Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 8
Chapter 47 — शालग्रामादिपूजाकथनं
Teaching the Worship of Śālagrāma and Related Sacred Forms
आसनं द्वादशार्णेन तत्र स्थाप्य शिलां यजेत् अस्तेन च समस्तेन स्ववीजेन यजेत् क्रमात्
āsanaṃ dvādaśārṇena tatra sthāpya śilāṃ yajet astena ca samastena svavījena yajet kramāt
เมื่อสถาปนาอาสนะด้วยมนต์สิบสองพยางค์แล้ว พึงประดิษฐานศิลาอันศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ณ ที่นั้นและบูชา ต่อจากนั้นตามลำดับ พึงบูชาด้วยอัสตร-มนต์ ด้วยชุดมนต์ครบถ้วน และด้วยพีชมนต์ของตน
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Tantra","practical_application":"Mantra-based installation and worship sequence: establish āsana with a twelve-syllabled mantra, install the śilā (sacred stone), then worship sequentially using astra-mantra, the full mantra-set, and one’s bīja for empowerment and protection.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Dvādaśākṣara-āsana and Śilā-sthāpana with Astra and Bīja worship","lookup_keywords":["dvādaśākṣara mantra","āsana sthāpana","śilā installation","astra mantra","bīja mantra"],"quick_summary":"Create the ritual seat with a twelve-syllable mantra, install the sacred stone, then proceed in order with astra-mantra (protective sealing), complete mantra set, and personal bīja to finalize empowerment."}
Concept: Mantra precedes and empowers form: āsana is mantra-made, the installed object becomes worship-worthy through ordered mantra application (astra → full set → bīja).
Application: In daily arcana, keep the sequence: seat-consecration, installation, protective astra, then main mantras, concluding with bīja for consolidation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Mantra-deity installation and worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest establishes an āsana marked by a twelve-syllable mantra, places a sacred stone on it, then performs protective astra gestures and subsequent mantra offerings, ending with bīja recitation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest before a low altar, mantra-inscribed āsana cloth, dark stone (śilā) centered, dynamic protective astra gesture, subtle aura around the stone","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold halo around the installed śilā, mantra letters ornamenting the seat border, priest offering flowers and performing astra sealing, rich temple lamps","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, clear step-by-step tableau: āsana with dvādaśākṣara, placement of śilā, then astra-mantra and bīja recitation, fine linework and instructional composition","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate shrine interior, calligraphic mantra on the seat cloth, polished stone emblem, priest and assistants with offerings, precise depiction of ritual sequence"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: स्थाप्य is gerund (ल्यप्) from √स्था; क्रमात् used adverbially ‘in sequence’. Some ritual terms (अस्त) are tradition-specific.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 47 (āsana, mantra-nyāsa, astra usage in pūjā-vidhi)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-sequence: establish the āsana with a twelve-syllabled mantra, install the śilā, then worship using the astra-mantra (for protection/consecration), the full mantra-set, and finally the bīja-mantra.
By preserving a step-by-step liturgical protocol (mantra-nyāsa and pūjā-krama) alongside other disciplines, it shows the Agni Purana’s role as a practical manual of ritual technology within its broader encyclopedic coverage.
Performing installation and worship in the correct mantra-sequence is held to purify the rite, protect it from obstacles (via astra-mantra), and make the offering efficacious—thereby generating merit through properly ordered devotion and consecration.