Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 20
जीर्णोद्धारः (Jīrṇoddhāra) — Renovation and Ritual Handling of Defective Liṅgas and Old Shrines
प्रभुरत्रेति ख , छ च पाशुपतात्मनेति ख , ग , छ च दर्भैर् जपेत्तत इति ङ मूर्तिमूर्तीश्वरान् लिङ्गे इति ख , घ , ङ , छ च वास्तुमध्ये घ तत्त्वविद्भिरिति ख , घ , छ , ज च जीर्णं वाप्यथवा भग्नं विधिनापि नचालयेत् एष एव विधिः कार्योजीर्णधामसमुद्धृतौ
prabhuratreti kha , cha ca pāśupatātmaneti kha , ga , cha ca darbhair japettata iti ṅa mūrtimūrtīśvarān liṅge iti kha , gha , ṅa , cha ca vāstumadhye gha tattvavidbhiriti kha , gha , cha , ja ca jīrṇaṃ vāpyathavā bhagnaṃ vidhināpi nacālayet eṣa eva vidhiḥ kāryojīrṇadhāmasamuddhṛtau
Walaupun sebuah tempat suci yang telah ditahbiskan itu menjadi usang atau bahkan pecah rosak, ia tidak wajar dipindahkan—walaupun melalui tatacara yang selainnya ditetapkan. Inilah satu-satunya peraturan yang harus diikuti ketika melakukan pemulihan/menaikkan semula bangunan suci lama yang uzur.
Lord Agni (traditional frame: Agni instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vastu","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Conservation rule for consecrated shrines/icons: even if old or broken, do not relocate the sanctified structure/icon; renovation (‘raising up’/recovery of old shrine) must follow a non-displacement protocol, preserving the original sacred locus.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Definition","entry_title":"Non-Relocation Rule for Dilapidated Consecrated Shrines (Jīrṇa-dhāma Uddhāra)","lookup_keywords":["jīrṇa-dhāma","uddhāra","na cālayet","pratiṣṭhita","renovation"],"quick_summary":"A consecrated shrine retains sanctity tied to its locus; even when damaged, it should not be moved. Restoration must be done in place, following the prescribed conservation method."}
Concept: Sthāna (place) is integral to pratiṣṭhā; sanctity is not fully transferable once fixed. Preservation of continuity outweighs convenience in repair.
Application: In temple restoration, prioritize in-situ stabilization, underpinning, and careful rebuilding around the original seat; avoid relocation except where separate, explicitly authorized expiatory protocols exist.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-śāstra & Liṅga-pratiṣṭhā (Temple Architecture, Renovation, and Ritual Handling of Sacred Icons)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An ancient, cracked shrine being restored in place: craftsmen shore up walls and sanctum while priests supervise, ensuring the consecrated core is not moved; the old dhāma is ‘raised up’ without relocation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, aged temple with visible cracks, priests marking protective lines, artisans repairing around the sanctum, emphasis on continuity of the central sacred spot, warm lamp-lit tones and stylized architecture","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, restoration scene with gold-highlighted sanctum center, artisans and priests, ornate depiction of the immovable sacred core, auspicious symbols and gold leaf detailing","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, technical restoration tableau: scaffolding, underpinning, careful rebuilding around fixed garbhagṛha point, priest indicating ‘do not move’ gesture; clean, instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed renovation site with scaffolds and workers, priestly supervision, careful depiction of old stone textures, balanced composition showing in-situ repair"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: जपेत्तत → जपेत् तत्; नचालयेत् → न चालयेत्; कार्योजीर्णधामसमुद्धृतौ → कार्यः जीर्ण-धाम-समुद्धृतौ
Related Themes: Agni Purana 103 (vāstu and liṅga-pratiṣṭhā handling rules)
FAQs
It gives a Vāstu–ritual injunction for restoration: a consecrated old or damaged shrine should not be physically displaced; renovation should proceed without moving the sacred structure.
Alongside theology and worship, the Agni Purana preserves practical civil-ritual guidance—here, a rule for temple restoration and sacred-structure handling, integrating architecture (vāstu) with ritual law (vidhi).
It protects the sanctity of a consecrated space: avoiding displacement prevents ritual fault (doṣa) and preserves the continuity of the deity’s established presence, supporting purity and merit in restoration work.