Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 63
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
अर्चयेच्च ततो लिङ्गं स्नापयित्वा मृदादिभिः शिल्पिनन्तोषयित्वा तु दद्याद्गां गुरवे ततः
arcayecca tato liṅgaṃ snāpayitvā mṛdādibhiḥ śilpinantoṣayitvā tu dadyādgāṃ gurave tataḥ
Ensuite, on doit adorer le liṅga ; après l’avoir baigné avec de l’argile et d’autres substances purificatrices, et après avoir satisfait l’artisan qui l’a façonné, on donnera alors une vache au guru comme rétribution sacrificielle (dakṣiṇā).
Lord Agni (teaching the ritual procedure to the sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s standard dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Consecration protocol: bathe and worship the liṅga with purifying substances; ensure fair satisfaction/compensation of the artisan; complete the rite with guru-dakṣiṇā (cow-gift) to seal merit and correctness of procedure.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liṅga-snāna, Śilpi-santoṣa, and Guru-dakṣiṇā (Go-dāna)","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-arcana","snāpana","mṛdā","śilpi-santoṣa","go-dāna"],"quick_summary":"After bathing the liṅga with clay and other purifiers, worship it, honor the artisan, and give a cow to the guru as dakṣiṇā—linking ritual purity, ethical remuneration, and completion of consecration."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy is joined to right conduct: purity of object (snāpana), honoring human labor (śilpi-santoṣa), and proper dakṣiṇā to the guru.
Application: In temple/craft projects, integrate ethical payment and guru-dakṣiṇā as mandatory steps, not optional charity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Linga-puja and consecration/ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A liṅga is bathed with clay and purifying substances; the artisan is honored with gifts; finally a cow is ceremonially offered to the guru as dakṣiṇā.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, garbhagṛha-like setting with liṅga on pedestal, attendants pouring water and applying mṛdā, artisan receiving cloth/coins, guru receiving cow in a formal gesture, warm ritual palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, liṅga with ornate arch and gold embossing, ritual vessels, cow with decorative caparison offered to seated guru, rich reds and gold highlights.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, sequential instructional tableau: snāpana with mṛdā, arcana, artisan honoring, go-dāna to guru; fine lines and calm expressions.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple courtyard scene: priest at liṅga, artisan and patron nearby, cow presented to guru, detailed textiles and architecture."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: अर्चयेच्च = अर्चयेत् + च; दद्याद्गाम् = दद्यात् + गाम् (t + g → dg sandhi). शिल्पिनन्तोषयित्वा read as शिल्पिनम् + अन्तोषयित्वा.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (liṅga-pūjā sequence); Agni Purana sections on dāna and pratiṣṭhā (general)
FAQs
It prescribes the completion-sequence of liṅga worship: perform arcana, do snāna/abhiṣeka using purificatory substances like clay, honor the śilpin (artisan), and conclude with guru-dakṣiṇā in the form of gifting a cow.
It integrates multiple domains—icon/temple practice (liṅga-archana and abhiṣeka), social-ritual economy (fees and gifts), and dharmic labor ethics (satisfying the artisan)—showing how the Agni Purana functions as a practical manual alongside theology.
Purificatory bathing and proper honoraria (to artisan and guru) are treated as necessary for ritual completeness (saṃpūrṇatā), generating merit by combining devotion with right conduct, gratitude, and sanctioned dāna.