Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 30
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
त्रिशूलिनं वृषे चेशं कूर्मेनन्तन्तु चक्रिणं ब्राह्माणं हंसगं ध्यायेच्चतुर्वक्त्रं चतुर्भुजं
triśūlinaṃ vṛṣe ceśaṃ kūrmenantantu cakriṇaṃ brāhmāṇaṃ haṃsagaṃ dhyāyeccaturvaktraṃ caturbhujaṃ
Qu’on médite sur Īśa (Śiva), portant le trident et monté sur le taureau; sur le Porteur du Disque (Viṣṇu) en tant que Kūrma et en tant qu’Ananta; et sur Brahmā, monté sur le cygne, à quatre visages et quatre bras.
Lord Agni (narrating to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Dhyana (visualization) of the principal deities before commencing worship, establishing correct devata-bhavana and iconographic clarity for mantra and offerings.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Description","entry_title":"Dhyana of Shiva, Vishnu (Kurma/Ananta), and Brahma for Puja","lookup_keywords":["trishulin","vrisharudha","chakrin","kurma","hamsavahana"],"quick_summary":"Before ritual action, the worshipper stabilizes attention by meditating on Shiva with trident and bull, Vishnu as Kurma and Ananta with discus, and Brahma on the swan with four faces and arms—ensuring devata-smarana is precise."}
Concept: Devata-smarana as prerequisite for effective puja; form-based contemplation (saguna-dhyana) steadies mind and aligns ritual intent.
Application: Use these iconographic cues as a mental checklist before mantra-japa and offerings to avoid devata-bhranti (confusion of deity-form).
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Dhyana & Devata-smarana for worship)
Primary Rasa: Shanta
Secondary Rasa: Adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper seated in meditation visualizes three divine forms in sequence: Shiva with trident on Nandi, Vishnu as Kurma and as Ananta with discus, and Brahma on a swan with four faces and four arms.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, deep earthy reds and greens, central meditating rishi, above him three framed vignettes: Shiva trishulin on Nandi, Vishnu as Kurma and Ananta with chakra, Brahma chaturvaktra on hamsa, ornate floral borders, sacred glow","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf halos, triptych composition: Shiva on bull with trident, Vishnu Kurma/Ananta with chakra, Brahma four-faced on swan, rich jewel tones, embossed ornaments, temple arch motifs","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, fine linework and soft shading, instructional dhyana panel with labeled deity attributes (trishula, vrisha, chakra, hamsa), calm meditating priest in foreground, delicate gesso highlights","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtly precision, a yogin in a pavilion visualizing deities in cloud medallions, detailed textiles, subtle gold, Shiva on Nandi, Vishnu Kurma and Ananta, Brahma on swan, balanced composition"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ceśaṃ = च + ईशम्; kūrmenantantu = कूर्मेण + अनन्तम् + तु; dhyāyeccaturvaktraṃ = ध्यायेत् + चतुर्वक्त्रम् (त् + च → च्च).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (Puja-vidhi sections on dhyana, kalasha, raksha)
FAQs
It gives a dhyāna-krama (meditative visualization sequence) for worship: contemplate Śiva with triśūla on the bull, Viṣṇu as Kūrma and as Ananta with cakra, and Brahmā as haṃsa-vāhana with four faces and four arms—standardizing deity-forms for pūjā.
It condenses multiple streams of applied religious knowledge—iconography (lakṣaṇa), theology (Trimūrti and Viṣṇu’s forms), and practical ritual method (dhyāna as a limb of pūjā)—showing how the Agni Purana functions as a handbook across worship and doctrine.
Correct dhyāna aligns the mind with the deity’s recognized form, stabilizes concentration for pūjā, and is traditionally held to purify intention (bhāva-śuddhi), supporting merit (puṇya) through focused devotion.