Agni Purāṇa
58 - Consecration of the idol
The lord said:
1-3. The priestshould get ready a pit (for sacrificial fire) in the north-east. The fire relating to Vishnushould be kindled with (the recitation) of gayatri1 one hundred and eight times. Having cleansed the pitchers thoroughly and established (the priest) heshould go to theshed where the image has been made ready accompanied by the sculptors and custodians of the idol and along with music of (the instrument) türya. The woollen thread containing mustard seedsshould be tied on the right arm (of the idol) with the syllables Vishņave sipivistdya2 etc. The priestshould also have a piece of silk cloth tied (to his arm).
1. The mantra beginning with 'Om bhür bhuvaḥ svaḥ consisting of twentyfour letters.
2. VS. 22.20.
4-5. Having placed the idol in the pavilion and having adored and worshipped the dressed idol (one has to say) “I bow to you the sovereign lady of celestials who has been made (ready) by Viśvakarman (the divine architect).” I make obeisance to you who is resplendant and is the sustainer of the entire universe. I worship in you the healthy Lord Närāyaṇa.
6. Be thou always prosperous (goddess) devoid of defects due to the sculptors. Having submitted thus that idolshould be carried to the bathing pavilion.
7. The sculptorshould be satisfied by offering articles (of present). A cowshould be given as gift to the priest. Then the eyes of the idolshould be made open with (the recitation of) the syllable citrar deva.3
3. RV. 1.115.1.
8. The sightshould be endowed with (the recitation of the syllable) agnir jyoti.4 Then white flowers, ghee and mustard seedsshould be placed on the pedestal.
4. VS. 3.9.
9. The priestshould place dūrva grass and tips of kusa grass on the head of the deity. Then the priestshould anoint the eyes (of the deity) with the syllables madhu våta.5
5. RV. 1.90.6
10. The syllables hiranyagarbha and imam meshould be recited. Then the idolshould be anointed with ghce reciting
(the hymn) ghrtadati.1
1. RV. 6.70.1.
11. The flour paste of masūra (a variety of grain)should be rubbed on the deity reciting (the hymn) ato deva2. Then the priestshould wash (the deity) with hot water with the recitation of sapta to agne3.
2.RV. 1.22.16.
3.VS. 17.79.
12. Itshould be anointed with (the syllables) Urupadadiva. (The image)should be bathed with the waters of) the rivers and sacred places with (the syllables) apo hi stha4 and with the (waters containing) gems (with the) pavamana.
4. RV. 10 9.1.
13. (The image) (should be bathed) with the waters of an earthern pot with (the syllable) samudram gaccha5. Itshould be consecrated with sanno devi6 and bathed with hot water (consecrated) by gåyatri.
5. RV. kh. 5.49.2.
6. RV. 10.9.4.
14. The supreme godshould be bathed with five (kinds of) earth with (the syllable) hiranya. With pot made of earth of an anthill and sand waters and (the syllable) imam me7 (itshould be bathed).
7. RV. 1.25.19.
15. (The imageshould be bathed) with herbal waters (with the syllable) tadvishnoh8 and yā oshadhi,9 with herbal decoctions (with the syllable) yajñā-yajñalo10 and then with the pañcchagavya (the five things got from a cow).
8. RV. 1.22.20.
9. RV. 10.97.1. 10.
10.RV. 6.48.1.
16. (The imageshould be bathed) with the waters containing fruits (with the syllables) payaḥ pythivyäm11 and yaḥ phalini12 and with (the contents of) the pitchers (kept in) the north and east with (the syllables) visvatascakṣuḥ.13
11. VS. 18.36.
12. RV. 10.97.15.
13. RV, 10.81.9.
17. The cleansing (of the image) of Hari (Vishnu)should be done with (the recitation of the syllables somam rájánam, vishno rarāţamasi14 from the right and with hamsaḥ śuci15 on the west
14. VS. 5.11. 1
15. RV. 4.40.5.
18. Oneshould offer the dhatri and mamsi (herbs) on the head with the sacred syllables mūrdhanam diva1. (Oneshould bathe the image) with perfumes with the syllables gandhadvära and ma nas toka. 2
1. RV. 6.7.1.
2. RV. 1.114.8.
19. (One has to pour over its head the contents of the pitchers) placed in the eightyone squares (with the syllables) idam āpaḥ. O Lord Vishņu! the bestower of grace on the universe! you come.
20. (You) accept thisshare in the sacrificial offerings. O Vasudeva! Salutations to you! Having invoked the lord in this way, the wrist thread (on the hand of the image)should be unfastened.
21. The wrist thread on (the hand of) the priestshould also be unfastened with the hymn muñcāmi tva.3 The water for washing the feetshould be offered with (the syllable) hiranmaya4 and the offering with ato devd.5
3. See LXVII. 22.1.
4. RV. 10.161.1.
5. SB. 14.7.1.12.
22. The madhuparka (should be offered) with (the syllables) madhuvåta6 and the acamana (the ceremonial sipping of waters at the commencement of any rite)should be done with mayi gyhņāmi.7 The learned (priest)should scatter the unbroken rice with (the syllable) akshannamimadanta.8
6.RV, 1.22.16.
7. RV. 1.90.6.
8. RV, 10.9.
23. The imageshould be rubbed part by part and perfumes (should be offered) with (the syllable) gandhavat9, garland with (the syllable) unnayami and the sacred thread with (the syllable) idam Vishnu.
24. Pair of cloth pieces (should be offered) (with the syllable) bruhaspate (and) the upper cloth (with the syllable) vedaham. The herbs and the flower of concluding worshipshould be placed with the mahavrata.
25. Incenseshould be offered with dhürasi and the collyrium (to the eyes of the image) with the hymn (called) vibhat. The mark on the forehead (should be made) with (the syllable) yuñjanti and the garland (should be offered) with dirghayustva.
26. (Oneshould offer) an umbrella with (the syllable) indra cchatra, mirror with viraja, the chowrie with vikarna and the ornaments with rathantara.
27. (Oneshould offer) the fan with (the syllable) váyu daivatya and flowers with muncāmi tva. Oneshould sing in praise of (Lord) Hari (Vishnu) with vedic hymns and (the hymn called) purushasūkta.
28. All these ritesshould be performed similarly relating to pedestals of Hara (Śiva) and other gods. The hymn (called) sauparņashould be recited at the time of raising (the image of) the deity.
29. (The image) having been raised (by reciting) (the syllable) uttistha, the lordshould be led to the bed in the pavilion with (the recitation of) the hymn sakuna1 and with (the syllable) brahmaratha.
1.Rv.9.107
30. Then the image and the pedestal (should be laid) in the bed with the hymn ato devā.2 With the (recitation of) Srisükta the rite for Vishņu is completed.
2. Rv.1.22.16
31. The eight auspicious things are: the lion, bull, serpent, fan, pitcher, banner, trumpet and lamp.
32-33. (The priest)shouldshow (these) at the foot with the hymn (called) asvas ūkta and the tripad (gayatri). Oneshould submit a cooking vessel, covering pan, ladle, pestle, crushing stone, grinding stone, groomstick, utensils for eating and other household thingsshould be given to the goddess.
34. A pitcher known as nidra provided with clothes and gems and filled with edibles (should be placed) at the head-side (of the image). This is the mode of bathing (the image).
Summary of chapter 58 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
This chapter details two specific elements of the pratiṣṭhā sequence: the aṅkurārpaṇa and the adhivāsana. The aṅkurārpaṇa — the sowing of nine types of grain in nine pots, whose germination is read as an omen for the success of the consecration — is described as a preliminary rite performed several days before the main ceremony. Grains that germinate evenly and fully are auspicious; uneven germination requires additional ritual rectification. The adhivāsana (night-vigil) involves placing the freshly purified image on a special bed (śayyā) and "putting it to sleep" with lullabies, fragrant flowers, cool fragrances, and the light of oil lamps, so that the deity may "rest" in preparation for taking up permanent residence in the image. The rites performed by priests and musicians through the night — keeping Bhagavān entertained and awake at intervals — are described.
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