Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 6
Liṅga-māna-ādi-kathana
Measurements and Related Particulars of the Liṅga
वामे च स्वेच्छया तेषां पीठप्रासादकल्पना पूजयेत् सूर्यविम्बस्थं दर्पणे प्रतिविम्बितं
vāme ca svecchayā teṣāṃ pīṭhaprāsādakalpanā pūjayet sūryavimbasthaṃ darpaṇe prativimbitaṃ
Dan di sebelah kiri, menurut kehendak sendiri, hendaklah diatur bagi mereka sebuah pīṭha (tempat duduk ritual) dan sebuah prāsāda (kuil/ruang suci); hendaklah dipuja citra Surya sebagaimana terpantul dalam cermin—cakera suria tampak sebagai salinan di dalam cermin.
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purāṇa’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Mirror-based solar worship (sūrya-vimba in darpaṇa) with prescribed placement and optional shrine/seat arrangement—useful where direct sun-gazing is avoided or for indoor ritual.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Darpana-pratibimba Sūrya-pūjā (Worship of the Sun’s reflection)","lookup_keywords":["surya vimba","darpana","pratibimba","pitha","prasadakalpana"],"quick_summary":"Arrange the seat/shrine as desired (notably to the left) and worship the Sun as reflected in a mirror, using the reflected disc as the ritual focus."}
Concept: Pratibimba-upāsanā: the sacred can be approached through a mediated form (reflection), highlighting the role of perception and ritual focus.
Application: Use reflection worship for safe, steady concentration; maintain purity of mirror and space; treat the reflected image as the devatā’s accessible manifestation for dhyāna and arcana.
Khanda Section: Pūjā-vidhi / Pratimā–Yantra–Upāsanā (Mirror-reflection worship; temple/seat arrangement)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A worshipper before a small altar and shrine arrangement, holding or placing a polished mirror that captures the bright solar disc; the reflected sun is offered flowers and water.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, interior shrine with brass lamp, devotee seated, mirror angled to catch the sunbeam, a clear circular solar reflection, lotus offerings, warm ochres and deep greens.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, radiant circular sun reflection in a mirror framed with gold leaf, devotee and priest offering arghya, ornate altar with gold embellishments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, precise instructional scene: left-side placement of pīṭha and small prāsāda model, mirror angle clearly shown, soft colors and fine outlines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, courtyard worship with a mirror reflecting the sun, delicate architectural arches, attendants holding offerings, fine detailing of light and reflection"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Suryakant (or Lalit)","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: svecchayā = sva-icchayā; pīṭhaprāsādakalpanā = pīṭha-prāsāda-kalpanā; sūryavimbasthaṃ = sūrya-vimba-stham.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Sūrya-stotra/mantra and pūjā-vidhi materials in adjacent ritual chapters; Agni Purana: Vāstu placement rules for pīṭha/vedikā in worship settings
FAQs
It teaches a specific pūjā-technique: arrange a pīṭha (pedestal/seat) and prāsāda (shrine setup) and perform worship of Sūrya via the mirror-reflected image (pratibimba) rather than only a direct icon.
It preserves practical liturgical engineering—how to position ritual structures and how to use optical representation (mirror reflection) as a valid focus of worship—showing the Purāṇa’s coverage of ritual, temple-layout, and applied devotional technology.
By authorizing worship of the Sun through a reflected bimba, the verse broadens access to Sūrya-upāsanā and emphasizes purity and focused attention (bhāva) in worship, treating the reflected form as an acceptable locus for devotional merit.