Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 32
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
यां मूर्तिं स्थापयेत्तस्मात् मूलमन्त्रं न्यसेत्ततः ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय मूलकं
yāṃ mūrtiṃ sthāpayettasmāt mūlamantraṃ nyasettataḥ oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya mūlakaṃ
Oleh itu, bagi mana-mana arca suci yang didirikan, hendaklah kemudian dilakukan nyāsa dengan meletakkan mantra akar. Rumus akarnya ialah: “Oṃ—namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.”
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"In murti-pratishtha/archa context, prescribes nyasa of the Vaishnava mūlamantra for any installed icon; provides the root formula ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vaishnava mūlamantra for nyāsa: Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya","lookup_keywords":["mūlamantra","oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya","nyāsa","mūrti-sthāpana","vaiṣṇava"],"quick_summary":"After installing an icon, perform nyāsa of the root mantra; the standard Vaishnava mūlamantra is ‘Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya’ for consecration and devotional alignment."}
Concept: Mantra is the means of āveśa/saṃbandha—linking the installed form with the divine presence through mūlamantra-nyāsa.
Application: Use the mūlamantra during installation and daily worship to maintain continuity between pratiṣṭhā and nitya-pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Murti-pratishtha and Mantra-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An icon of Vāsudeva being installed on a pedestal; the priest performs nyāsa while reciting ‘Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya’, with sanctifying water, flowers, and lamp present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple sanctum scene with Vishnu idol on lotus pedestal, priest touching limbs in nyasa, visible mantra ribbon ‘oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya’, warm ochres and reds, stylized lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented Vāsudeva murti with gold foil arch, priest in foreground performing nyasa, kalasha and conch, embossed gold highlights on crown and halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step consecration scene: murti on altar, priest applying nyasa points, neat depiction of ritual vessels, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine interior with marble textures, priest reciting mantra, attendants holding flowers and incense, luminous aura around the newly installed icon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sthāpayettasmāt → sthāpayet + tasmāt; nyasettataḥ → nyaset + tataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59.33-59.34 (anga-nyasa with Keśava etc.)
FAQs
It teaches murti-sthāpana followed by mūla-mantra-nyāsa—ritually installing the principal mantra into/onto the deity’s icon and the worship context, using “Oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya” as the root formula.
By prescribing a concrete, step-based temple and home-worship protocol (pratiṣṭhā + nyāsa + mūla-mantra), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of ritual technology alongside its many other domains (law, polity, medicine, arts).
Nyāsa with the mūla-mantra is treated as empowering and sanctifying the installation, aligning the worshipper and icon with Vāsudeva’s presence, and thereby increasing the efficacy (siddhi) and purity (śuddhi) of the rite.