मण्डलस्नपनादिकमिति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः स्थापयेद्वरुणे घटानिति घ, ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः तन्म आवह इत्य् एवं प्रदद्यान्मधुरत्रयम् अश्वपूर्वेति पूर्वेण तां कुम्भेनाभिषेचयेत्
maṇḍalasnapanādikamiti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ sthāpayedvaruṇe ghaṭāniti gha, ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ tanma āvaha ity evaṃ pradadyānmadhuratrayam aśvapūrveti pūrveṇa tāṃ kumbhenābhiṣecayet
«(Accomplir) le bain du maṇḍala et les rites connexes»—ainsi lit le manuscrit marqué. «Il doit disposer les pots d’eau pour Varuṇa»—ainsi lisent les manuscrits marqués gha et ṅa. Ensuite, en récitant ainsi « tan ma āvaha », on offrira les « trois douceurs » (madhuratraya). Puis, selon le mantra précédent commençant par « aśvapūrva… », on le/la consacrera par l’abhiṣeka, en le/la baignant avec le kumbha (aiguière rituelle).
Lord Agni (narrating the ritual procedure, as customary in Agni Purana dialogues)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Kumbhābhiṣeka protocol: maṇḍala-snāna, placement of Varuṇa-kalaśas, mantra ‘tan ma āvaha’, offering madhuratraya, then abhiṣeka with the kumbha using the ‘aśvapūrva…’ mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Maṇḍala-snāna, Varuṇa-kalaśa-sthāpana, Madhuratraya and Kumbhābhiṣeka","lookup_keywords":["maṇḍala-snāna","varuṇa-ghaṭa","tan ma āvaha","madhuratraya","kumbhābhiṣeka"],"quick_summary":"Establish Varuṇa water-pots, invoke with ‘tan ma āvaha’, offer three sweet substances, and perform kumbha-abhiṣeka with the specified preceding mantra sequence."}
Dosha: Pitta
Concept: Order and correctness (krama) in mantra + dravya + kalaśa arrangement is itself the efficacy principle of abhiṣeka.
Application: Use a fixed sequence: maṇḍala-snāna → Varuṇa-kalaśa-sthāpana → āvāhana-mantra → madhuratraya → kumbhābhiṣeka.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Abhiṣeka-kalpa (Ritual bathing, kumbhābhiṣeka, maṇḍala-snāna)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala is drawn; multiple Varuṇa water-pots are placed; the priest chants ‘tan ma āvaha’, offers three sweet substances, then pours consecratory water from a kumbha over the deity/icon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, wide maṇḍala on floor with lotus geometry, rows of brass kalaśas labeled Varuṇa, priest offering small bowls of madhuratraya, abhiṣeka stream rendered as white-gold arcs, lamp glow and temple pillars.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central kumbha with gold embossing, deity under abhiṣeka stream, side panels showing three sweet offerings in ornate cups, heavy gold work on vessels and borders.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: maṇḍala grid, placement of Varuṇa-ghaṭas, sequence panels with mantra captions, delicate pastel palette and precise vessel detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly ritual hall, attendants carrying kalaśas, priest offering sweets, abhiṣeka from a decorated pitcher, intricate carpet-like maṇḍala and floral margins."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थापयेद्वरुणे = स्थापयेत् + वरुणे; तन्म आवह = तत् + म + आवह; इत्य् एवं = इति + एवम्; प्रदद्यान्मधुरत्रयम् = प्रदद्यात् + मधुरत्रयम् (त् + म → न्म); कुम्भेनाभिषेचयेत् = कुम्भेन + अभिषेचयेत्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: abhiṣeka-kalpa and kalaśa-sthāpana passages in the same pūjā-vidhi khanda; Agni Purāṇa: maṇḍala-lakṣaṇa/yantra and nyāsa-related instructions nearby
FAQs
It gives a step-sequence for consecration: establish Varuṇa water-pots, recite an invocation (‘tan ma āvaha’), offer madhuratraya (three sweet substances), and perform kumbhābhiṣeka using the specified preceding mantra (‘aśvapūrva…’).
It preserves practical liturgical details—mantra-cues, vessel placement (ghaṭa-sthāpana), and offering taxonomy (madhuratraya)—showing the text functions as a ritual handbook alongside its broader coverage of theology, polity, arts, and sciences.
The verse frames abhiṣeka as a purification-and-empowerment rite: invoking water-deity Varuṇa, offering sweet substances, and bathing with sanctified kumbha-water to confer ritual purity, auspiciousness, and eligibility for worship or installation.