Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 9
Chapter 62 — Lakṣmīpratiṣṭhāvidhiḥ
The Procedure for Installing Lakṣmī
शायन्तीयेन शय्यायां श्रीसूक्तेन च सन्निधिम् लक्ष्मीवीजेन चिच्छक्तिं विन्यस्याभ्यर्चयेत् पुनः
śāyantīyena śayyāyāṃ śrīsūktena ca sannidhim lakṣmīvījena cicchaktiṃ vinyasyābhyarcayet punaḥ
ด้วยมนตร์ ‘ศายันตียะ’ พึงทำนยาสะบนที่บรรทม; ด้วย ‘ศรีสูคตะ’ พึงสถาปนาสันนิธิของเทวะ; และด้วยพีชมันตร์ของลักษมี พึงวาง ‘จิจฉักติ’ คือพลังแห่งจิตสำนึก. ครั้นวางแล้วพึงบูชาอีกครั้ง.
Lord Agni (in dialogue with sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purana narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Mantra-nyāsa for Śrī-Lakṣmī upāsanā: placing specific mantras on the śayyā (ritual bed/seat), invoking sannidhi via Śrī-sūkta, and installing Lakṣmī-bīja as cicchakti before renewed arcana.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śayyā-nyāsa with Śāyantīya, Śrī-sūkta sannidhi, and Lakṣmī-bīja cicchakti-vinyāsa","lookup_keywords":["śāyantīya mantra","śayyā nyāsa","śrī-sūkta","lakṣmī bīja","cicchakti vinyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Perform nyāsa on the ritual bed with the Śāyantīya mantra, establish Lakṣmī’s presence through the Śrī-sūkta, then install the Lakṣmī seed as consciousness-power; proceed to worship with the field thus energized."}
Concept: Mantra-śakti is layered: ādhāra-śuddhi (seat/bed), āvāhana/sannidhi (presence), and śakti-vinyāsa (cicchakti) culminating in effective worship.
Application: In Lakṣmī upāsanā, treat the worship-space and support (śayyā/āsana) as a conscious field; sequence the mantras to move from outer support to inner power.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Śrī-Lakṣmī upāsanā / mantra-nyāsa and arcana procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual bed/seat is prepared; the practitioner touches and places mantras (nyāsa) on it, then invokes Lakṣmī’s presence with Śrī-sūkta and seals the rite with a Lakṣmī bīja as a radiant consciousness-force.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, stylized śayyā with lotus motifs, priest performing nyāsa gestures (kara-nyāsa/aṅga-nyāsa cues), subtle aura indicating cicchakti, traditional reds/ochres, calm śānta mood","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, Lakṣmī’s presence implied above the śayyā with gold halo, priest placing mantras, rich textile patterns on the bed, heavy gold work on borders and ornaments","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clear instructional depiction of nyāsa on śayyā: hand positions, mantra placement points, neat composition, soft colors and fine lines","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, indoor chamber with ornate bed, priest and assistant holding palm-leaf/mantra text, delicate illumination showing invoked presence, intricate textiles and architecture"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kalyani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: चिच्छक्तिं → चित् + शक्तिम् (t + ś → cch). विन्यस्याभ्यर्चयेत् → विन्यस्य + अभ्यर्चयेत्.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 62 (Śrī upāsanā: nyāsa/arcana)
FAQs
It teaches a specific nyāsa-and-arcana sequence for Śrī-Lakṣmī worship: install the Śāyantīya mantra on the ritual bed, invoke presence through the Śrī-sūkta, and establish consciousness-power via the Lakṣmī bīja before continuing worship.
It preserves a compact, procedural ritual manual—detailing mantra application (bīja), hymn-based invocation (Śrī-sūkta), and tantric-style nyāsa—showing the Agni Purana’s coverage of practical liturgy alongside broader theology and dharma.
The instruction emphasizes correct mantra-installation and presence-invocation so worship becomes a properly “ensouled” rite, traditionally held to increase the efficacy (siddhi) of devotion and the merit (puṇya) of Lakṣmī-upāsanā.