Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 46
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
प्रतितत्त्वं न्यसेदष्टौ मूर्तीः प्रतिशिलां शिलां सर्वं पशुपतिं चोग्रं रुद्रं भवमथेश्वरं
pratitattvaṃ nyasedaṣṭau mūrtīḥ pratiśilāṃ śilāṃ sarvaṃ paśupatiṃ cograṃ rudraṃ bhavamatheśvaraṃ
ഓരോ തത്ത്വത്തിലും അഷ്ടമൂർത്തികളുടെ ന്യാസം ചെയ്യണം; കൂടാതെ ഓരോ ശില/പ്രതിമാശിലയിൽ സർവ, പശുപതി, ഉഗ്ര, രുദ്ര, ഭവ, ഈശ്വരൻ എന്നിവരെ സ്ഥാപിക്കണം।
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Combines tattva-nyāsa with installation of Rudra’s forms on stones/icons, supporting linga/śilā-based worship and consecration-like practice.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Nyāsa of eight mūrtis per tattva; installation of Rudra forms on śilā","lookup_keywords":["ashta-murti","rudra","pashupati","shila","linga-nyasa"],"quick_summary":"For each tattva, place the eight mūrtis through nyāsa; on each worship-stone/icon, install Rudra’s named forms such as Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Rudra, Bhava, and Īśvara."}
Concept: The one Rudra is approached through many functional names and mūrti-aspects; tattva-purification is paired with concrete icon/stone installation to unify inner and outer worship.
Application: In linga/śilā pūjā, assign each stone/segment a Rudra-name; perform nyāsa of aṣṭa-mūrtis per tattva before offering upacāras.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Rudra/Pashupata-linga-nyasa and iconographic installation)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Multiple sacred stones arranged on a ritual platform; the officiant touches each stone while invoking Rudra’s forms; behind, a cosmic diagram of eight mūrtis (earth, water, fire, wind, ether, sun, moon, yajamāna) radiates outward.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, row of śilās on a pedestal, priest performing nyāsa, above each stone a stylized Rudra-form label (Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, etc.), background with aṣṭamūrti cosmic symbols, bold lines","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, consecration scene with stone-linga forms, gold-leaf halos for Rudra aspects, ornate pedestal and lamps, rich temple décor, embossed gold for deity-name cartouches","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, technical consecration illustration: numbered stones, corresponding Rudra-names, aṣṭamūrti wheel diagram in corner, clean layout and gentle coloration","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritual dais with multiple stones, officiant and assistants, delicate depiction of incense and lamps, small cloud panels showing Rudra epithets, fine border work"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Bhairav","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: न्यसेदष्टौ = न्यसेत् + अष्टौ; चोग्रं = च + उग्रम्; भवमथेश्वरं = भवम् + अथ + ईश्वरम्।
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.45–92.47 (tattvādhipati and mūrti/lokapāla invocations)
FAQs
It teaches tattva-wise nyāsa: ritually assigning/invoking Rudra’s forms onto the worship-support (śilā/liṅga or icon-stone), naming specific Rudra-aspects such as Sarva, Paśupati, Ugra, Rudra, Bhava, and Īśvara.
Beyond mythology, it functions as a practical ritual handbook—giving procedural Shaiva worship details (nyāsa, icon/stone installation, named Rudra-forms), exemplifying the Agni Purana’s coverage of temple-ritual technology alongside other sciences.
Correct nyāsa is held to sanctify the worship-object and align the practitioner with Śiva’s energies; it is traditionally associated with purification, removal of obstacles, and accruing merit through properly established deity-presence in worship.