Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 43 — प्रासाददेवतास्थापनम्
Installation of Deities in a Temple
पद्मामैशे वासुदेवं मध्ये नारायणञ्च वा त्रयोदशालये मध्ये विश्वरूपं न्यसेद्धरिं
padmāmaiśe vāsudevaṃ madhye nārāyaṇañca vā trayodaśālaye madhye viśvarūpaṃ nyaseddhariṃ
ในปัทมาสนะให้ตั้งพระวาสุเทวะไว้กลาง—หรือพระนารายณ์; และในการจัดวางศาล/อาลัยสิบสามแห่ง ให้ประดิษฐานพระหริในปางวิศวรูปไว้ตรงกลาง
Lord Agni (narrating ritual procedure to Sage Vasiṣṭha in the Agni Purana’s instructional voice)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Installing the principal Vishnu form in the center: either Vāsudeva or Nārāyaṇa on the lotus-seat; in a thirteen-shrine (trayodaśālaya) scheme, placing Hari as Viśvarūpa in the middle as the integrative cosmic form for comprehensive worship.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Padmāsana-kendra nyāsa and Trayodaśālaya Viśvarūpa-sthāpanā","lookup_keywords":["padmāsana","Vāsudeva","Nārāyaṇa","trayodaśālaya","Viśvarūpa"],"quick_summary":"Place Vāsudeva (or Nārāyaṇa) at the center on the lotus-seat; in the thirteen-abode layout, install Hari as Viśvarūpa in the middle to represent the totality of forms."}
Concept: Viśvarūpa as a contemplative support for perceiving the One as the many—Hari as the center that contains and orders all manifestations.
Application: During worship, use the central Viśvarūpa concept to integrate diverse devatā-upāsanā into a single focus, reducing fragmentation of attention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Vishnu-murti-nyasa and Mandala/Alaya placement)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A central lotus-seat with Vāsudeva/Nārāyaṇa enthroned; alternatively a grand central Viśvarūpa icon surrounded by twelve subsidiary shrines (13 total), forming a sacred geometric campus.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central Viśvarūpa radiating multiple forms within a halo, lotus-seat emphasized, surrounding twelve small shrine-panels, deep reds and ochres, sanctum lamps and floral garlands","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Viśvarūpa with heavy gold leaf halo and embossed ornaments, lotus pedestal sparkling, twelve subsidiary shrines in a ring with gold borders, rich maroon background","mysore_prompt":"Mysore, precise architectural diagram of trayodaśālaya with central lotus-seat, small painted icons for each shrine, clear symmetry and instructional labeling","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, palace-like temple complex with thirteen kiosks, central pavilion housing Viśvarūpa, attendants carrying offerings, intricate architectural detailing and patterned courtyards"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: पद्मामैशे = पद्माम् + ऐशे; नारायणञ्च = नारायणम् + च; त्रयोदशालये = त्रयोदश-आलये; न्यसेद्धरिं = न्यसेत् + हरिम् (त्→द् before ह; gemination in recitation).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 43 (pūjā-vidhi: central deity installation and multi-ālaya schemes)
FAQs
It gives a precise nyāsa/installation rule: place Vāsudeva (or Nārāyaṇa) at the central lotus-seat, and in a thirteen-abode layout establish Hari in the center as Viśvarūpa.
It demonstrates the text’s practical ritual-architecture guidance—mapping deity-forms to specific spatial positions (center/lotus-seat; thirteen-abode scheme), blending theology with procedural temple/mandala design.
Centering Vāsudeva/Nārāyaṇa and installing Hari as Viśvarūpa sacralizes the ritual space, aligning the worshipper with the cosmic order (Viśvarūpa) and strengthening devotional merit through correct iconographic placement.