Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 64
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
लिङ्गं धूपादिभिः प्राच्यं गायेयुर्भर्तृगास्त्रयः सव्येन चापसव्येन सूत्रेणाथ कुशेन वा
liṅgaṃ dhūpādibhiḥ prācyaṃ gāyeyurbhartṛgāstrayaḥ savyena cāpasavyena sūtreṇātha kuśena vā
Tourné vers l’est, on offrira au Liṅga l’encens et les autres services rituels usuels; puis trois assistants/chanteurs entonneront des hymnes. (Le Liṅga peut) être circumambulé dans le sens horaire et antihoraire, au moyen d’un fil ou d’un brin/anneau d’herbe kuśa.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Stotra","practical_application":"Shaiva worship protocol: offer dhūpa and upacāras to the east-facing liṅga; employ three singers/attendants for hymnody; perform pradakṣiṇā and apasavya circumambulation using a thread or kuśa as ritual implement/boundary.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liṅga-upacāra, Trayaḥ Gāyakāḥ, and Savya/Apasavya Parikrama with Sūtra/Kuśa","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-dhūpa","prācya","trayaḥ gāyakāḥ","savyāpasavya","kuśa-sūtra"],"quick_summary":"Worship the liṅga facing east with incense and services; accompany with three singers; circumambulate both clockwise and counterclockwise as prescribed, using thread or kuśa to mark/perform the rite."}
Concept: Upacāra, gāna, and regulated movement (parikrama) discipline attention and sanctify space; directionality (east, savya/apasavya) encodes ritual intention.
Application: Design pūjā sequences with clear orientation, musical accompaniment, and prescribed circumambulation to maintain consistency in temple services.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Linga-puja and Shaiva ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An east-facing liṅga receives incense and offerings; three singers chant hymns; devotees circumambulate clockwise and counterclockwise, holding a thread or kuśa to perform/mark the circuit.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, liṅga shrine with incense smoke curling, three stylized singers with cymbals/hand-drums, devotees moving in circular paths, kuśa and thread depicted clearly, earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate liṅga altar with gold-leaf arch, thick incense plumes, three singers in devotional posture, circular movement suggested by patterned floor rings, rich gold and crimson.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise depiction of savya and apasavya paths as two concentric arrows around the liṅga, singers to the side, thread/kuśa shown as ritual tool, clean instructional clarity.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple interior with musicians (three) singing, incense burners, devotees circumambulating, delicate architectural details and textiles, subtle motion cues."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: गायेयुर्भर्तृगाः = गायेयुः + भर्तृगाः (visarga sandhi). चापसव्येन = च + अपसव्येन.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (liṅga-pūjā continuation); Agni Purana stotra/pūjā-vidhi sections (general)
FAQs
It prescribes a Śaiva worship sequence: face east, offer dhūpa and related upacāras to the liṅga, employ three ritual singers/attendants for hymnody, and perform circumambulation (both clockwise and counterclockwise) using a thread or kuśa grass as the ritual implement/marker.
It records practical temple-liturgical details—directionality, personnel (three singers), and specific ritual implements (sūtra, kuśa)—showing how the Agni Purana functions as a manual of applied ritual science alongside its many other disciplines.
Correct orientation, offerings, chant-service, and regulated pradakṣiṇā are presented as acts that purify the worshipper and properly honor Śiva, aligning the rite with dharma and thereby generating religious merit (puṇya).