41 - Mode of performing consecration 

The Lord said:

1. Ishall narrate the mode of consecration of the foundation and (the rites relating to) the laying down of the foundation stone. Ashed is erected at first and four (sacrificial) pits (are made). 

2. The placing of pitchers (of water) and bricks, the erection of the doors and pillars (are finished). The dug up pit is filled to a quarter (of its depth) and the presiding deity is worshipped at the same time. 

3. The bricksshould be of twelve fingers in length, with a breadth and width of four fingers respectively, and well-burnt. 

4-8. Stones measuring a cubit (in length) would be best in the case of stone slabs. Nine copper pitchers and bricksshould be placed. The pitchers (should be filled) with water, (substance known as pañchakashya¹, waters of all herbs and fragrant waters. Then with the pitchers filled well with waters (and containing gold and rice and anointed by fragrant sandal, and having placed the stones along with (the recitation of) the mystic syllables - the three-footed apo hi stha¹, sanno devi², tarat sa mandiņ³, pāvamäni⁴, uduttamam varuna⁵, kaya naḥ⁶, varunasya⁷, hamsaḥ śucishat⁸, srisūkta⁹'. 

1. A decoction from the fruit of five plants jamba, salmali, odiyala, bakula and badara (MW. p. 575). 

1. RV. 10.9.1a. 2. RV. 10.9.4a. 3. RV. 9.58.1a. 4. G. Dh. 19.12. RV. 1.24.15a. 6. RV. 4.31.1a. 7. One of the many hymns beginning with this word See Ved. Con. 8. RV, 4.40.5a. 9. This is the sakta, 'hiranyanarten harigim', RV Kh. 5.87.la.

9. Harishould be worshipped in a bed in theshed in the eastern part of the (drawn) diagram. Then having kindled the fire twelve twelveshould be offered (as oblation). 

10. The primary offering and the offering with clarified buttershould be done with the syllable om. Then subscquently eight offerings and again eight offerings with clarified butter (should be offered) with the syllables (known as) vyährutis¹⁰ duly. 

10. The three syllables bhur, bhuvus, svar, Manu 2.76.

11. After that offer oblation in the fire) to the gods, Agni, Soma and Purushottama separately with vyāhrutis. 

12-13. The preceptor (officiating at the rite)should do the expiatory rite facing the eastern quarter offering to the image, meat, and sesamum along with ghee separately in the pitchers with the vedic syllables or the mystic formula of twelve syllables. Having scattered (sesamum) in the eight directions a stone and a pitchershould be placed at the centre and the following divinities (should be invoked) in order. 

14. Padma¹¹, mahapadma, makara, kacchapa, kumuda, nanda, padma, Sarkha and padmini (are the divinities). 

11. This and the following are the different treasures. Sec Purdna XVII. 2 

p. 160. The text here omits nila and repeats Padma. 

15. The pitchersshould not be moved. Eight bricksshould be placed in them duly beginning with the eastern direction and ending with the north-east. 

16. The female energies Vimala, and others, the presiding deities of these bricks,should be invoked in their proper pitchers. 

The energy Anugrahashould be invoked at the central pitcher. 

17. "O perfect, unbroken, full-bodied brick, the daughter of the sage Angiras, I am establishing you. You grant me the desired thing." 

18-20. The preceptor, having placed the brick with this mystic syllableshould do garbhadhāna¹. Having invoked the goddess Padmini at the central pitcher, earth, flowers, minerals, gems, and iron pieces as well as the weapons of deities of quarters (should be placed) in the hole of twelve fingers' width and four fingers' depth. 

1. Impregnation at the pit. 

21-22. The goddess earthshould be worshipped in a copper vessel of theshape of a lotus. “O the exclusive mistress of all beings, abound with the summits of mountains as the seats, one surrounded by oceans, O goddess! You resort to this hole. O rejoicer! born of sage Vasishtha! you rejoice with the Vasus and the progeny. 

23. O Victorious! related to Bhargava (Parasuråma) Maker of thine subjects victorious! the perfect! the relative of Angiras! fulfil all my desires. 

24. O Auspicious one! related to sage Käśyapa! Make my intellect good. One who is accomplished with all seeds! One who possesses all gems and herbs! 

25. May you be victorious! O beautiful one! O rejoicer! Related to Vasishtha! The daughter of the creator! O Goddess! O handsome one! Stay on here in bliss - O majestic one! 

26. Stay thou in this house! 0 beautiful and brilliant one! the daughter of Kaśyapa! The honoured, most wonderful and bedecked with scents and garlands! 

27. O Goddess! Stay in bliss in this room! O Bhårgavi (daughter of Sukra)! Bestower of worldly prosperities! Possessed by the gods, kings, and masters of the house! 

28. May you become the multiplier of animals for the happiness of men and others. Having said in this way oneshould then sprinkle cow's urine on the pit. 

29. Having done so, oneshould place in the pit (such that) the impregnation would take place in the night. Oneshould give away cows and clothes to the preceptor (the officiating priest), and food to other people. 

30. Having filled the hole and placing the bricks in the hole, the hole is completely filled. Then oneshould construct the base of the deity proportionate to the edifice of the deity. 

31. An excellent base is that where it is more than half the breadth of the edifice, while a quarter lesser than that would be mediocre and that which is half of the excellent base (aforesaid) would be the lowest (in merit). 

32. After completing the base, the rite for the presiding deity (of the ground)should be done again. One who performs the consecration of the base would enjoy in heavens free from sin. 

33. One who would mentally think that “I am going to build a temple", the sins which had stuck to his body would get destroyed that day itself. 

34-35. No need to speak (about the merits) of one who has built a temple in the prescribed manner. It is impossible for anyone to describe the merits one would accrue by building a temple with eight bricks alone. Oneshould indeed infer from this the (proportionate) fruits (accrued) (from the building) of temples of greater dimensions. 

36. The door of the temple at the centre of the village or on the eastern partshould face the west, while in other directions the doorshould be facing the west and in the southern, northern and western parts (the door)should face the east.