Agni Purāṇa
62 - Mode of installation of the image of Goddess Laksmi
The Lord said:
1. Ishall describe to you the mode of installation of all divine images. At first Ishall describe the (modc of) installation (of the image) of Lakshmi and her attendant goddesses.
2. As before, oneshould do all rites such as bathing (the image) in theshed. (The image of) goddess Lakshmishould be placed on the pedestal. Oneshould place eight pitchers.
3. The imageshould be anointed with ghee with the principal mantra and washed with the five things got from a cow. The eyes of (the goddess) Lakshmishould be opened with (the recitation of the mantra) hiranyavarnām hariņim1.
1. RV Kh. 5.87.1.
4. The three sweet things2should be offered with (the recitation of the mantra) tań ma åvaha3.she (the image)should be bathed with (the waters of) the pitcher on the east with (the recitation of) the (hymn) asvapūrva4.
2. P. 160. fn 7.
3. RV. Kh. 5.87.2a, 15a.
4. cf. RV. Kh. 5.87.3a.
5. The imageshould then be bathed with (the waters of pitchers on) the south, west and north with the recitation of hymns kämo'smi te5, chandram prabhāsām6, ādilya varma7 (respectively)
5. Could not be identified.
6. Could not bc identificd.
7. VS.31.81b.
6-7. (Waters) from (the pitchers placed in) the southeast, south-west, north-west and north-eastshould be poured on the image accompanied by (the recitation of the mantras) upaitu mā1, kshut pipäsä2, gandhadvāra3, manasaḥ kamamäkrti4. The imageshould subsequently be bathed with (the waters of) eightyone pitchers (accompanied) by apaḥ srujan kshitim5.
1. RV. Kh. 5.87.7a.
2. TB.3.4.1.16.
3. RV. Kh. 5.87.9a.
4. RV. Kh.5.87.10 a.
8. (The priestshould worship the image) with perfumes accompanied byārdrām puskariņim6, with flowers accompanied by tàm ma avaha7 and ya ānanda.8
5. Could not be identified.
6. Cf. RV. Kh. 8.87.3a, 14a.
7. RV. Kh. 5.87.2a, 15a.
8. Not found.
9. The goddessshould be worshipped in the bed with (the mantra) sāyanti9 yena and her presence is accomplished by srisūkta10. Her consciousness is invoked and worshipped again with the principal mantra of the goddess.
9. Could not be identified.
10. RV. Kh. 5.87.1.
10. Thousand or hundred lotus flowers or karavira flowersshould be offered in the fire pit at theshed accompanied by srisu kta. 10
10. RV. Kh. 5.87.1.
11. Household furnitureshould be offered with the śrisūkta10 itself. Then the consecration of edificeshould be performed as described earlier.
12. The pedestalshould be made with (the recitation of) the mantra. The installation of the goddess is done subsequently. Her presence is accomplished with the sriisūkta,10 Everyone of the hymns (stated earlier))should be recited as before.
13. Having invoked consciousness in the image, her presence is accomplished by the principal mantra. The priest and the brahminsshould be presented with land, gold, clothes, cow and food. The images of all other forms of goddessesshould be installed in the same way. One who invokes (and consecrates) in this way is held as going to heaven.
Summary of chapter 62 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The sixty-second chapter describes the specific ritual procedure for installing the image of Bhagavān's consort, Lakṣmī. The eight-directional kalaśa arrangement is prescribed, with each kalaśa assigned to a specific aspect of Lakṣmī's power — Ādi Lakṣmī, Dhana Lakṣmī, Dhānya Lakṣmī, Gaja Lakṣmī, Santāna Lakṣmī, Vīra Lakṣmī, Vijaya Lakṣmī, and Vidyā Lakṣmī. The installation mantras are drawn primarily from the Śrī-sūkta, the Vedic hymn that celebrates Lakṣmī as the embodiment of the earth's abundance. The ciccakti-nyāsa — the infusion of the goddess's consciousness-power into the image — and the specific dhyāna-śloka describing her golden form seated on a lotus, holding lotus flowers, attended by elephants pouring water over her, are given. The chapter affirms that installing Lakṣmī alongside Bhagavān is installing the principle of śrī — auspiciousness, fertility, abundance — in the world.
esc