Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 63 — सुदर्शनचक्रादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
Procedure for Consecrating the Sudarśana Discus and Other Divine Emblems
स्थापयेज्जलशय्यास्थं मत्स्यादींश्चावतारकान् सङ्कर्षणं विश्वरूपं लिङ्गं वै रुद्रमूर्तिकं
sthāpayejjalaśayyāsthaṃ matsyādīṃścāvatārakān saṅkarṣaṇaṃ viśvarūpaṃ liṅgaṃ vai rudramūrtikaṃ
On doit installer (l’image du) Seigneur reposant sur la couche des eaux (jalashayya), ainsi que les incarnations commençant par Matsya ; de même Saṅkarṣaṇa, la Forme universelle (Viśvarūpa) et, assurément, le Liṅga incarnant Rudra.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Specifies additional installable forms—Anantaśayana, avatāras, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa, and Rudra-liṅga—guiding multi-deity temple programs and icon sets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Installable forms: Jalāśayana, Matsyādi-avatāras, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa, Rudra-liṅga","lookup_keywords":["jalāśayana","matsya-avatāra","saṅkarṣaṇa","viśvarūpa","rudra-liṅga"],"quick_summary":"Along with Viṣṇu forms, one may install Anantaśayana (reclining on the waters), avatāras beginning with Matsya, Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa, and also a Rudra-embodying liṅga—indicating integrated Vaiṣṇava-Śaiva icon programs."}
Concept: Multiple divine manifestations (avatāra/vyūha/viśvarūpa) can be ritually stabilized in icons; liṅga is accepted as Rudra’s embodied sign.
Application: Temple planning: deciding subsidiary shrines and icon ensembles for festivals and daily pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Pratima-sthapana and Devata-pratishtha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple consecration tableau showing Anantaśayana on the cosmic waters, a row of avatāras starting with Matsya, Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa panels, and a Rudra-liṅga being installed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with central Anantaśayana on stylized waves; side register of Matsya and other avatāras; Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa as iconic panels; a liṅga with bilva leaves; bold sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold relief: reclining Viṣṇu on Śeṣa over blue waters; avatāra medallions; Viśvarūpa with radiating gold; Rudra-liṅga with ornate pedestal and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional montage: sequential avatāra icons labeled; schematic of reclining posture; separate panel for liṅga installation; clean composition and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a temple interior: artisans carry a liṅga; priests point to painted panels of Matsya and Viśvarūpa; Anantaśayana depicted on a hanging cloth; intricate architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sthāpayejjalaśayyāsthaṃ = sthāpayet jala-śayyā-stham; matsyādīṃścāvatārakān = matsya-ādīn ca avatārakān.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 63 (lists of deities/forms for installation)
FAQs
It gives a pratishtha (installation) directive: establish specific divine forms for worship—Viṣṇu as Jalaśayyā (reclining on cosmic waters), his avatāras like Matsya, the vyūha Saṅkarṣaṇa, the cosmic Viśvarūpa, and Śiva as the Rudra-form Liṅga.
It compresses multiple streams—Vaiṣṇava avatāra theology, Pāñcarātra-style vyūha (Saṅkarṣaṇa), Bhagavadgītā/epic cosmic form (Viśvarūpa), and Śaiva liṅga worship—into a single practical ritual instruction, showing the text’s wide ritual and iconographic coverage.
Installing and worshipping these sanctioned forms is treated as dharmic temple-service (arcana) that purifies the performer, stabilizes devotion through proper forms (mūrti/arcā), and harmonizes worship across major Puranic deities (Viṣṇu and Rudra).