Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 26
Chapter 64 — कूपादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
The Account of the Consecration of Wells and Other Water-Works
दशादिक्षु बलिं दद्यात् गन्धपुष्पादिनार्चयेत् प्रतिमां तु समुत्थाप्य मण्डले विन्यसेद् बुधः
daśādikṣu baliṃ dadyāt gandhapuṣpādinārcayet pratimāṃ tu samutthāpya maṇḍale vinyased budhaḥ
On doit offrir le bali aux dix directions et accomplir le culte avec pâte de santal, fleurs et autres offrandes ; puis, ayant soulevé l’icône, le sage la placera à sa juste position dans le maṇḍala rituel.
Lord Agni (traditionally instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s ritual sections)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Directional bali-offerings and maṇḍala-based installation (vinayāsa) of the icon during ritual worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Daśa-diśā bali and maṇḍala-pratiṣṭhā of the pratimā","lookup_keywords":["daśa-diśā bali","mandala vinnyasa","pratimā samutthāpya","gandha puṣpa arcana","pūjā-vidhi"],"quick_summary":"Offer bali in the ten directions, worship with standard upacāras (sandal, flowers), then lift and place the icon correctly within the ritual maṇḍala—linking spatial protection with installation."}
Concept: Ritual space is made complete by dik-bandhana (directional appeasement) and by establishing the deity’s presence through proper placement.
Application: Before installing the icon, perform bali to each direction (including zenith/nadir), then do upacāra-pūjā, then place the icon at the maṇḍala’s designated locus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mandala-pratishtha and Bali-offering rites)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala drawn on the ground; offerings placed at ten directional points; the priest worships with sandal and flowers, then carefully lifts an icon and sets it at the maṇḍala’s center or prescribed seat.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symmetrical maṇḍala with ten directional nodes, small bali heaps at each, priest with flower basket and sandal paste, icon being lifted with cloth-covered hands; strong geometry and sacred symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central deity icon with gold halo being installed on a lotus seat within a maṇḍala, directional offerings around, rich ornamentation, gold work on the maṇḍala borders and vessels.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: top-down view of maṇḍala with labeled ten directions, bali placements, priest placing pratimā at bindu; clean lines and muted colors.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard ritual with chalk maṇḍala, attendants holding trays of flowers and sandal, priest lifting a small icon, directional offerings arranged like compass points; fine architectural backdrop."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गन्धपुष्पादिनार्चयेत् = गन्धपुष्पादिना + अर्चयेत्; विन्यसेद् = विन्यसेत् (त्→द् before voiced consonant)
Related Themes: Agni Purana 64 (maṇḍala, bali, pratiṣṭhā instructions around this passage)
FAQs
It teaches a practical sequence in worship: offering bali to the ten directions, performing arcana with gandha and flowers, and then correctly placing the deity’s pratimā within the consecrated maṇḍala.
By preserving step-by-step procedural liturgy—directional offerings, standardized upacāras (gandha-puṣpa), and maṇḍala-based placement—the text functions as a manual of applied ritual technology alongside its many other subjects.
Directional bali and proper maṇḍala placement are meant to harmonize the ritual space, propitiate protective powers of the directions, remove obstacles, and ensure the worship yields purified and efficacious merit (puṇya).