60 - Mode of installation of the image of Vasudeva 

The Lord said: 

1. Oneshould divide the length of adytum into seven parts for the installation of the pedestal. The wise manshould fix the image on the part of Brahman. 

2-3. (Oneshould) never (fix it) in the parts (presided over) by the celestials, mortals and goblins, leaving out the part (presided over by) Brahman. The pedestalshould be carefully fixed off the regions of celestials and mortals. Gemsshould be imbedded in the case of a hermaphrodite stone. 

4-5. Having performed oblation with (the mantra sacred to) Narasimha (the man-lion form of Vishnu), the gemsshould be placed with (the repetition of) the same (mantra). Rice grains, gems, three (kinds of) minerals, iron and other metallic substances, sandal wood etc.,should be placed in the nine holes commencing with the east at the centre as one likes. Then the holesshould be filled with the guggulu (a kind of fragrant gum resin) with (the recitation of) the mantras-indra etc. 

6. After having performed the insertion of gems, the preceptorshould rub the image with sticks of sahadeva (tree) and bunches of darbha (grass). 

7. The outer and inner surface (of the image)should be cleansed and then purified with the pañchagadya (the five things got from a cow). Watershould be sprinkled with the darbha grass as well as with the waters of the river, 

8. The ground for kindling the sacrificial fireshould be made ready with sand. An excellent siteshould be of the measure of a cubit and a half on all sides. 

9. The pitchers alsoshould be placed in the eight directions commencing with the east. The consecrated fireshould be brought in uttering the eight letters (described already). 

10. The twigsshould be offered into the fire with (the mantras) -- tvam agno dyubhih¹ and gayatri. Clarified buttershould be offered with (the recitation of) eight letters, eight hundred times. 

1. RV. 2.1.1. 

11. The appeasing water sanctified hundred times by the principal mantrashould be sprinkled on the head of the image with the recitation of) the hymn sriśca te.¹ 

1. VS. 31.22.

12. The imageshould be lifted up with (the mantra) brahma-jajñana² andshould be led to the temple with the mantra uttistha brahmanaspate³ and tadvishnoh⁴. 

2. TS. 4.2.8.2.

3. RV. 1. 40. 1.

4. RV. 1.22.20.

13. Lord Harishould be placed in a palanquin and carried towards the divine edifice accompanied by songs and vedic hymns. Heshould be held at the gates of the temple. 

14. Lord Harishould be bathed with waters from eight auspicious pitchers by women and brahmins. Then the priestshould worship the image with perfumes etc. and with the principal mantra⁵. 

15. Then the dress, the devotional offerings of eight kindsshould be offered with (the mantra) ato deva⁶. (The image)should be fixed on the pedestal at the fixed moment with (the recitation of) devasya tva⁷. 

5. Om namo bhagavato vasudevaya.

6. RV.1.22.16.

7. VS. 1.24.

16. The learned (priest)should fix the image on the pedestal (with the recitation of the following mantra). "O Conqueror of three spaces! Om! salutations to you who surpassed the three regions. 

17. The imageshould be bathed with the pañchagavya (five things got from a cow) with the recitation of) the mantra dhruvå dyauḥ⁸ and visvataschakṣuḥ⁹ and bathed again with perfumed water. 

8. RV. 10.173.4.

         9. RV. 10.81.3. 

18. Lord Harishould be worshipped along with the attendants and paraphernalia. The heavensshould be contemplated as his form and the earth as the seat. 

19. His bodyshould be imagined as composed of lustrous minute particles. (Oneshould say), "I am invoking his spirit pervading the twentyfive principles.” 

20-21. O Supreme Lord! you become firmly established in the image. I invoke you, the spirit of supreme happiness, one devoid of (three states) waking, dreaming and deep sleep, one who is devoid of a body, sense-organs, intellect, life and egoism, and one who resides in the hearts of all beings beginning with Brahman and ending with a dump of grass. 

22. You make the image imbued with your soul both inside and outside. You have taken your abode in this image (of the size of) a thumb with attributes. 

23. Having invoked (the god in the image), the supreme brahman, lustrous form of knowledge and who is one without a second, that is deemed as alive by the use of (the mantra) Om. 

24. The act of bringing the god near consists in uttering (the mantra) and touching the heart (of the image). (The priest)should recite the purusasükta¹ andshould recite the following (mantra) in secret. 

1. RV.10.90.

25-27. Salutations to the Lord of celestials who is of the form of happiness and fortune, of the form of knowledge and wisdom and who attends on the lustre of the supremc brahman. (Salutations to the one who is beyond properties, the great being, devoid of decay, old age. O Vishņu, you be present here. Whichever is the supreme principle in you and that which is your form verily made up) of knowledge, all that be present here in this form. May you awake! 

28. Stationing oneself in front of the deity, (the priest)should establish Brahman and other attendant gods as well as the respective weapons (byshowing) the mudra (different posturesshown with the hand). 

29-30. (The priest)should infer the presence of the god from the yatra² and varsa³. Having saluted and sung the glories and recited the mantras of eight syllables⁴ etc., the priestshould come out and worship Chanda and Prachaņda (the two guardians) at the gate. (The priest)should go to the place of sacrificial fire, install the image of Garuda (the vehicle bird of Lord Vishņu) and worship 

2. Existence, livelihood.

3. Rains.

         4. Om Namo narayanaya. 

31. Having installed and worshipped (the images) of different presiding deities of the quarters in their respective quarters, the priestshould install the image of Lord Visvaksena¹ and worship the conch, disc etc. 

1. An epithet of Vippu.

32. Offeringsshould be made to the attendant gods and to the goblins. The priestshould be given the fees (which may be of the form of) proprietary right over a village, clothes and gold. 

33. The materials required for (the performance of) sacrificial ceremonyshould be given to the principal priest. The attendant priestsshould be paid fees half of what was paid to the principal priest. 

34. The other priestsshould be paid their fees. The brahminsshould then be fed. Without any restraint the benefits of sacrificeshould be extended to the patron-employer by the principal priest. 

35. The consecrator of the image of Vishņu leads the self, as well as his entire family (to the region of the god). This is the general mode of performance for all gods. Only the principal mantra would be different. The other formalities are the same.