Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 3
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
अथ नारायणं मध्ये आग्नेय्यामम्बिकां न्यसेत् नैरृत्यां भास्करं वायौ ब्रह्माणं लिङ्गमीशके
atha nārāyaṇaṃ madhye āgneyyāmambikāṃ nyaset nairṛtyāṃ bhāskaraṃ vāyau brahmāṇaṃ liṅgamīśake
ต่อจากนั้นให้สถาปนานารายณะไว้กลางผัง. ทิศอาคเนย์ให้ประดิษฐานอัมพิกา; ทิศตะวันตกเฉียงใต้ให้ภาสกร (พระอาทิตย์); ทิศวายุ/ตะวันตกเฉียงเหนือให้พรหมา; และทิศอีศานะ (ตะวันออกเฉียงเหนือ) ให้สถาปนาลึงค์ (ศิวลึงค์) ของพระศิวะ.
Lord Agni (in Agni Purana’s standard narration to a sage, commonly Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Puja-vidhi","practical_application":"Pañcāyatana/mandala installation map: central Nārāyaṇa with specific deities in the four quarters for integrated worship and spatial protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pañcāyatana nyāsa: Nārāyaṇa center; Ambikā–Bhāskara–Brahmā–Liṅga in quarters","lookup_keywords":["Narayana center","Ambika agneya","Bhaskara nairriti","Brahma vayavya","Linga ishanya"],"quick_summary":"Install Nārāyaṇa in the center and place Ambikā (SE), Sūrya (SW), Brahmā (NW), and Śiva-liṅga (NE). This creates a balanced multi-deity mandala for temple or domestic worship."}
Concept: Samanvaya (integration) of major deities around Nārāyaṇa as center; spatial theology of pañcāyatana.
Application: Design/perform worship so that central devotion remains focused while honoring Devī, Sūrya, Brahmā, and Śiva in their prescribed quarters.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa & Mandala-deity placement / Dikpala-vinyasa)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pañcāyatana mandala: Nārāyaṇa enthroned at center; Ambikā in southeast with lotus and śakti symbols; Bhāskara in southwest with solar disc; Brahmā in northwest with four faces; Śiva-liṅga in northeast on yoni-pīṭha; priest performing installation rites.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: central Nārāyaṇa with four surrounding deities in quarters, Śiva-liṅga clearly in northeast, bold outlines, warm earthy palette, lamps and floral garlands, mandala floor pattern","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: central Nārāyaṇa with gold halo, four subsidiary deities in corner medallions, heavy gold embossing on ornaments, Śiva-liṅga rendered with polished stone sheen, ornate arch and border","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: instructional pañcāyatana layout with gentle shading, clear directional cues, priest placing kalasha and flowers, emphasis on correct quarter placement, fine linework","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: temple courtyard with geometric plan, central shrine and four corner shrines, detailed ritual implements, attendants, precise architectural perspective, subdued jewel tones"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Sankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: ‘āgneyyāmambikām’ resolved as āgneyyām + ambikām. ‘liṅgamīśake’ resolved as liṅgam + īśake.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43.1 (pañcāyatana center rule); Agni Purana 43.2 (directional placements); Agni Purana 42 (prāsāda planning preceding installation)
FAQs
It teaches nyāsa/vinyāsa—ritual installation of specific deities in the center and the cardinal/intercardinal directions of a worship-maṇḍala.
It preserves a practical, systematized ritual blueprint (directional iconography and placement) alongside the Purana’s many other domains, showing its handbook-like coverage of temple and household worship procedure.
Correct directional installation is held to harmonize the worship space, invite the intended divine presences, and ensure the rite’s efficacy (siddhi) and purification through properly ordered devotion.