Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 17
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
बलिं दत्वा कर्मशस्त्रं टङ्कादिकमथार्चयेत् हुत्वाथ शालितोयेन अस्त्रेण प्रोक्षयेच्छिलां
baliṃ datvā karmaśastraṃ ṭaṅkādikamathārcayet hutvātha śālitoyena astreṇa prokṣayecchilāṃ
ครั้นถวายบะลีแล้ว พึงบูชาเครื่องมือการงาน เช่น สิ่วและอื่น ๆ ต่อจากนั้นเมื่อทำโหมะเสร็จ พึงประพรมศิลาด้วยน้ำข้าว (ศาลิโตยะ) โดยใช้อัสตรมนตร์เพื่อการสถาปนาให้ศักดิ์สิทธิ์।
Lord Agni (traditional Agni Purana narration to sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Consecration workflow for sacred construction/image-making: bali offering, worship of tools (chisel etc.), homa, and purification of stone by rice-water sprinkling empowered by Astra-mantra.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Karma-śastra-pūjā & Śilā-prokṣaṇa with Astra-mantra","lookup_keywords":["bali","ṭaṅka (chisel)","karmāyudha-pūjā","astra-mantra","śāli-toya prokṣaṇa"],"quick_summary":"Before working the stone, offer bali, worship the tools, perform homa, then sprinkle the stone with rice-water while applying the Astra-mantra—ritually purifying and authorizing the craft action."}
Weapon Type: Astra (mantric weapon principle)
Concept: Karma-śuddhi through mantra and upacāra: tools and materials become fit (yogya) for sacred purpose by worship and mantric protection.
Application: Adopt a disciplined pre-work rite: honor instruments, perform offerings, and ritually purify materials to reduce errors, accidents, and ritual impurity.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-vidhi (Ritual procedure for consecration and tool-worship; purification by astric sprinkling)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A consecration scene: bali offering placed, artisans’ tools (chisel, hammer) arranged and worshiped with flowers; homa fire burning; a priest sprinkles rice-water on a large stone while reciting Astra-mantra.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: priest with kamaṇḍalu sprinkling śāli-toya on a stone, tools laid on a cloth with flowers, homa fire to the side, stylized mantra aura around the stone, warm earthy tones.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-highlighted tools and vessels, priest mid-sprinkle, radiant aura around stone indicating Astra-mantra, ornate borders, deep reds and greens.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: clear didactic layout—bali plate, tool-pūjā arrangement, homa kuṇḍa, and prokṣaṇa action; fine lines, labeled feel, calm palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed workshop-ritual fusion, artisans and priest, precise depiction of chisel set, rice-water sprinkling captured mid-air, architectural interior with patterned carpets."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ṭaṅkādikamathārcayet = ṭaṅka-ādikam atha arcayet; hutvātha = hutvā atha; prokṣayecchilām = prokṣayet śilām (t + ś → cch by sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana pūjā-vidhi/pratiṣṭhā sequences around tool worship and prokṣaṇa; Agni Purana mantra sections describing protective mantras (astra-related)
FAQs
It teaches a consecration sequence: offer bali, worship the work-implements (like chisels), perform homa, and then ritually purify/consecrate the stone by prokṣaṇa (sprinkling) with rice-water empowered by the Astra-mantra.
Alongside theology, it preserves practical ritual-technology: procedures for sanctifying materials and tools used in construction/installation, integrating mantra, homa, and purity-rites—showing the text’s coverage of applied disciplines such as Vāstu and temple praxis.
By worshipping tools and sanctifying the stone through homa and astric sprinkling, the act of construction/installation is converted into a dharmic, purified undertaking—minimizing ritual impurity and aligning the work with protective and merit-generating rites.