95 - Mode of installation of the linga

The Lord said: 

1. Ishall describe the mode of installation of a linga in temple which yields enjoyment and emancipation. Oneshould always do it for the purpose of enjoyment and emancipation on the day of the god. 

2. The installation ceremonyshould be performed in the five months commencing with mägha (February-March) except (the month of) chaitra (April-May) and in the first three karaņas (one of the eleven divisions of the day) at the rising of the Jupiter and Venus. 

3. (The ceremonyshould be undertaken) especially in the bright fortnight or in the dark fortnight omitting the fifth, fourth, ninth, eighth and fourteenth days (of the fortnight). 

4-5. (All) the other days are auspicious except those falling on the days of inauspicious planets. Commencement during (the rule of) the stable stars ofshatabhishak, dhanishtå,ārdrā, anuradha, the three uttara (uttarā, uttaraphålguni and uttarabhadrapada), rohini and Sravaņa yield good results. (The days fixed for the riteshould possess) the rising points of aquarius, leo, scorpion, libra, virgo, taurus and sagittarius. 

6. Jupiter is always commendable in the above nine stars and seven constellations. Mercury (is commendable) in the sixth, eighth, tenth, seventh and fourth, from the lagna (rising point in the east), while Venus (is commendable) in all the places except the fourth. 

7. The Moon is always strengthening if located in seventh, fourth, third or tenth, the sun in the tenth, third, and sixth places and Rāhu (ascending node of the Moon) in the third, tenth and sixth places. 

8. The Saturn, Mars, Sun and Ketu (the descending node of the Moon) are commendable in the sixth, and third places. Both the good and bad (planets) in the eleventh place are cruel. 

9. Their aspect full in the seventh place, half in the ninth and fifth places, one fourth in the first and tenth places and one fourth less in the fourth and eighth places. 

10. (The two constellations) pisces and aries have a duration of three and three-fourth nadis (two and a half nädis are equal to one hour). The (constellations) taurus and acquarious have a duration of three and three-fourth nadis. 

11. Capricorn and gemini have a duration of five (nådis), sagittarius, scorpion, leo and cancer have a duration of five and three-fourth (nädis) and libra and virgo have a duration of five and a half ghatikās (synonym of nādi). 

12. (The constellations) leo, taurus and acquarius are stationary and yield success. (The constellations) sagittarius, libra and aries are movables. The third (constellations) have both the characteristics. 

13-14. The constellations aspected by auspicious planets or associated with them are auspicious and are commendable. Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in the lagna confers abundant strength, long life, sovereignty, valour, strength, progeny, fame and virtue. The first, fourth, seventh and tenth (places from lagna) are known as the kendras. 

15. Jupiter, Venus and Mercury in these (houses) yield all perfections. The presence of wicked planets in the third, fourth and eleventh houses from the lagna are beneficial. 

16-17. The learnedshould combine these with the tithis (the days reckoned by the phases of the Moon) for good performances. (The preceptor)should raise a squareshed in front of (the temple) leaving a space equal to or five times that (of its measurement) at twelve cubits from the flight of steps with four entrances. (Theshed) for (sacrificial bathing)should be half the size of thatshed). 

18. Theshedshould be constructed) in the north-cast, east or north, (measuring) one or ten or twelve cubits respectively and having a single entrance or four entrances. 

19. The remaining eightshedsshould be measuring two cubits more than that (shed). The sacrificial altar (should measure) four kara lengths in the middle andshould have pillars at the angular points. 

20. Leaving apart a quarter of the platform nine or five fire pits or a single pit (should be dug up) in the north-east or east. (The digging of one pit) is done only in the case of the worship of the preceptor. 

21-24. (The fire pits)should be a span, an aratni (a cubit of the middle length, from the elbow to the tip of the little finger), a cubit, a yard, four cubits and eight cubits respectively depending on fifty, hundred, thousand, hundred thousand, lakh or a crore oblation (are offered in the pits). (The pit) in the south east (should be of) theshape of the female generative organ, in the south (of theshape of) the crescent moon, in the south-west (of theshape of) a triangle, in the north-west (of theshape of) a hexagon, in the north (of theshape of) a lotus, in the north east (of theshape of) an octagon. The pit made at an inclined angle with a border above is auspicious. Thereshould be three borders around that respectively measuring four, three and two fingers in breadth. Alternatively, thereshould be a single border measuring six fingers in breadth or the borders (should be) of theshape of sacrificial pit. 

25. The apertureshould be above that. Itshould resemble the leaf of the holy fig tree in itsshape. (The apertureshould be) an angula in height and eight angulas in breadth. 

26. Its length (should be) half the length of the pit and (should be) in the same level as the neck. The apertures of the fire pits on the east, south-east and southshould face the north. 

27. Itshould face the east (if the fire pits have been located) in other directions, while those situated at the other points of compassshould have their outlets turned towards the north east. The twenty-fourth of the fire receptacles is called the angula (finger breadth). 

28. The four entrances (to the sacrificialshed) on the east etc.should be made of (woods of) plaksha, udumbara, aśvattha and vata (trees) which duly (stand for) peace, prosperity, strength and health. 

29. (Thesheds)should be eighteen cubits in length, one cubit high and half (the length)in breadth andshould be decorated with mango leaves. 

30. The bannersshould have (colours) resembling (the colours) of a rainbow (or be) red, black, tawny, (or) of the colour of the moon, (or be) white, golden coloured or resembling that of a crystal.

31. (The banner) dedicated to the lotus-born (Brahma) in the east (should be) red (and that) which belongs to Ananta  (lord of the serpents) in the south-west (should be) blue. The banners (should be) five cubits long and half as much broad. 

32-33. The rodsshould be commensurate with the five cubits of banners being a cubit for every cubit. Twelve kinds of earth from (the places such as) the ant-hill, the tips of the tusk of elephant, horns of the bull, bunch of lotuses, pastures of boars and cows and the cross-Ways of roadsshould be taken in the case (of installation of an image) of Vaikuntha (Vishņu) and eight (kinds) in the case (of installation of an image) of Pinäkin (Shiva). 

34. The decoctions made up from the barks of nyagrodha, udumbara, asvattha, chūta and jambů and eight palas (a measure of weight) of the essence of flowersshould be taken. 

35-36. The waters of the sacred pools, fragrant waters and the waters mixed with the herbs (should be taken). Ishall describe the names of) auspicious flowers (and) fruits (after - wards). Waters mixed with five kinds of gems, cow's horn and also five things got from a cowshould be taken for bathing. A piece of cloth in which the paste has been putshould be taken for rubbing 

37. A pitcher having thousand holesshould be used for bathing and the yellow pigment for decoration. Roots of hundreds of herbs (are needed). Therein (the roots of) vijaya, lakshmaņā, bala, gudüchi, atibala, patha, sahadeva,shatavari, ruddhi, suvarchala and vruddhi have been prescribed separately for bathing. 

38-41. (Either) an incessant pouring of waters together with the sesamum and darbha (or) merely the bathing with the sacred ash (has been prescribed) for protection. A wisemanshould prepare a paste of powders of barley, wheat, bilva (fruit), along with camphor. (Heshould also make ready) the pitcher and ganda (a small vessel with a narrow tube like outlet for pouring). The bed-stead along with two mattresses, pillow bed and clothshould be made ready suited to one's aim and in accordance with his means. The vessel filled with ghee and honey and a golden brushshould be made ready. 

42. The sacrificial small pitcher, the pitcher (sacred to Lord)shiva, and the pitchers for the guardian deities of the directions, (should be made ready). One pitcher for each of the sacrificial fire-pits,should be set apart for inducing sleep and for peace. 

43-44. The pitchers for the attendant deities at the door, god of virtue, for Prasanta (a deity), vastu (presiding deity of the ground), (goddess) Lakshmi (consort of Vishņu), (Lord) Ganesha (son of the divine pairshiva and Parvati) and pitchers for othersshould be placed on heaps of grain along with the cloth and garland and goldshould be put and theyshould be filled with fragrant waters. 

45-51. Theyshould be supported by vessels filled with (rice), fruits and decorated by tender leaves andshould be covered by cloths. White mustard seeds and fried paddyshould be brought for scattering. As before the sword of knowledgeshould be made ready. Sacrificial twigs, the vessel (for cooking) porridge, the sacrificial ladle made of copper and the vessel filled with ghee and honey for anointing the feet, four seats made of three hundred darbhas and of the measure of two cubits long, palasa twigs for enclosure, and vessel for sesamum, vessel for havis (food offering), vessel for water which can respectively hold 'one, twenty and eight palas and the sacred thread (should be made ready). A pitcher, an incense-burner, sruk and sruva (the two kinds of sacrificial ladle), a box, a seat, a chowrie, dry firewood, flowers, leaves, scented gum resin, lamps with ghee, incense, unbroken rice, sacred thread, clarified butter from the cow's milk, barley and sesamum stems of kuśha, the three sweet things (honey, sugar and clarified butter), sacrificial twigs of the length of ten parva (the interspace between the folds on the fingers) are all needed for appeasement. The sacrificial ladle (sruva) of a length of one cubit is required for the appeasement of the sun and other planets. 

52. Thereshould be one hundred and eight sticks of arka, palaša, khādira, amarga, pippala, udumbara, Sami, durva as also green kusha. 

53-54. In their absence barley and sesamum (are used). So also the household articles, a sthali (a kind of vessel), a sacrificial ladle, lid etc. and two pieces of cloth for the gods, coins, crown, apparels, necklaces, earrings and braceletsshould be made: ready for the worship of the preceptor. Oneshould avoid making them costly. 

55. Worship of the custodians of imagesshould be a quarter less than that stated before and that of those who repeat (the mantra of) the weapon is still a fourth less than that. Worships of brahmins, astrologers and sculptors are as done for those who repeat (the mantras). 

56. The diamond, sun-stone, sapphire, atinila, pearl, topaz, ruby, lapis lazuli are the eight gems. 

57. Usira (the fragrant root of a plant), madhavakranta, red sandal, agallochum, sandalwood, särika, kustha, andshankhini are the (eight) kinds of herbs. 

58-60. The metals (are) gold, copper, silver, bell-metal, lead and iron. Yellow orpiment, red arsenic, red chalk, suvarna mākshika (honey-like mineral), mercury, vahnigairika, sulphur, and mica are the eight kinds of minerals. The eight kinds of grains are stated to be wheat, sesamum, black-gram, green gram, barley,short term paddy, śhyåmåka. All these thingsshould be gathered.