Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 39
Chapter 61 — द्वारप्रतिष्ठाध्वजारोहाणादिविधिः
Gateway Installation, Flag Hoisting, and Allied Rites
मनोरूपेण तस्यैव सजीवकरणं स्मृतं अरेषु मूर्तयो न्यस्याः केशवाद्याः सुरोत्तम
manorūpeṇa tasyaiva sajīvakaraṇaṃ smṛtaṃ areṣu mūrtayo nyasyāḥ keśavādyāḥ surottama
การทำให้มีชีวิต (สชีวกะระณะ) ของสิ่งนั้น ตามคำสอน ให้กระทำด้วยการกำหนดนึกในใจเท่านั้น โอ้เทวะผู้ประเสริฐ ในซี่จักร (spokes) พึงทำการนยาสะแห่งรูปภาวะที่เริ่มด้วยเกศวะ
Lord Agni (in dialogue with Sage Vasiṣṭha)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Shilpa","practical_application":"Sajīvakaraṇa (ritual enlivening) through mental visualization and installation of Keśava and allied forms in the spokes of a cakra/yantra for Vaiṣṇava pratiṣṭhā.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Sajīvakaraṇa by Manas and Keśavādi Nyāsa in the Spokes","lookup_keywords":["sajīvakaraṇa","manorūpa","are (spokes)","keśava","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Enliven the installed form primarily through mental visualization, then place Keśava and the subsequent Vaiṣṇava forms into the spokes of the ritual wheel/diagram as a structured devatā-mandala."}
Concept: Manas as the chief instrument of pratiṣṭhā: visualization confers ‘life’ (sajīvatā) to the installed devatā-form within a mandalic body.
Application: Train concentrated dhyāna so that installation is not merely external; use structured placement (spokes) to stabilize multi-form contemplation.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Pratishtha-vidhi (Icon installation and consecration rites)
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual wheel with multiple spokes is drawn; in each spoke a small Viṣṇu-form is visualized/installed beginning with Keśava, while the officiant performs inward sajīvakaraṇa through focused meditation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala with spokes, each spoke holding a stylized Viṣṇu figure with distinct mudrā, priest in profile with closed eyes indicating manorūpa-sajīvakaraṇa, bold outlines, decorative floral border.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, ornate cakra-mandala with gold embossing, twelve small Viṣṇu forms around, central lamp glow, priest with rosary, rich jewel tones, heavy gold on halos and ornaments.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, diagrammatic clarity: spoke-by-spoke placement labeled Keśava etc., gentle colors, fine lines, instructional composition with the teacher pointing to spokes.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, scholar-priest seated beside a painted mandala on cloth, delicate rendering of tiny Viṣṇu forms in spokes, manuscript and inkpot nearby, architectural niche background."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"contemplative"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: मनोरूपेण = मनः + रूपेण; तस्यैव = तस्य + एव; सजीवकरणं = स + जीव + करणम्; केशवाद्याः = केशव + आद्याः; सुरोत्तम = सुर + उत्तम.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 61 (sajīvakaraṇa, nyāsa on cakra/yantra); Agni Purana Vaiṣṇava mantra and mandala instructions in adjacent verses
FAQs
It teaches sajīvakaraṇa (a prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā step) accomplished through mental visualization and prescribes nyāsa of Viṣṇu-forms (starting with Keśava) into the spokes (ara) of a ritual cakra/maṇḍala.
Beyond mythology, it preserves precise installation technology—mental prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā, spatial mapping of deities, and nyāsa mechanics—showing the Agni Purana as a practical manual for temple/yantra ritual procedure.
By mentally animating the sacred presence and correctly installing divine forms through nyāsa, the rite is held to make worship effective (siddhi-yukta) and to purify the practitioner through disciplined attention (bhāvanā) and correct ritual placement.