Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 46
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
प्रतितत्त्वं न्यसेदष्टौ मूर्तीः प्रतिशिलां शिलां सर्वं पशुपतिं चोग्रं रुद्रं भवमथेश्वरं
pratitattvaṃ nyasedaṣṭau mūrtīḥ pratiśilāṃ śilāṃ sarvaṃ paśupatiṃ cograṃ rudraṃ bhavamatheśvaraṃ
Pour chaque tattva, on doit accomplir le nyāsa des huit mūrtis; et, sur chaque pierre (ou pierre-iconique), on doit installer (invoquer) Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Rudra, Bhava et Īśvara.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Combines tattva-nyāsa with installation of Rudra’s forms on stones/icons, supporting linga/śilā-based worship and consecration-like practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa of eight mūrtis per tattva; installation of Rudra forms on śilā","lookup_keywords":["ashta-murti","rudra","pashupati","shila","linga-nyasa"],"quick_summary":"For each tattva, place the eight mūrtis through nyāsa; on each worship-stone/icon, install Rudra’s named forms such as Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Rudra, Bhava, and Īśvara."}
Concept: The one Rudra is approached through many functional names and mūrti-aspects; tattva-purification is paired with concrete icon/stone installation to unify inner and outer worship.
Application: In linga/śilā pūjā, assign each stone/segment a Rudra-name; perform nyāsa of aṣṭa-mūrtis per tattva before offering upacāras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Rudra/Pashupata-linga-nyasa and iconographic installation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Multiple sacred stones arranged on a ritual platform; the officiant touches each stone while invoking Rudra’s forms; behind, a cosmic diagram of eight mūrtis (earth, water, fire, wind, ether, sun, moon, yajamāna) radiates outward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, row of śilās on a pedestal, priest performing nyāsa, above each stone a stylized Rudra-form label (Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, etc.), background with aṣṭamūrti cosmic symbols, bold lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, consecration scene with stone-linga forms, gold-leaf halos for Rudra aspects, ornate pedestal and lamps, rich temple décor, embossed gold for deity-name cartouches","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, technical consecration illustration: numbered stones, corresponding Rudra-names, aṣṭamūrti wheel diagram in corner, clean layout and gentle coloration","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritual dais with multiple stones, officiant and assistants, delicate depiction of incense and lamps, small cloud panels showing Rudra epithets, fine border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यसेदष्टौ = न्यसेत् + अष्टौ; चोग्रं = च + उग्रम्; भवमथेश्वरं = भवम् + अथ + ईश्वरम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.45–92.47 (tattvādhipati and mūrti/lokapāla invocations)
FAQs
It teaches tattva-wise nyāsa: ritually assigning/invoking Rudra’s forms onto the worship-support (śilā/liṅga or icon-stone), naming specific Rudra-aspects such as Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Rudra, Bhava, and Īśvara.
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical ritual handbook—giving procedural Shaiva worship details (nyāsa, icon/stone installation, named Rudra-forms), exemplifying the Agni Purana’s coverage of temple-ritual technology alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa is held to sanctify the worship-object and align the practitioner with Śiva’s energies; it is traditionally associated with purification, removal of obstacles, and accruing merit through properly established deity-presence in worship.