Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 4
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
अथवा रुद्ररूपन्तु अथवा नवधामसु वासुदेवं न्यसेन्मध्ये पूर्वादौ वामवामकान्
athavā rudrarūpantu athavā navadhāmasu vāsudevaṃ nyasenmadhye pūrvādau vāmavāmakān
หรือจะประดิษฐานเทวะในรูปพระรุทระก็ได้; หรือในนวธามทั้งเก้าให้ตั้งพระวาสุเทวะไว้กลาง แล้วเริ่มจากทิศตะวันออก จัดวางตามลำดับโดยเวียนซ้าย (ทวนเข็มนาฬิกา) อย่างถูกต้อง
Lord Agni (teaching ritual procedure in Agni Purana’s instructional dialogue)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mandala-devatā-nyāsa in pūjā: selecting a deity-form (Rudra-rūpa or navadhāma scheme), fixing the central deity (Vāsudeva), and placing surrounding deities in a prescribed directional/counterclockwise order for ritual efficacy and consistency.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Navadhāma-maṇḍala: Vāsudeva-kendra & vāma-krama nyāsa","lookup_keywords":["navadhāma","maṇḍala-nyāsa","Vāsudeva","Rudra-rūpa","vāma-krama"],"quick_summary":"For maṇḍala worship, install Vāsudeva at the center; then place the remaining stations beginning from the east in a leftward (counterclockwise) sequence, optionally using a Rudra-form installation scheme."}
Concept: Kendra (center) as the locus of īśvara-tattva; ordered dik-nyāsa as a means to harmonize the worshipper’s microcosm with the maṇḍala’s macrocosmic structure.
Application: Use consistent spatial sequencing (east-first, counterclockwise) to stabilize attention (dhāraṇā) and ensure ritual reproducibility.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Mandala-deity placement (Tantric-Vaishnava ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual maṇḍala with a central Vāsudeva icon/yantra; surrounding nine stations marked from the east, with arrows indicating counterclockwise placement; priest performing nyāsa gestures.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat yet vivid colors, central Vāsudeva seated in a radiant circle, nine surrounding compartments, priest with nyāsa mudrā, sacred geometry lines, lamp-lit sanctum ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, central Vāsudeva with ornate crown and halo in gold leaf, maṇḍala compartments embossed, rich red-green palette, ritual vessels and conch-disc motifs, symmetrical composition","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean linework showing the maṇḍala diagram, labeled directions (east-first), subtle shading, priest demonstrating counterclockwise sequence, instructional clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed floor maṇḍala with calligraphic labels, courtly priest and assistants placing small icons in sequence, architectural interior with patterned carpets and lamps"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shuddha Saveri","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: रुद्ररूपन्तु = रुद्ररूपम् + तु; न्यसेन्मध्ये = न्यसेत् + मध्ये (त्→न् before म); पूर्वादौ = पूर्व + आदौ; वामवामकान् treated as compound वाम-वामकान्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43 (Pūjā-vidhi: maṇḍala-devatā-nyāsa context)
FAQs
It teaches mantra-nyāsa/mandala procedure: placing Vāsudeva at the center of a ninefold arrangement and installing the remaining positions starting from the east in a leftward (counterclockwise) sequence; it also allows an alternate Rudra-form installation.
Beyond mythology, it preserves practical liturgical technology—how to construct and populate a ritual diagram (navadhāma) with specific deity-forms and directional sequencing, reflecting the Purana’s compendium-style coverage of worship methods.
Correct deity-placement and directionally ordered nyāsa is held to stabilize the rite, align the worshipper with the deity’s cosmic order, and enhance the efficacy (siddhi) and purity (śuddhi) of the worship.