Agni Purāṇa
98 - Mode of installation of the image of goddess Gauri
The Lord said:
1. Listen! Ishall describe the mode of installation together with the worship (of the image) of (goddess) Gauri (consort of lordshivá). The sacrificialshed etc.should be erected and (the image of the goddess)should be placed therein.
2. O Guha (son of lordshivá and Pårvati)! After having placed the goddess on the bed, the mantras of the images (should be located therein), and the principles commencing with the knowledge of the soul and ending withshivá as also lord Isäna (Shivá)should be located.
3. After having located the goddess of absolute energy, offered oblations and recited (the mantras) as before, the pedestal of the form of the energy of actionshould be placed.
4-5. After having contemplated it as pervading the same place and having put the gems etc., the goddess of the form of supreme energyshould be fixed therein with her own mantras. The energy of actionshould be located in the pedestal and the energy of knowledge in the image (of the goddess).
6. Then the pervading energyshould be invoked and located therein. Then the mother goddess known also asshivåshould also be invoked and worshipped. Om, obeisance to the sustaining energy. Om, obeisance to the tortoise (supporting the universe). Om, obeisance to (lord) Skanda (son of lordshivá and Parvati). Om, hrim obeisance to (lord) Nārāyaṇa (Vishņu). Om, obeisance to sovereignty. Om, am obeisance to the undercover. Om, obeisance to the lotus seat. Then (the gods) Keshava (Vishņu) and othersshould be worshipped. Om, hrim obeisance to the pericarp. Oneshould worship here with (the mantras) "Om, ksham obeisance to the lotus eyes”. Om, ham obeisance to nourishment, hrim (obeisance) to knowledge, hrim (obeisance) to action. Om, obeisance to the stalk of lotus. Rum, obeisance to virtue. Rum, obeisance to knowledge. Om, obeisance to indifference to the world. Om obeisance to impiety. Om, Rum obeisance to ignorance. Om obeisance to attachment to the world. Om obeisance to indigence. Hum, obeisance to speech, to the passionate, kraim to the fiery. Om, hraum obeisance to tranquility. Then hrum obeisance to the elder (goddess). Om, hrum, raum, kraum (obeisance) to (goddess) of fresh energy, gaum to the seat of Gauri. Gaum obeisance to the form of Gauri. Then the principal mantra of (goddess) Gauri is told. Om, hrim, sāḥ, mahā Gauri, consort of Rudra (Shivá), oblations! Obeisance to (goddess) Gauri. Gåm, hrüm, hrim,shiváh, gūm, to tuft, to armour. Gom to eye and gom to the weapon, om, gaum to the energy of wisdom, om Güm obeisance to the energy of action. (Gods) Indra and others (are worshipped) in the east and other directions. Om, sum obeisance to Subhagå (favourite wife). Hrim bija lalità then. And om, hrim obeisance to Kämini (an affectionate woman). Om hrūm Kämaśālini. After having established (goddess) Gauri with the mantras, worshipping (her) and repeating (the mantras), one may get everything.
Summary of chapter 98 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The ninety-eighth chapter provides the installation procedure for the image of Devī Gaurī — the bright, auspicious consort of Śiva. The procedure follows the general template established for Śivaliṅga installation but with the specific mantras, dhyāna, and nyāsa appropriate to the Goddess. The ātma-tattva, vidyā-tattva, and śiva-tattva are established in the image with their respective mantras, and the parāśakti — the supreme power of the Goddess — is invoked into the form. The pīṭha is identified as the seat of kriyāśakti and the vigraha (image) as the dwelling of jñānaśakti, with the sarvavyāpinī (all-pervading) śakti invoked through the āvāhana-mantra. The complete Gaurī pūjā mantra sequence — from "Oṃ Ādhāraśaktaye namaḥ" through the pīṭha-śaktis, the nāla, the eight petals, the Gaurī mūlamantra ("Oṃ Hrīṃ Sauḥ Mahāgauri rudradayite svāhā"), and the aṅga-mantras — is given in full, establishing a complete, usable pūjā protocol.
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