Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Pratiṣṭhā-Kalaśa-Śodhana-Ukti (Instruction on Purifying the Consecration Pitcher) — Chapter 85
प्रतिष्ठायां निविष्ठानि तत्त्वान्येतानि भावयेत् पञ्चविंशतिसङ्ख्यानि खादियान्ताक्षराणि च
pratiṣṭhāyāṃ niviṣṭhāni tattvānyetāni bhāvayet pañcaviṃśatisaṅkhyāni khādiyāntākṣarāṇi ca
Lors de la consécration (pratiṣṭhā), on doit méditer ces principes (tattvas) comme étant installés en ce lieu—au nombre de vingt-cinq—et aussi les syllabes commençant par « kha » et se terminant par « ya ».
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Cosmology","practical_application":"In icon-installation (pratiṣṭhā), perform tattva-bhāvanā: visualize the tattvas as ‘seated/installed’ in the locus (icon/altar/space), and coordinate them with the phonemic matrix (varṇa-mālā) from ‘kha’ to ‘ya’ for nyāsa and stabilization of the deity-seat.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pratiṣṭhā Bhāvanā: Installing 25 Tattvas and Varṇa-nyāsa (kha–ya)","lookup_keywords":["pratiṣṭhā","tattva-bhāvanā","pañcaviṃśati","varṇa-nyāsa","kha-ādi ya-anta"],"quick_summary":"During consecration, contemplate the full set of principles as present in the installation-site and align them with the phonemic series (kha…ya) for mantra-nyāsa, making the seat ritually complete."}
Concept: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: tattvas and phonemes are installable powers; the deity-seat is constituted through ordered principles and sound.
Application: In pratiṣṭhā/nyāsa, systematically place tattvas and varṇas (kha–ya) with focused bhāvanā to ‘animate’ and stabilize the consecrated locus.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratiṣṭhā-kalpa (Icon-installation and consecration ritual)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration scene: the priest meditatively ‘places’ tattvas into the installed icon/seat, while visualizing a garland of syllables from kha to ya encircling the deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sanctum-like setting, deity image on pedestal, priest performing nyāsa mudrās, luminous Sanskrit syllables (kha…ya) as a halo, earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, deity on ornate throne with gold foil, priest at side with ritual implements, syllabic halo (kha–ya) in stylized script, rich decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional depiction: numbered placements of tattvas on icon/āsana, syllable band labeled kha-to-ya, clean composition for pedagogy","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple interior, priest and assistants, floating calligraphic syllables forming an arch over the icon, fine textile and lamp details"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तत्त्वान्येतानि = तत्त्वानि + एतानि (इ/ए संयोगे य्-आगम); खादियान्ताक्षराणि = खादि-यान्त-अक्षराणि.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa ch. 85: tattva-mantra enumeration (85.2) as the content to be installed; Agni Purāṇa: nyāsa and mantra-śodhana discussions in adjacent ritual chapters
FAQs
It teaches tattva-nyāsa and varṇa/mātṛkā-nyāsa as part of pratiṣṭhā: mentally installing the 25 Sāṃkhya tattvas and a specified letter-series (kha-to-ya) into the deity/image or altar during consecration.
It blends metaphysics (Sāṃkhya’s 25 tattvas) with applied ritual technology (nyāsa using phonemic matrices), showing how the Agni Purana integrates philosophy, mantra-science, and temple praxis in a single procedural instruction.
By contemplating and installing tattvas and sacred phonemes during consecration, the practitioner sacralizes the image/space as a living seat of cosmic principles, aiming at purification, steadiness of worship, and the accrual of religious merit through correctly performed pratiṣṭhā.