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
ហើយត្រូវដាក់វាលើអង្គធាតុដែលគ្មានខូចខាត ដោយបំពេញអង្ករមិនបែក (អក្សត)។ ឱ កូនប្រុសនៃមុនី អង្គិរាស (Aṅgiras)—ឱ ឥដ្ឋបូជា (Iṣṭakā) សូមប្រទានពរដែលប្រាថ្នា; ខ្ញុំនឹងធ្វើឲ្យពិធីប្រតិស្ឋា/បុណ្យដំឡើងត្រូវបានអនុវត្ត។
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).