Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 17
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
अव्यङ्गे चाक्षत पूर्णं मुनेरङ्गिरसः सुते इष्टके त्वं प्रयच्छेष्टं प्रतिष्ठां कारयाम्यहं
avyaṅge cākṣata pūrṇaṃ muneraṅgirasaḥ sute iṣṭake tvaṃ prayaccheṣṭaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ kārayāmyahaṃ
अव्यंग (निर्दोष) अंग पर अक्षत (अखंड चावल) से पूर्ण (पात्र/स्थापन) रखे। हे अंगिरस-मुनि के पुत्र—हे इष्टका—इच्छित फल प्रदान कर; मैं तुम्हारी प्रतिष्ठा कराऊँगा।
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure within Agni Purana’s consecration instructions)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Provides a consecratory address/mantra to the iṣṭakā with akṣata (unbroken rice) as an auspicious medium for pratiṣṭhā.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Iṣṭakā-pratiṣṭhā Mantra with Akṣata-pūrṇa Offering","lookup_keywords":["akṣata","iṣṭakā","pratiṣṭhā","Aṅgiras","mantra"],"quick_summary":"Use unbroken rice as an auspicious filling/support and recite a direct invocation to the consecrated brick, requesting boons and affirming the act of installation."}
Alamkara Type: Sambodhana
Concept: Material supports become spiritually efficacious through mantra, purity (avyanga), and auspicious completeness (akṣata-pūrṇa).
Application: Ensure ritual purity and use akṣata as a completeness-symbol while performing pratiṣṭhā invocations.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratiṣṭhā-kalpa (Temple ritual installation and consecration)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest holds or touches a consecrated brick, with a vessel or palm filled with unbroken rice; he recites an invocation addressing the iṣṭakā for boons and installation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest in profile chanting, akṣata grains depicted as white dots, brick on a clean cloth, sacred fire nearby, calm devotional palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold-highlighted akṣata bowl, brick with decorative markings, priest with raised hand in blessing/nyāsa, ornate temple backdrop","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, close-up instructional scene: akṣata-filled container, brick placement on a purified surface, clear depiction of ritual implements and posture","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate ritual chamber, detailed textiles, priest reciting to a brick beside a tray of rice grains, fine architectural borders"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चाक्षत = च + अक्षत; मुनेरङ्गिरसः = मुनेः + अङ्गिरसः; कारयाम्यहं = कारयामि + अहम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (pratiṣṭhā-kalpa mantras; akṣata usage in pūjā)
FAQs
It gives a pratiṣṭhā-prayoga: using akṣata (unbroken rice) as an auspicious, ‘complete’ offering and addressing the iṣṭakā with a granting formula while formally initiating its consecration (pratiṣṭhā).
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical ritual handbook—preserving precise installation language, materials (akṣata), and procedural cues used in altar/temple consecrations.
Akṣata symbolizes wholeness and auspicious continuity; performing iṣṭakā-pratiṣṭhā with such offerings is taught as a purity-creating act that stabilizes the rite and supports desired religious results (iṣṭa-siddhi).