Agni Purāṇa
99 - Mode of installation of the image of the sun-god.
The lord said:
1-2. Ishall describe (the mode of) installation of the sun god. The sacrificialshed (and other things)should be (made ready) as before. Then after having completed the rites of ablution etc., as prescribed before, and having located the sun-god with his attendants and (goddess) Vidya in the seat and bed, (the preceptor)should locate the three (fundamental) principles (of soul, knowledge and bliss) and the five (principles of) sky etc. along with chants.
3. After having done the purification etc. as before and having purified the pedestal as before, (the preceptorshould locate the five principles upto their own place.
4-5. After having established (the pedestal) then along with the (goddess of) energy (called) Sarvatomukhi as laid down, the preceptorshould establish (the image of) the sun (god) as laid down with the (utterance of) its mantras as permeated with the energy or the master. The nameshould be borne upto the end of the foot. The mantras which have been described alreadyshould be seen at (the time of) establishment also.
Summary of chapter 99 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The ninety-ninth chapter presents the installation procedure for the image of Bhagavān Sūrya. The standard template of maṇḍapa construction, snāna, and preliminary rites is applied, but the specific threefold tattva nyāsa (ātma, vidyā, śiva) in the image uses the ĀkāśĀdi pañcabūta (the five elements beginning with ākāśa) as the theological framework rather than the purely Śaiva kalā framework. The pīṭha is purified and consecrated using the sarvatomukhī (all-faced) śakti mantra. The guru installs Sūrya using his specific mantra while visualizing the deity's blazing form, and the name of Sūrya's attendant deities is given the suffix "svāmin" or "pāda" to complete the mantra form. The chapter's brevity reflects that Sūrya installation follows the same general procedures already described — the chapter serves primarily to specify the Sūrya-specific variations rather than to repeat the entire protocol.
esc