Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 47
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
महादेवं च भीमं च मूर्तीशांश् च यथाक्रमात् ॐ धरामूर्तये नमः, ॐ धराधिपतये नमः,इत्यादिमन्त्रान् लोकपालान् यथासङ्ख्यं निजाणुभिः
mahādevaṃ ca bhīmaṃ ca mūrtīśāṃś ca yathākramāt oṃ dharāmūrtaye namaḥ, oṃ dharādhipataye namaḥ,ityādimantrān lokapālān yathāsaṅkhyaṃ nijāṇubhiḥ
Dans l’ordre prescrit, on doit invoquer Mahādeva et Bhīma, ainsi que les seigneurs des mūrtis. Par des mantras tels que «Oṃ, dharā-mūrtaye namaḥ», «Oṃ, dharā-adhipataye namaḥ», et ainsi de suite, les Lokapālas doivent être vénérés selon leur nombre et leur rang, avec les aṇus (auxiliaires subtils) propres à l’officiant.
Lord Agni (narrating to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Gives mantra-pattern for invoking mūrti-forms and their lords, extending worship to lokapālas in correct order as part of protective ritual enclosure (āvaraṇa).","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūrti-adhipati and Lokapāla mantra-invocation in sequence","lookup_keywords":["lokapala","dhara-murti","adhipati","japa","avarana"],"quick_summary":"Invoke Mahādeva, Bhīma, and the lords of the mūrtis in order; then worship the lokapālas with mantras beginning ‘Oṃ dharāmūrtaye namaḥ’ and ‘Oṃ dharādhipataye namaḥ’, maintaining proper numerical sequence and attendant emanations."}
Concept: Ritual completeness requires both ontological worship (tattva/mūrti) and spatial guardianship (lokapāla), aligning inner realization with outer protection and order (saṅkhyā-krama).
Application: Before main offering, perform diśā-pūjā: recite mūrti and adhipati mantras, then worship lokapālas clockwise (or per tradition) to seal the ritual space.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-japa and Lokapala-invocation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: vira
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala-like ritual space with eight directions marked; the practitioner offers flowers to each direction while chanting ‘dhara-mūrti’ and ‘dhara-adhipati’ mantras; lokapālas appear at the compass points as guardians.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala with eight directional panels, lokapālas seated with their emblems, priest at center offering flowers, strong outlines and traditional earthy palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, radiant mandala with gold-leaf directional borders, lokapāla figures in ornate niches, central worshipper, embossed gold highlights on weapons/emblems and halos","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, clear didactic diagram: compass rose with lokapāla names, sequence arrows, central altar, small captions for ‘dhara-mūrti’ and ‘dhara-adhipati’ mantras, neat and readable","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, top-down courtyard mandala with attendants, each direction occupied by a guardian figure, delicate floral motifs, fine calligraphy cartouches for mantras"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मूर्तीशांश् = मूर्ति + ईशान् (सन्धौ 'ई' पूर्वे 'ईश' इति); इत्यादिमन्त्रान् = इति + आदि + मन्त्रान्; यथासङ्ख्यं = यथा + सङ्ख्यम् (अव्ययीभाव)।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.46 (mūrti-nyāsa); Agni Purana 92.45 (tattvādhipati mantras)
FAQs
It teaches the ordered (yathākrama/yathāsaṅkhya) invocation of specific deities and Lokapālas using named नमः-mantras, indicating a structured mantra-sequence for worship.
By preserving a practical liturgical template—specific deity-names, mantra forms, and ordering rules—it functions like a ritual manual embedded within a Purāṇa, showcasing the text’s catalog-like coverage of worship procedures.
Correctly sequencing and addressing the Lokapālas and associated deities is presented as a way to align the rite with cosmic order, supporting purity of worship and the expected merit (puṇya) from properly performed mantra-invocation.