Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 52
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
कुर्यात् प्राकारमन्त्रेण भूतिदर्भैस्ततः कुण्डेषु धारिकां शक्तिं विन्यस्याभ्यर्च्य तर्पयेत्
kuryāt prākāramantreṇa bhūtidarbhaistataḥ kuṇḍeṣu dhārikāṃ śaktiṃ vinyasyābhyarcya tarpayet
ด้วยปราการมนตร์ พึงสถาปนาวงล้อมคุ้มครองโดยใช้วิภูติ (เถ้าศักดิ์สิทธิ์) และหญ้าทรรภะ จากนั้นในกุณฑะทั้งหลาย เมื่อวางศักติผู้ทรงค้ำจุน (ธาริกา-ศักติ) แล้ว พึงบูชาท่านและกระทำตัรปณะ
Lord Agni (in instruction to the sage Vasiṣṭha, typical Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Tantra","secondary_vidya":"Mantra","practical_application":"Create a protective ritual enclosure (prākāra) using prākāra-mantra with vibhūti (ash) and darbha; then in the kuṇḍas install the dhārikā-śakti (sustaining power), worship her, and perform tarpaṇa/oblations for satiation.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Prākāra-bandhana with vibhūti-darbha and kuṇḍa dhārikā-śakti pūjā","lookup_keywords":["prākāra-mantra","vibhūti","darbha","kuṇḍa","dhārikā-śakti"],"quick_summary":"First establish a mantra-protected boundary using ash and darbha. Then install and worship the sustaining Śakti in the fire-pits and conclude with tarpaṇa to complete ritual satisfaction and protection."}
Concept: Ritual space is made efficacious by (1) boundary protection and (2) installing sustaining power before offerings; tarpaṇa seals completeness (tṛpti).
Application: Before homa or inner worship, always ‘close’ the space with prākāra-bandhana; treat ash/darbha as purificatory and protective media, then proceed to kuṇḍa-devatā worship and tarpaṇa.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Tantric/Yajna-kunda ritual procedure)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist draws/establishes a protective boundary around the altar using ash and darbha while chanting prākāra-mantra; nearby multiple fire-pits (kuṇḍas) glow as he installs and worships Dhārikā-Śakti and offers tarpaṇa.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, sacred enclosure line encircling the altar, ash and darbha depicted clearly, multiple kuṇḍas with stylized flames, Śakti as a luminous presence above the fire, bold colors and temple-wall symmetry","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore, gold-highlighted flames in kuṇḍas, ornate ritual boundary, priest with darbha bundle and ash markings, Śakti figure with gold halo, rich reds and greens, heavy ornamentation","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, instructional scene: stepwise depiction of prākāra-bandhana around a homa-vedi, ash and darbha tools labeled, kuṇḍa with installed Śakti shown as subtle aura, clean lines and soft palette","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, detailed yajña pavilion with multiple fire-pits, priest tracing enclosure with ash, attendants holding darbha and vessels, delicate flame rendering, intricate borders and architectural detail"}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"contemplative","suggested_raga":"Malkauns","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: प्राकारमन्त्रेण = प्राकार+मन्त्रेण; भूतिदर्भैः treated as dvandva; विन्यस्याभ्यर्च्य = विन्यस्य + अभ्यर्च्य.
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92.48-51 (kalaśa/nyāsa prerequisites); Agni Purana ritual chapters on homa/kuṇḍa-lakṣaṇa (within pūjā-vidhi corpus)
FAQs
It teaches prākāra-vidhi (creating a protective ritual boundary using a specific mantra with vibhūti/ash and darbha), followed by śakti-nyāsa in the kuṇḍas and concluding worship with tarpaṇa to ritually “satiate” the invoked power.
It preserves precise operational details of mantra-based ritual engineering—protective enclosures, installation (nyāsa) of invoked potency, and tarpaṇa—showing the Agni Purāṇa’s coverage of practical liturgy alongside its many other disciplines.
The prākāra protects the rite from obstacles, śakti-nyāsa stabilizes the invoked divinity within the ritual space, and tarpaṇa completes propitiation—together aiming at purification, removal of impediments, and successful fruition (siddhi) of the ritual intent.