Agni Purana — Agneya-vidya, Shloka 19
Chapter 41 — शिलाविन्यासविधानं
The Procedure for Laying the Stones / Foundation Setting
कुम्भोपरिष्ठादेवेशं पद्मिनीं न्यस्य देवतां मृत्तिकाश् चैव पुष्पाणि धातवो रत्नमेव च
kumbhopariṣṭhādeveśaṃ padminīṃ nyasya devatāṃ mṛttikāś caiva puṣpāṇi dhātavo ratnameva ca
कुम्भ के ऊपर देवेश तथा पद्मिनी (लक्ष्मी) देवी का न्यास करे। वहीं मिट्टियाँ, पुष्प, धातुएँ और एक रत्न भी स्थापित करे।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Specifies kumbha-top devatā installation and the placement of symbolic substances (clay, flowers, metals, gem) used to ‘complete’ and stabilize kalaśa-nyāsa in consecration.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Kumbha-śikhara Nyāsa: Devesha with Padminī; Placement of Mṛttikā, Puṣpa, Dhātu, Ratna","lookup_keywords":["kumbha-nyāsa","Deveśa","Padminī","mṛttikā","ratna"],"quick_summary":"Install the supreme deity and the lotus-goddess atop the ritual pot, and place clay, flowers, metals, and a gemstone as completeness-substances for consecration."}
Concept: The kumbha is a ritually ‘crowned’ seat of divinity; material symbols (earth, flower, metal, gem) embody stability, beauty, prosperity, and permanence.
Application: During kalaśa-sthāpana, complete the setup with prescribed substances to signify fullness (pūrṇatā) and invoke śrī/anugraha.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Devatā-pratiṣṭhā and Kalaśa/Kumbha-nyāsa procedures)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A decorated kumbha with a lotus motif; atop it the Lord of gods with the lotus-goddess is installed; nearby are arranged clay, flowers, metals, and a gemstone on a ritual tray.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, large ornate kumbha with lotus designs, divine couple symbolically enthroned above, ritual tray showing clay lumps, flowers, metal pieces, a shining gem, saturated temple colors","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, kumbha richly ornamented with gold leaf, Devesha and Padminī depicted with halos, gem and metals sparkling, heavy decorative borders","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear depiction of kumbha-top installation, labeled items (mṛttikā, puṣpa, dhātu, ratna) arranged systematically, refined linework for instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed still-life of ritual substances on a tray, ornate pot at center, subtle divine presence indicated above the pot, intricate textile and architectural background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Madhyamavati","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: कुम्भोपरिष्ठात् = कुम्भ + उपरिष्ठात्; मृत्तिकाश् = मृत्तिकाः; चैव = च + एव; रत्नमेव = रत्नम् + एव
Related Themes: Agni Purana 41 (kalaśa/kumbha-sthāpana; devatā-nyāsa; dravya-sañcaya)
FAQs
It prescribes a specific kalaśa/kumbha-top installation: placing the presiding deity (Deveśa) with the lotus-associated goddess (Padminī) and ritually depositing standard consecration substances—clay, flowers, metals, and a gemstone.
Beyond theology, it records practical liturgical engineering—what to place, where to place it, and which material categories are required—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of applied temple/household ritual procedure alongside narrative and doctrine.
Installing the deity with auspicious substances on the kumbha sacralizes the ritual center, aiming at purity (śuddhi), prosperity (śrī), and the successful “presence” (āveśa/pratiṣṭhā) of the deity, thereby increasing the rite’s merit and efficacy.