Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 2
Chapter 94 — शिलाविन्यासविधानम्
The Procedure for Laying the Foundation Stones
इत्य् आदिमहपुराणे आग्नेये वास्तुपूजाकथनं नाम त्रिनवतितमो ऽध्यायः अथ चतुर्णवतितमो ऽध्यायः शिलाविन्यासविधानं ईश्वर उवाच ईशादिषु चरक्याद्याः पूर्ववत् पूजयेद्वहिः आहुतित्रितयं दद्यात् प्रतिदेवमनुक्रमात्
ity ādimahapurāṇe āgneye vāstupūjākathanaṃ nāma trinavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ atha caturṇavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ śilāvinyāsavidhānaṃ īśvara uvāca īśādiṣu carakyādyāḥ pūrvavat pūjayedvahiḥ āhutitritayaṃ dadyāt pratidevamanukramāt
Demikianlah, dalam Agni Purāṇa yang termasuk dalam Ādi-Mahāpurāṇa, tamatlah bab ke-93 yang berjudul “Huraian tentang Vāstu-pūjā”. Kini bermula bab ke-94, “Tatacara Menyusun Batu Asas”. Īśvara bersabda: “Bagi Īśa dan para dewa yang lain—bermula dengan (kelompok/dewa bernama) Carakya—hendaklah dipuja di bahagian luar sebagaimana sebelumnya, dan hendaklah diberikan tiga persembahan oblation (āhuti) kepada setiap dewa menurut tertibnya.”
Īśvara (as the instructing voice within the chapter)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Provides the ritual sequence for vāstu/śilā rites: worship directional deities outside, then offer three oblations per deity in order—usable as a checklist for foundation-laying ceremonies.","sutra_style":false}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śilāvinnyāsa: bahiḥ-pūjā and tri-āhuti per deity (anukrama)","lookup_keywords":["śilāvinnyāsa","vāstupūjā","bahiḥ-pūjā","āhuti-tritaya","īśa-ādi","carakya"],"quick_summary":"At the start of the foundation-stone procedure, worship Īśa and other deities externally as previously taught, then offer three oblations to each deity sequentially. This structures the rite before stone placement proceeds."}
Concept: Anukrama (proper sequence) and repetition (tri-āhuti) stabilize ritual efficacy in consecratory acts.
Application: During śilāvinnyāsa, keep deity order fixed; perform three āhutis per deity to complete each invocation before moving on.
Khanda Section: Vāstu-Śāstra & Temple Rituals (Vāstupūjā and Śilā/Pratiṣṭhā-vidhi)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Type: Temple construction site
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Outside the construction area, a homa altar burns; priests worship Īśa and other deities in directional order, offering three ladles of ghee per deity while assistants hold lists/manuscripts; foundation stones await nearby.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, outer homa-kunda with tall flames, priest offering three āhutis, directional deities symbolically placed around, stacked foundation stones at side, warm ochres and reds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central homa fire with gold highlights, Īśa invoked above with ornate gold aura, priests in ritual posture, vessels and stones rendered richly, decorative arch border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear sequential depiction: three spoonful offerings shown in a panel-like narrative, labeled deity order (Īśa-ādi), calm palette and precise detailing","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, bustling yet orderly ritual outside a building site, fine details of fire altar, ghee ladles, priests and patrons, foundation stones arranged, delicate landscape background"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ity = iti; trinavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = trinavatitamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; caturṇavatitamo 'dhyāyaḥ = caturṇavatitamaḥ + adhyāyaḥ; pūjayedvahiḥ = pūjayet + vahiḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 93 (vāstupūjā-kathana, ‘pūrvavat’ reference); Agni Purana 94 (continuation of śilāvinnyāsa details beyond this opening)
FAQs
It prescribes the ārādhana sequence for foundation/stone-laying (śilā-vinyāsa): worship the specified deities beginning with Īśa, perform the worship externally (vahiḥ) as earlier taught, and give three fire oblations (āhuti-tritaya) to each deity in order.
Beyond mythology, it records applied Vāstu-śāstra: practical temple-building liturgy (deity sequence, location of worship, and quantified oblations). This is characteristic of the Agni Purāṇa’s manual-like coverage of architecture, ritual procedure, and consecration protocols.
By offering ordered worship and triple oblations to each deity, the rite is framed as sanctifying the construction space and aligning the building with divine guardianship, thereby removing obstacles (doṣa-śānti) and generating merit through disciplined, rule-based ritual action.