Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 32
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
यां मूर्तिं स्थापयेत्तस्मात् मूलमन्त्रं न्यसेत्ततः ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय मूलकं
yāṃ mūrtiṃ sthāpayettasmāt mūlamantraṃ nyasettataḥ oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya mūlakaṃ
ฉะนั้น เมื่อสถาปนามูรติใดแล้ว พึงกระทำนยาสะแห่งมูลมนตร์ต่อจากนั้น มูลวาจาคือ “โอม นะโม ภควเต วาสุเทวายะ”.
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"In murti-pratishtha/archa context, prescribes nyasa of the Vaishnava mūlamantra for any installed icon; provides the root formula ‘Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya’.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Mantra","entry_title":"Vaishnava mūlamantra for nyāsa: Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya","lookup_keywords":["mūlamantra","oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya","nyāsa","mūrti-sthāpana","vaiṣṇava"],"quick_summary":"After installing an icon, perform nyāsa of the root mantra; the standard Vaishnava mūlamantra is ‘Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya’ for consecration and devotional alignment."}
Concept: Mantra is the means of āveśa/saṃbandha—linking the installed form with the divine presence through mūlamantra-nyāsa.
Application: Use the mūlamantra during installation and daily worship to maintain continuity between pratiṣṭhā and nitya-pūjā.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Murti-pratishtha and Mantra-nyasa)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"An icon of Vāsudeva being installed on a pedestal; the priest performs nyāsa while reciting ‘Oṃ Namo Bhagavate Vāsudevāya’, with sanctifying water, flowers, and lamp present.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, temple sanctum scene with Vishnu idol on lotus pedestal, priest touching limbs in nyasa, visible mantra ribbon ‘oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya’, warm ochres and reds, stylized lamps.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, richly ornamented Vāsudeva murti with gold foil arch, priest in foreground performing nyasa, kalasha and conch, embossed gold highlights on crown and halo.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear step-by-step consecration scene: murti on altar, priest applying nyasa points, neat depiction of ritual vessels, soft pastel palette.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine interior with marble textures, priest reciting mantra, attendants holding flowers and incense, luminous aura around the newly installed icon."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: sthāpayettasmāt → sthāpayet + tasmāt; nyasettataḥ → nyaset + tataḥ.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59.33-59.34 (anga-nyasa with Keśava etc.)
FAQs
It teaches murti-sthāpana followed by mūla-mantra-nyāsa—ritually installing the principal mantra into/onto the deity’s icon and the worship context, using “Oṃ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya” as the root formula.
By prescribing a concrete, step-based temple and home-worship protocol (pratiṣṭhā + nyāsa + mūla-mantra), it exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical coverage of ritual technology alongside its many other domains (law, polity, medicine, arts).
Nyāsa with the mūla-mantra is treated as empowering and sanctifying the installation, aligning the worshipper and icon with Vāsudeva’s presence, and thereby increasing the efficacy (siddhi) and purity (śuddhi) of the rite.