Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
Chapter 98 — गौरीप्रतिष्ठाकथनम्
Gaurī-Pratiṣṭhā: Installation and Worship of Gaurī; Īśāna-kalpa Elements
परशक्तिस्वरूपान्तां स्वाणुना शक्तियोगतः ततो न्यसेत् क्रियाशक्तिं पीठे ज्ञानञ्च विग्रहे
paraśaktisvarūpāntāṃ svāṇunā śaktiyogataḥ tato nyaset kriyāśaktiṃ pīṭhe jñānañca vigrahe
L’ayant (mentalement) conduit à s’achever dans la forme même de la Puissance suprême (Para-Śakti), et l’ayant uni à son propre souffle vital subtil par le yoga de la śakti, on doit ensuite accomplir le nyāsa : placer la Puissance d’Action (kriyā-śakti) sur le pīṭha (siège) et (placer) la Connaissance (jñāna) sur le vigraha (icône).
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Nyāsa doctrine: internal union of sādhaka’s subtle prāṇa/anu with Parāśakti, then assigning Kriyā-śakti to the pīṭha and Jñāna to the vigraha as functional consecration mapping.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa of Kriyā-śakti and Jñāna in Śākta Worship","lookup_keywords":["nyāsa","kriyā-śakti","jñāna","pīṭha","vigraha"],"quick_summary":"Unite one’s subtle vital principle with Parāśakti, then perform nyāsa by placing Kriyā-śakti on the seat and Jñāna on the icon, establishing the deity’s operative and illuminative aspects."}
Concept: Śakti is approached through internalization (yoga) and externalization (nyāsa); action and knowledge are distinct yet coordinated powers in consecration.
Application: During pratiṣṭhā/pūjā, consciously differentiate and install operative power (kriyā) and illuminative presence (jñāna) to stabilize both ritual efficacy and contemplative awareness.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Tantra (Nyasa and Shakti-installation in worship)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual seat (pīṭha) and icon (vigraha) before the priest; subtle energy streams from the sādhaka’s heart/breath merging into a radiant Parāśakti, then dividing into Kriyā-śakti placed on the seat and Jñāna placed on the icon.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, symbolic depiction of two śaktis: Kriyā as dynamic red-gold flame settling on pīṭha, Jñāna as cool white-gold radiance settling on vigraha; priest performing nyāsa mudrās; stylized lotus seat and temple interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Devi icon richly ornamented; gold-embossed aura; two labeled emanations (kriyā/jñāna) as decorative motifs; priest at side touching pīṭha then vigraha; heavy gold work on seat and jewelry.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic composition: clear pīṭha and vigraha, priest’s hand positions for nyāsa, subtle prāṇa lines from chest to objects; soft pastel palette and fine detailing.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, refined ritual chamber; priest seated with rosary; translucent streams of light indicating śakti placement; meticulous rendering of pedestal, icon, and ritual implements."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ज्ञानञ्च → ज्ञानम् + च.
Related Themes: Agni Purana ch.98 nyāsa and śakti-āveśa instructions (adjacent verses); Agni Purana later pūjā-vidhi chapters on aṅga-nyāsa and kara-nyāsa
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa method: after uniting one’s subtle principle with Śakti, the practitioner installs kriyā-śakti on the ritual seat (pīṭha) and installs jñāna (gnosis) on the deity’s icon (vigraha).
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise operational details of temple/household worship—how divine powers are ritually ‘mapped’ onto altar components—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical tantra and pūjā-technology.
By aligning the worshipper’s subtle self with the Supreme Śakti and consecrating seat and icon with action-power and knowledge, the ritual is made spiritually efficacious, supporting purification and focused realization during worship.