Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 5
जीर्णोद्धारः (Jīrṇoddhāra) — Renovation and Ritual Handling of Defective Liṅgas and Old Shrines
ततो ऽन्यत्रापि संस्थाप्य विधिदृष्टेन कर्मणा न्यूनादिदोषनाशार्थं कृत्वेति झ न्यूनादिदोषनाशाय हुत्वेति घ , ज च कर्तर्भोगवत इति ख , छ च त्याज्या पिण्डीति घ निम्नमित्यर्थमिति ज सन्त्याज्यमिति झ सुस्थितं दुस्थितं वापि शिवलिङ्गं न चालयेत्
tato 'nyatrāpi saṃsthāpya vidhidṛṣṭena karmaṇā nyūnādidoṣanāśārthaṃ kṛtveti jha nyūnādidoṣanāśāya hutveti gha , ja ca kartarbhogavata iti kha , cha ca tyājyā piṇḍīti gha nimnamityarthamiti ja santyājyamiti jha susthitaṃ dusthitaṃ vāpi śivaliṅgaṃ na cālayet
ต่อจากนั้น เมื่อตั้งใหม่ ณ ที่อื่นตามกรรมพิธีที่คัมภีร์กำหนดแล้ว พึงประกอบพิธีเพื่อกำจัดความบกพร่อง เช่น ความขาดตกบกพร่องในขั้นตอนพิธี ไม่ว่าศิวลึงค์จะตั้งมั่นดีหรือไม่ดี ก็ไม่พึงขยับศิวลึงค์
Lord Agni (instructing sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","secondary_vidya":"Vastu","practical_application":"Operational rule for temple priests: if relocation is required, re-establish by prescribed rite and perform doṣa-nāśa acts; otherwise do not disturb the liṅga even if placement seems imperfect, to avoid greater ritual fault.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Doṣa-nivāraṇa and the prohibition on moving the Śiva-liṅga","lookup_keywords":["doṣa-nāśa","nyūna-doṣa","punar-sthāpana","liṅga-calana-niṣedha","pratiṣṭhā"],"quick_summary":"When re स्थापना is undertaken, it must follow śāstric procedure with rites to remove deficiencies. As a governing rule, the Śiva-liṅga should not be moved—whether well-placed or ill-placed—except under properly authorized corrective protocol."}
Concept: Consecration creates a binding sacred status; casual alteration violates dharma. Correction is allowed only through rule-governed rites aimed at doṣa-removal.
Application: Create temple SOPs: movement/relocation requires authorization, śāstric consultation, and complete doṣa-nivāraṇa sequence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Shiva-linga Pratishtha & Dosha-nivarana)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhayānaka
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Priests and trustees debate moving a liṅga; an ācārya stops them, pointing to śāstra, while a formal re-installation setup is prepared elsewhere with fire-altar for doṣa-nāśa rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, dramatic yet restrained: ācārya with palm-leaf text gestures ‘do not move’, attendants holding ropes halted, homa-kuṇḍa prepared in corner, warm lamp-lit palette","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Śiva-liṅga radiant, gold-leaf on lamps and arch, ācārya in authoritative pose, ritual vessels and homa fire indicating sanctioned doṣa-nivāraṇa","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional scene: two panels—(1) prohibition signified by ācārya stopping movement, (2) proper punar-sthāpana with homa for nyūna-doṣa removal, clear composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, council-like temple interior with priests and patrons, detailed manuscripts, a halted attempt to move the liṅga, nearby fire-altar and ritual implements, fine architectural detailing"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Todi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: tato 'nyatrāpi: tataḥ + anyatra + api (visarga→’ before vowel). bhavet-type sandhis not central here. śivaliṅgaṃ: śiva + liṅgam. na cālayet: na + cālayet. Several mid-line items (jha/gha/ja/kha/cha) are recensional markers from the provided text; treated as editorial indeclinables.
Related Themes: Agni Purana: Pratiṣṭhā-vidhi (installation rules); Agni Purana: Jīrṇoddhāra chapter (renovation protocol); Agni Purana: Śānti/prāyaścitta materials (defect-removal logic)
FAQs
It teaches liṅga-pratiṣṭhā protocol: if relocation/alternate placement is required, it must be done strictly by injunctions, with remedial rites to remove procedural deficiencies (nyūnādi-doṣa); additionally, it prohibits disturbing the Śiva-liṅga once set.
It preserves detailed, practice-oriented temple and domestic worship procedure—covering installation, fault-remediation, and handling of sacred icons—showing the Agni Purana’s breadth beyond mythology into applied ritual science (pūjā-vidhi).
Non-disturbance of the liṅga safeguards sanctity and ritual stability; prescribed remedial acts for omissions are framed as purification measures that prevent ritual defects from producing adverse karmic or spiritual outcomes.