Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 34
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
नारायणं न्यसेद्वक्त्रे ग्रीवायां माधवं न्यसेत् अने इत्य् उक्ताः पञ्चशक्तयः इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः दानकर्मणि इति ङ, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः अभ्यर्चायामिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः क्षकारमिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः या मूर्तिः स्थाप्यते तस्यामिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः गोविन्दं भुजयोर्न्यस्य विष्णुं च हृदये न्यसेत्
nārāyaṇaṃ nyasedvaktre grīvāyāṃ mādhavaṃ nyaset ane ity uktāḥ pañcaśaktayaḥ iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ dānakarmaṇi iti ṅa, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ abhyarcāyāmiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ kṣakāramiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ yā mūrtiḥ sthāpyate tasyāmiti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ govindaṃ bhujayornyasya viṣṇuṃ ca hṛdaye nyaset
พึงกระทำนยาสะโดยวางพระนารายณะที่ปาก และวางพระมาธวะที่ลำคอ เมื่อวางพระโควินทะที่แขนทั้งสองแล้ว พึงวางพระวิษณุไว้ ณ ดวงหทัยด้วย.
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Continues Vaishnava anga-nyasa: assigns Nārāyaṇa to mouth, Mādhava to neck, Govinda to arms, and Viṣṇu to heart—used in puja, pratyarca, and protective sealing.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Aṅga-nyāsa of Nārāyaṇa–Mādhava–Govinda–Viṣṇu on mouth/neck/arms/heart","lookup_keywords":["nārāyaṇa-nyasa","mādhava-nyasa","govinda-nyasa","viṣṇu-hṛdaya","anga-nyasa"],"quick_summary":"Place Nārāyaṇa on the mouth, Mādhava on the neck, Govinda on both arms, and Viṣṇu on the heart—completing a functional body-seal for worship and mantra-siddhi."}
Concept: Divine names are installed to govern speech (mouth), expression (neck/voice), action (arms), and inner devotion (heart).
Application: Before mantra-recitation, touch the respective loci while reciting each name to align speech, breath/voice, action, and intention.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Nyasa and Murti/Archa worship procedure)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest performs nyasa: touching mouth (Nārāyaṇa), neck (Mādhava), both arms (Govinda), and heart (Viṣṇu), with a Vishnu icon or yantra before him; marginal notes indicate variant readings in manuscripts.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, priest with highlighted mouth/neck/arms/heart points, Vishnu shrine in background, palm-leaf manuscript motif showing variant readings, bold lines and traditional palette.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-embossed Vishnu altar, priest in foreground touching heart, four name-label cartouches (Nārāyaṇa, Mādhava, Govinda, Viṣṇu), ornate gold border and rich colors.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, didactic layout with clear gestures at mouth/neck/arms/heart, small inset of manuscript variants (scribal marks), fine linework and soft shading.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest beside an open manuscript with marginalia, performing nyasa gestures, detailed textiles and vessels, subtle aura around the heart locus."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: nyasedvaktre → nyaset + vaktre; ity uktāḥ → iti + uktāḥ; abhyarcāyāmiti → abhyarcāyām + iti; kṣakāramiti → kṣakāram + iti; bhujayornyasya → bhujayoḥ + nyasya.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 59.33 (Keśava placement and broader sequence); Agni Purana 59.31-59.32 (pratyarca and mūlamantra nyasa)
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa sequence—assigning Viṣṇu’s names to bodily locations (mouth, neck, arms, heart) as part of Vaiṣṇava worship and mantra-embodiment before pūjā.
Beyond mythic narration, the Agni Purana preserves practical liturgical technology—precise ritual micro-steps (nyāsa placements) used in daily worship, temple practice, and image-veneration manuals.
Nyāsa ritually ‘installs’ the deity in the worshipper’s body, purifying speech, vital centers, and action-capacity, thereby making the subsequent pūjā focused, sanctified, and merit-bearing (puṇya).