Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 10
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
देवं निर्मार्ज्य निर्मञ्छ्य दुर्मित्रियेति विचक्षणः नेत्रे चोन्मीलयेच्चित्रं तच्चक्षुर्मधुरत्रयैः
devaṃ nirmārjya nirmañchya durmitriyeti vicakṣaṇaḥ netre conmīlayeccitraṃ taccakṣurmadhuratrayaiḥ
Après avoir essuyé et purifié l’image de la divinité, l’officiant avisé doit (réciter) le mantra commençant par « durmitriye », puis accomplir l’« ouverture des yeux » de l’effigie peinte ; ces yeux doivent être (touchés/animés) au moyen des « trois substances douces ».
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Deva-śuddhi (image cleansing) and netronmīlana (eye-opening) during prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā/arcana for a painted or newly prepared deity-image.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Deva-śuddhi and Netronmīlana with ‘durmitriye’ and madhura-traya","lookup_keywords":["netronmilana","deva-shuddhi","durmitriye mantra","madhura-traya","chitra-pratima"],"quick_summary":"Cleanse the deity-image with prescribed mantra, then ritually ‘open’ and activate the painted eyes, touching them with the three sweet substances to confer auspicious perception and presence."}
Concept: Ritual ‘animation’ proceeds from purification to sensory activation; the eyes symbolize awakened presence and reciprocal seeing (darśana).
Application: In consecrations, sequence matters: cleanse → mantra → netra-opening → auspicious dravya application; avoid skipping steps to maintain ritual integrity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Deva-shuddhi and Netra-unmīlana rites)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest carefully wipes a painted deity panel, then touches the eyes with a small golden stylus or fingertip dipped in three sweet substances, while reciting a mantra; attendants hold bowls of honey, ghee, and sugar/jaggery.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural style, large expressive painted deity face on panel, priest performing netronmīlana with delicate gesture, bowls of honey and ghee rendered in earthy tones, lamp-lit sanctum ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style with gold leaf halo around the painted deity, priest in foreground touching the eyes, ornate vessels for madhura-traya with gold highlights, rich temple décor","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional clarity: sequential vignette—(1) wiping/cleansing, (2) mantra recitation, (3) eye-opening touch with three sweet substances; clean borders and labels","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate atelier-like consecration scene, fine detailing of bowls and textiles, priest leaning toward painted icon, calligraphic mantra band ‘durmitriye…’"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चोन्मीलयेत् = च + उन्मीलयेत्; तच्चक्षुः = तत् + चक्षुः.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (pratimā-śuddhi, netra-vidhi, upacāra sequence); Agni Purana (Shilpa/pratimā-lakṣaṇa chapters, where netra and prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā are treated)
FAQs
It teaches deva-śuddhi (icon cleansing) followed by netra-unmīlana—the formal ritual ‘opening/activation’ of the deity’s eyes—using a protective mantra (“durmitriye…”) and the madhura-traya (three sweet offerings) as a consecratory substance.
By prescribing precise, step-by-step icon-ritual techniques (cleaning, mantra application, eye-opening, and specific ritual substances), it functions like a practical manual of temple procedure—one of the many applied disciplines (pūjā, prātiṣṭhā, mantra, dravya-vidhi) compiled within the Agni Purana.
Ritual purification and netra-unmīlana are understood to remove inauspicious influences and to ‘invite’ divine presence into the icon for worship, thereby making the offering efficacious and generating religious merit (puṇya) through properly sanctioned consecration.