Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 7
अध्याय ७३: सूर्यपूजाविधिः
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi — The Procedure for Sun-Worship
रों रौं विद्युता शक्तिं पूर्वाद्याः सर्वतोमुखाः ॐ हां हृद्वीजादीति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः रुं जयां क्रमादिति ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः रं मध्ये अर्कासनं स्यात् सूर्यमूर्तिं षडक्षरं
roṃ rauṃ vidyutā śaktiṃ pūrvādyāḥ sarvatomukhāḥ oṃ hāṃ hṛdvījādīti kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ ruṃ jayāṃ kramāditi kha, cihnitapustakapāṭhaḥ raṃ madhye arkāsanaṃ syāt sūryamūrtiṃ ṣaḍakṣaraṃ
ด้วยพยางค์ ‘โรม’ และ ‘เราṃ’ พึงสถาปนา “วิทยุต-ศักติ”; เริ่มจากทิศตะวันออกและจัดให้หันพระพักตร์สู่ทุกทิศ. (ตามคัมภีร์ที่มีเครื่องหมาย: ‘โอม ฮาม—เริ่มด้วยหฤทพีชะ’; และอีกบทอ่าน: ‘รุม—วางชัยาตามลำดับ’). ตรงกลางให้มีอาสนะอรกะด้วย ‘รัม’; ณ ที่นั้นพึงสถาปนาพระสุริยรูปมนต์หกพยางค์ (ษฑักษร)।
Lord Agni (instructing the sage Vasiṣṭha in ritual procedure)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Specifies directional installation of śakti with bījas (roṃ, rauṃ), notes variant readings, and establishes a solar seat (arkāsana) and ṣaḍakṣara Sūrya-mūrti in the center—used to build a functional yantra-pūjā sequence.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Vidyut-śakti sthāpana and arkāsana: roṃ/rauṃ directional nyāsa with central raṃ and ṣaḍakṣara Sūrya-mūrti","lookup_keywords":["roṃ rauṃ","vidyut-śakti","arkāsana","ṣaḍakṣara sūrya","nyāsa"],"quick_summary":"Install lightning-power using roṃ/rauṃ from the east with all-directional faces; place raṃ at the center as the solar seat and establish the six-syllabled solar form, noting manuscript variants for bīja order."}
Concept: Mantra-mūrti identity: deity is established as a structured field of power (śakti) through directional order and a central solar essence.
Application: Follow dik-krama to avoid ritual ‘disorder’; treat variant readings as lineage options, but keep the central raṃ-arkāsana and ṣaḍakṣara focus stable for coherence.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi / Mantra-nyasa and Yantra-kalpa (Tantric ritual instructions)
Primary Rasa: Adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: Veera
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A mandala/yantra is arranged from the east outward; lightning-like energy is installed with roṃ and rauṃ around the directions, each face turned outward; at the center raṃ forms a radiant solar seat where a six-syllabled solar form is established.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, circular mandala with directional guardians, crackling lightning motifs labeled roṃ/rauṃ, central sun-disc throne (arkāsana) with raṃ, six-syllable mantra encircling Sūrya, bold reds and golds","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, central Sūrya on golden throne, embossed sun rays, surrounding directional panels with lightning patterns and bīja calligraphy, heavy gold work and symmetry","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, instructional mandala diagram with compass directions, roṃ/rauṃ placements, central raṃ sun-seat, neat annotations, subdued palette for clarity","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, ritualist with assistants laying out a mandala on cloth, lightning motifs in corners, central sun medallion with calligraphy, refined detailing and border illumination"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Hamsadhwani","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: सर्वतोमुखाः = सर्वतः + मुखाः (avyayībhāva); अर्कासनं = अर्क + आसनम्; हृद्वीजादीति reflects hृत् + बीज + आदि + इति; editorial notes ‘ख, चिह्नितपुस्तकपाठः’ treated as textual apparatus tokens.
Related Themes: Agni Purana yantra-kalpa and nyāsa sections describing dik-nyāsa, āsana-bheda, and mantra-mūrti installation
FAQs
It gives a mantra-nyāsa/installation sequence using bīja-syllables (roṃ, rauṃ, raṃ, etc.) to place specific śaktis and establish the central arkāsana for installing the six-syllabled solar form (ṣaḍakṣara Sūrya-mūrti).
It exemplifies the Agni Purana’s practical ritual-technology: precise directional placements, bīja-mantras, variant manuscript readings, and icon/seat installation—showing the text’s function as a handbook for temple and tantric worship procedures.
Correctly installing the śaktis and the solar form is presented as a means to invoke Sūrya’s radiance and order (tejas), supporting purification, protection, and auspicious success through disciplined mantra-based worship.