Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
Chapter 63 — सुदर्शनचक्रादिप्रतिष्ठाकथनं
Procedure for Consecrating the Sudarśana Discus and Other Divine Emblems
स्थापयेज्जलशय्यास्थं मत्स्यादींश्चावतारकान् सङ्कर्षणं विश्वरूपं लिङ्गं वै रुद्रमूर्तिकं
sthāpayejjalaśayyāsthaṃ matsyādīṃścāvatārakān saṅkarṣaṇaṃ viśvarūpaṃ liṅgaṃ vai rudramūrtikaṃ
Deve-se instalar (a imagem do) Senhor reclinado sobre o leito das águas (jalashayya), bem como as encarnações que começam com Matsya; também Saṅkarṣaṇa, a Forma Universal (Viśvarūpa) e, de fato, o Liṅga que corporifica Rudra.
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Shilpa","secondary_vidya":"Avatara-Katha","practical_application":"Specifies additional installable forms—Anantaśayana, avatāras, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa, and Rudra-liṅga—guiding multi-deity temple programs and icon sets.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"List","entry_title":"Installable forms: Jalāśayana, Matsyādi-avatāras, Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa, Rudra-liṅga","lookup_keywords":["jalāśayana","matsya-avatāra","saṅkarṣaṇa","viśvarūpa","rudra-liṅga"],"quick_summary":"Along with Viṣṇu forms, one may install Anantaśayana (reclining on the waters), avatāras beginning with Matsya, Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa, and also a Rudra-embodying liṅga—indicating integrated Vaiṣṇava-Śaiva icon programs."}
Concept: Multiple divine manifestations (avatāra/vyūha/viśvarūpa) can be ritually stabilized in icons; liṅga is accepted as Rudra’s embodied sign.
Application: Temple planning: deciding subsidiary shrines and icon ensembles for festivals and daily pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Pratima-sthapana and Devata-pratishtha)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A temple consecration tableau showing Anantaśayana on the cosmic waters, a row of avatāras starting with Matsya, Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa panels, and a Rudra-liṅga being installed.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural with central Anantaśayana on stylized waves; side register of Matsya and other avatāras; Saṅkarṣaṇa and Viśvarūpa as iconic panels; a liṅga with bilva leaves; bold sacred geometry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold relief: reclining Viṣṇu on Śeṣa over blue waters; avatāra medallions; Viśvarūpa with radiating gold; Rudra-liṅga with ornate pedestal and lamps.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style instructional montage: sequential avatāra icons labeled; schematic of reclining posture; separate panel for liṅga installation; clean composition and fine lines.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature of a temple interior: artisans carry a liṅga; priests point to painted panels of Matsya and Viśvarūpa; Anantaśayana depicted on a hanging cloth; intricate architectural detail."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"epic","suggested_raga":null,"pace":"medium","voice_tone":"epic"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sthāpayejjalaśayyāsthaṃ = sthāpayet jala-śayyā-stham; matsyādīṃścāvatārakān = matsya-ādīn ca avatārakān.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 63 (lists of deities/forms for installation)
FAQs
It gives a pratishtha (installation) directive: establish specific divine forms for worship—Viṣṇu as Jalaśayyā (reclining on cosmic waters), his avatāras like Matsya, the vyūha Saṅkarṣaṇa, the cosmic Viśvarūpa, and Śiva as the Rudra-form Liṅga.
It compresses multiple streams—Vaiṣṇava avatāra theology, Pāñcarātra-style vyūha (Saṅkarṣaṇa), Bhagavadgītā/epic cosmic form (Viśvarūpa), and Śaiva liṅga worship—into a single practical ritual instruction, showing the text’s wide ritual and iconographic coverage.
Installing and worshipping these sanctioned forms is treated as dharmic temple-service (arcana) that purifies the performer, stabilizes devotion through proper forms (mūrti/arcā), and harmonizes worship across major Puranic deities (Viṣṇu and Rudra).