Agni Purana — Vastu-Pratishtha & Isana-kalpa, Shloka 58
Chapter 92 — प्रतिष्ठाविधिकथनम्
Narration of the Consecration / Installation Procedure
पूजयित्वा निजैर् मन्त्रैः सन्निधौ होममाचरेत् शिलानामथ सर्वासां संस्मरेदधिदैवताः
pūjayitvā nijair mantraiḥ sannidhau homamācaret śilānāmatha sarvāsāṃ saṃsmaredadhidaivatāḥ
เมื่อบูชาด้วยมนตร์ที่กำหนดของตนแล้ว พึงประกอบพิธีโหมะต่อหน้าเหล่านั้น; จากนั้นพึงระลึกและอัญเชิญเทวประธาน (อธิเทวตา) แห่งศิลาศักดิ์สิทธิ์ทั้งปวง।
Lord Agni (in discourse to Sage Vasiṣṭha, as per the common Agni Purana dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Mantra","secondary_vidya":"Vrata","practical_application":"Sequence in consecration rites: mantra-puja followed by homa in the presence of installed/selected sacred stones, then invoking each stone’s adhidevata to stabilize sanctity and avert ritual gaps.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mantra-pūjā → Homa → Adhidevatā-smaraṇa for Śilā (sacred stones)","lookup_keywords":["homa-vidhi","śilā-pūjā","adhidevatā","mantra-pūjā","sannidhi"],"quick_summary":"After worship with the prescribed mantras, perform homa in the presence of the sacred stones; then invoke the presiding deity of each stone to complete the consecratory linkage between material base and divine presence."}
Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on completing the triad: mantra (speech), homa (fire-action), and devatā-smaraṇa (divine intentionality).
Application: Use as a checklist in prāṇa-pratiṣṭhā / śilānyāsa contexts to avoid omissions (nyūna) in worship sequences.
Khanda Section: Puja-vidhi (Ritual Worship and Homa Procedures)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritual pavilion with sacred stones arranged; the officiant completes mantra-worship, then offers ghee into a homa fire, and finally gestures in remembrance/invocation of each stone’s presiding deity.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala temple mural style: homa-kuṇḍa with bright flames, priest in white, sacred stones (śilā) arranged in front, subtle divine forms hovering as adhidevatā, flat bold colors, ornate borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting: central homa fire with gold-leaf highlights, priest performing āhuti, sacred stones with small gold aureoles indicating adhidevatā presence, rich reds and greens, temple-pillared backdrop.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore painting: instructional ritual scene—stones labeled, priest offering āhuti, calm composition, delicate linework, soft palette, emphasis on sequence (pūjā → homa → smaraṇa).","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature: detailed yajña scene in a pavilion, attendants holding vessels, stones neatly placed, flames rendered finely, inscriptions indicating adhidevatā remembrance, naturalistic shading and textiles."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"devotional","suggested_raga":"Yaman","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: mantraiḥ sannidhau: visarga sandhi; homamācaret = homam + ācaret; śilānāmatha = śilānām + atha; saṃsmaredadhidaivatāḥ = saṃsmaret + adhidaivatāḥ (t→d by sandhi).
Related Themes: Agni Purana 92 (Śilānyāsa-kathana context); Agni Purana 93 (Vāstu-pūjā and maṇḍala rites follow)
FAQs
It teaches a sequence in ritual praxis: mantra-based worship first, then homa performed in the object’s presence, and finally the mental invocation of each object’s presiding deity (adhidaivata) to complete consecration and proper ritual alignment.
It exemplifies the Purana’s manual-like coverage of applied ritual technology—linking mantra, fire-offering, and deity-correspondence (adhidaivata)—a hallmark of its wide-ranging, systematized presentation of worship procedures alongside other sciences.
By combining external rite (homa) with internal recollection (smaraṇa) of the presiding deities, the act is framed as both purification and correct divine authorization of the worship—supporting merit (puṇya) and ritual efficacy through proper invocation.