Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 45
Chapter 59 — अधिवासनकथनं
Adhivāsana: The Rite of Inviting and Stabilizing Hari’s Presence
तन्मध्ये पौरुषीं शक्तिं ध्यात्वाभ्यर्च्य च दिशिकः प्रतिमायां हरिं न्यस्य तत्र तं पूजयेत् सुरान्
tanmadhye pauruṣīṃ śaktiṃ dhyātvābhyarcya ca diśikaḥ pratimāyāṃ hariṃ nyasya tatra taṃ pūjayet surān
ภายใน (สถานพิธี/มณฑล) นั้น ผู้ประกอบพิธีพึงเพ่งภาวนา “ศักติปุรุษี” แล้วบูชาให้ถูกต้อง; จากนั้นอัญเชิญหริ (วิษณุ) ประดิษฐานในเทวรูป และบูชาพระองค์ ณ ที่นั้นพร้อมหมู่เทพบริวาร
Lord Agni (in instruction to sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Pratima-pratiṣṭhā/āvāhana: internal śakti-dhyāna followed by nyāsa of Hari into the icon and worship of the deity with attendant devatās.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Pauruṣī-śakti-dhyāna and Hari-nyāsa in the icon","lookup_keywords":["pauruṣī śakti","hari-nyāsa","pratiṣṭhā","āvāhana","deva-arcana"],"quick_summary":"Meditate on the indwelling Pauruṣī power, worship it, then install Viṣṇu into the image and complete worship including the divine retinue."}
Concept: Śakti as the inner enabling power for devatā-āveśa (ritual embodiment) in the icon.
Application: Perform dhyāna and worship of śakti before nyāsa/āvāhana to stabilize the consecration and avoid ‘empty’ ritualism.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Pratima-pratishtha and Deva-archana procedures)
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A priest before a consecration diagram, meditating on an inner radiant śakti, then touching the Viṣṇu icon in nyāsa, followed by offering worship with attendant deities around.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style, flat bold colors, priest in white dhoti performing nyāsa on a standing Viṣṇu idol, subtle haloed śakti-figure in the heart-lotus motif, surrounding devatās in circular arrangement, lamp-lit sanctum ambience","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting with gold leaf, central Viṣṇu pratīmā with ornate arch, priest performing āvāhana/nyāsa gesture, gold-highlighted aura, small attendant gods in panels around, rich reds and greens","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting style, delicate linework, instructional depiction of ritual steps: dhyāna posture, then hand-to-icon nyāsa, then offerings; labeled implements (kalasha, flowers, incense)","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed shrine interior, officiant installing Hari into the icon, attendants holding trays of flowers and incense, symmetrical composition with retinue figures around the sanctified space"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: तन्मध्ये = तत् + मध्ये; ध्यात्वाभ्यर्च्य = ध्यात्वा + अभ्यर्च्य; (IAST diśikaḥ as given); no further mandatory sandhi splits.
Related Themes: Agni Purāṇa 59 (pratiṣṭhā/arcana sequence); Agni Purāṇa sections on mantra-nyāsa and āvaraṇa-pūjā (within pūjā-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It teaches a precise worship-sequence: (1) meditate on and worship the indwelling Pauruṣī-Śakti, (2) perform nyāsa to install Hari (Viṣṇu) into the icon, and (3) worship the installed deity together with the attendant devas.
By preserving procedural liturgy—dhyāna, arcana, nyāsa, and retinue-worship—it documents applied temple/household ritual technology alongside the Purāṇa’s broader coverage of many disciplines.
The verse emphasizes that worship becomes efficacious when divine power is invoked (Śakti-dhyāna) and the deity is ritually established (nyāsa), making the offering a direct act of devotion to the present deity and its divine entourage.