Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 62 — Lakṣmīpratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ
The Procedure for Installing Lakṣmī
कामोस्मितेति याम्येन पश्चिमेनाभिषेचयेत् चन्द्रं प्रभासामुच्चार्यादित्यवर्णेति चोत्तरात्
kāmosmiteti yāmyena paścimenābhiṣecayet candraṃ prabhāsāmuccāryādityavarṇeti cottarāt
En récitant le mantra « kāmosmi », on aspergera l’eau de consécration depuis le sud et depuis l’ouest. En prononçant « candraṃ prabhāsām » ainsi que « ādityavarṇa », on aspergera depuis le nord.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Directional abhiṣeka/nyāsa: sprinkle consecratory water while uttering specific mantras aligned to south, west, and north to complete dik-bandhana and energize the rite.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dik-mantra Abhiṣeka: ‘kāmosmi’, ‘candraṃ prabhāsām’, ‘ādityavarṇa’","lookup_keywords":["dik-abhiṣeka","kāmosmi mantra","candraṃ prabhāsām","ādityavarṇa","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Use prescribed mantras while sprinkling from designated directions, integrating cosmic luminaries (moon/sun) symbolism into consecration."}
Concept: Ritual space is cosmically structured; mantras ‘install’ qualities (kāma/saumya/tejas) through directional acts.
Application: Maintain correct orientation and mantra-utterance while sprinkling to avoid ritual ‘doṣa’ (procedural fault).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Abhisheka-Mantra & Dikpala-nyasa style ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"The officiant stands by the icon, turning to south and west while sprinkling water with ‘kāmosmi’, then faces north chanting lunar and solar epithets, tracing a protective directional circuit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with kuśa/flower sprinkler, three directional poses around the deity, subtle moon and sun discs painted in corners, sanctum lamps and deep shadows.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, deity centered with gold halo, priest at three positions indicated by compass motifs, gold-embossed sun and moon emblems, sparkling abhiṣeka droplets.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional plate: compass rose, arrows to south/west/north with mantra captions, priest sprinkling in each direction, clean architectural interior lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard with compass-like layout, priest moving along edges, attendants holding kumbha, small sun/moon medallions in border."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कामोस्मि = कामः + अस्मि (विसर्ग-लोप); पश्चिमेनाभिषेचयेत् = पश्चिमेन + अभिषेचयेत्; प्रभासामुच्चार्य = प्रभासाम् + उच्चार्य; चोत्तरात् = च + उत्तरात्
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa: dikpāla-nyāsa and abhiṣeka-mantra sequences in this section; Agni Purāṇa: mantra-lakṣaṇa and nyāsa discussions elsewhere in ritual chapters
FAQs
It teaches a direction-specific abhiṣeka (consecratory sprinkling) procedure where particular mantras—“kāmo’smi”, “candraṃ prabhāsām”, and “ādityavarṇa”—are recited while sprinkling from specified quarters.
Beyond mythic narration, it preserves precise liturgical micro-instructions (dik-based sequencing and mantra-application), exemplifying the Agni Purāṇa’s handbook-like coverage of practical temple and domestic worship procedures.
Directional abhiṣeka with deity-linked mantras is intended to purify and ritually “seal” the rite in all quarters, invoking auspicious lunar-solar radiance and harmonizing the practitioner’s space for merit (puṇya) and protection.