Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 76
Adhivāsana-vidhi
Procedure for Preliminary Consecration in Vāstu–Pratiṣṭhā / Īśāna-kalpa
उत्थाप्योक्तासने लिङ्गं शिरसा पूर्वमस्तकं समारोप्य न्यसेत्तस्मिन् सृष्ट्या धर्मादिवन्दनं
utthāpyoktāsane liṅgaṃ śirasā pūrvamastakaṃ samāropya nyasettasmin sṛṣṭyā dharmādivandanaṃ
Après avoir soulevé le liṅga et l’avoir placé sur le siège prescrit, en orientant sa tête vers l’est, on doit l’installer dûment en ce lieu; puis, selon l’ordre rituel, accomplir les salutations en commençant par Dharma et les autres (principes/divinités cosmiques).
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā and orientation: lift, seat, set head to east, install, then perform sequential salutations to Dharma and allied cosmic principles.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Liṅga-sthāpana: Āsana-āropaṇa, Pūrvābhimukhatā, and Dharma-ādi-vandana","lookup_keywords":["liṅga-pratiṣṭhā","pūrvābhimukha","āsana","dharma-ādi","vandana"],"quick_summary":"Install the liṅga on its prescribed seat with eastward orientation, then perform the ordered salutations to Dharma and related principles to align the shrine with cosmic order."}
Concept: Ritual installation mirrors ṛta/dharma: the deity-seat and directional order embody cosmic governance (Dharma-ādi).
Application: During installation, ensure correct orientation and follow the prescribed sequence of salutations to integrate the shrine into a dharmic cosmogram.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Lingodbhava / Shiva-linga Pratishtha and Worship Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: Tirtha
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priest lifting a liṅga, placing it on a consecrated seat/pīṭha, carefully aligning its ‘head’ to the east; then offering salutations to Dharma and attendant principles in a ritual sequence.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sanctum interior, liṅga on pīṭha, priest aligning eastward, surrounding dik-devatā motifs, Dharma personified as a radiant figure in the sequence, bold outlines and flat colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore style, gold-worked sanctum arch, black stone liṅga on ornate pīṭha, priest in white dhoti placing it, east direction marked by rising sun motif, small Dharma-ādi figures in medallions","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional composition showing steps: lift, place, orient east, then vandana; fine facial expressions, soft shading, labeled directional arrow to east","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed temple chamber, attendants holding ritual items, priest aligning liṅga with compass-like east marker, marginal vignettes of Dharma-ādi salutations, intricate textiles"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: utthāpyoktāsane → utthāpya ukta-āsane; nyasettasmin → nyaset tasmin; dharmādivandanaṃ → dharma-ādi-vandanam.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 96 (liṅga worship, nyāsa, upacāra sequence)
FAQs
It gives a practical installation step: lift and place the Śiva-liṅga on the prescribed pedestal/seat, orient its ‘head’ toward the east, then perform the ordered salutations beginning with Dharma (dharma-ādi-vandana) as part of the consecration sequence.
It preserves precise, temple-practice details—orientation rules, placement protocol, and the sequence of invocations—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied ritual science (pūjā-vidhi) alongside its broader theological and dharma teachings.
Correct placement and eastward orientation symbolize alignment with auspicious cosmic order, while saluting Dharma and related principles frames the act as consecration under righteous order—supporting purity of worship and the merit (puṇya) of proper installation.