Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 41
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
चन्दनेन समालभ्य वस्त्रैर् आच्छादयेच्छिलां स्वर्णोत्थमासनं दत्वा नीत्वा यागं प्रदक्षिणं
candanena samālabhya vastrair ācchādayecchilāṃ svarṇotthamāsanaṃ datvā nītvā yāgaṃ pradakṣiṇaṃ
เมื่อทาศิลาศักดิ์สิทธิ์ด้วยจันทน์แล้ว พึงคลุมด้วยผ้า; ครั้นถวายอาสนะทำด้วยทอง (หรือประดับทอง) และนำไปยังสถานที่ยัญแล้ว พึงเวียนขวา (ประทักษิณา) ตามมงคล।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa narration frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Vrata","secondary_vidya":"Dharmashastra","practical_application":"Pūjā handling of a sacred stone (śilā): anointing with sandal, covering with cloth, offering a golden seat, leading to the yajña-space, and performing clockwise circumambulation (pradakṣiṇā).","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Śilā-pūjā: candana-lepa, vastra-ācchādana, suvarṇāsana and pradakṣiṇā","lookup_keywords":["śilā-pūjā","candana","vastra-ācchādana","suvarṇāsana","pradakṣiṇā"],"quick_summary":"Worship a sacred stone by sandal anointing and cloth covering, offer a (golden) seat, proceed to the sacrificial area, and complete the rite with auspicious clockwise circumambulation."}
Concept: Honor (satkāra) to the sacred support (ādhāra) and the maṅgala logic of pradakṣiṇā (keeping the deity to one’s right).
Application: In temple/home worship, treat even aniconic sacred supports with full upacāras and complete worship by pradakṣiṇā for auspicious closure.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual worship procedures and circumambulation rites)
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A sacred stone on a pedestal is anointed with sandal paste, draped in cloth, set upon a golden seat; devotees proceed to the yajña area and perform clockwise circumambulation.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, central śilā on pedestal with candana marks, cloth drape, golden āsana stylized, devotees in pradakṣiṇā around a yāga-maṇḍapa, lamps and floral motifs, bold outlines.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, heavy gold work on the āsana and ornaments, sacred stone richly decorated with cloth and sandal, devotees mid-pradakṣiṇā, vibrant reds/greens, ornate arch frame.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting, clean instructional depiction of steps: anointing, covering, offering āsana, then pradakṣiṇā around yāga-sthāna; fine detailing of vessels and textiles.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, temple courtyard with a small altar, sacred stone draped in fine cloth, attendants holding sandal bowl, devotees walking clockwise, delicate architectural rendering and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Kedar","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"devotional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: आच्छादयेच्छिलाम् = आच्छादयेत् + शिलाम्; स्वर्णोत्थमासनम् = स्वर्णोत्थम् + आसनम्
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92 (pūjā-vidhi and upacāra sequence); Agni Purana śilpa/arcana-related chapters (general icon/installation contexts)
FAQs
It prescribes specific upacāras (ritual services): anointing with sandal paste, covering the sacred stone/pīṭha with cloth, offering a gold(-adorned) seat, and performing clockwise pradakṣiṇā around the yāga/altar.
By recording step-by-step liturgical procedure (materials, sequence, and movement like pradakṣiṇā), it preserves practical temple/household worship protocol alongside the Purāṇa’s broader teachings on many sciences and disciplines.
These acts are purificatory and honorific: sandal and cloth symbolize sanctification and reverence, the offered seat signifies hospitality to the deity, and pradakṣiṇā expresses devotion and right-order (dharma), traditionally held to accrue puṇya (religious merit).