The Lord said:
1-3. Ishall describe the appreasing rite for Siva which is preceded by the collection of formulae of Aghora. It is the lord of seven crores (of formulae). It is fierce. It is capable of destroying sins such as killing a brahmin etc. It is the abode of both excellent as well as ordinary achievements. It destroys portents pertaining to the celestial region, sky and earth. It devours poisons, spirits and goblins. It confers all the desires. It is an expiation destroying a host of sins. It destroys misfortune and difficulties.
4-7. After having located Ekavira, the five facesshould always be contemplated. (The faceshould be contemplated as) white in (the rites of) appeasement and nourishment, red in (the rites of) subjugation, yellow in (the rites of) paralysing, smoky in the rites of) ucchātana (a kind of charm for expulsion) and black in the rites of) attracting (a person). Oneshould worship the thirty-two letters for confounding (an enemy). The formulashould be repeated thirty lakh times and the oblationshould be done one-tenth (of that number). Gum resin mixed with amrutā would accomplish all things. There is no other formula superior to the Aghora formula that would give enjoyment and emancipation. (By this repetition) one who is not a religious student would become a religious student and one who has not had his ablution after completing studies would have
8. The weapon of Aghora and Aghora are the two excellent formulae. One who repeats (the formulae) or docs oblation (with them) or worships would rout the army of the enemy in the battle.
9-13. Ishall describe (the rite of) appeasement of Rudra which is beneficial and which accomplishes all the desires. For the sake of progeny, for removing the malignant influences of the planets, for removing poison and curing diseases, for controlling famine and epidemics, for removing (the effect of) bad dreams, for gaining army and kingdom, for the destruction of enemies (itshould be performed). When trees bear flowers untimely and for controlling all spirits (the formulashould be used). (The word) obeisanceshould be used for worship, ending with oblation for making the oblation, the syllable vashat for strengthening and vaushat for nourishment. In the place of 'ca' letter two times, the union of that class (of names) is made.
Om! Obeisance to Rudra and to you and to the bull. (Obeisance) to one who does not leave, to unborn one, to the prime entity, to the worshipful, to Ishäna and to one possessing valour. (The following) five (are worshipped) in the north. (Obeisance) to the omnipresent, to the dreadful one, to one having distorted features, one who dnes not have any change in the form.
(Worship is made) for the sake of removal in (the principle of) kāla and water in the south-western direction.
Obeisance to Ekapingala, to Svetapingala (and) to Krishņa pingala. Obeisance to Madhupingala. (Obeisance) to Madhupingala in self-restraint. (Obeisance) to Ananta, to Arudra, to Sushka (dry) and to Payogana in the principle of kala (time). To the dreadful one, to the most dreadful one in the two principles of māya (illusion). To the thousand-headed one, to the thousand-mouthed one, to the thousand-handed and footed one and to the thousand linga in the principle of learning. Oneshould locate on the right petal from thousand-eyed. To Ekajaţā, Dvijaţā, Vijațā, to the form of Svähä, to the form of Svadha, to the form of vashat, to the six Rudras. O Guha! these are situated in the leaf of fire in the principle of Isha. To the lord of goblins, to the lord of beings, to the lord of Uma and to the lord of time. The six are to be worshipped in the eastern petals in the principle called Sadasiva. To Uma, bearing a dreadful form, Om! do (2), Ruhiņi (2)! You are Rudra, God of the celestials, Visakha! Kill (2), burn (2), cook (2), churn (2), turu (2), aru (2), and suru (2). Remember the appeasement of Rudra. O Krishņapingala! Obeisance to the lord of the universe, the lord of the untimely goblins. (Goddess) Umà and (god) Maheśvarashould be worshipped in the pericarp in the principle of Siva, Om to one pervading the sky, to the form of the sky, to omnipresent Siva, to the endless, to one without anyone to govern, one who is not resorted, to Śiva. These nine terms are said to pervade the sky in the principle of Siva. Obeisance to the eternal one! to the one seated on the yogic altar! to the eternal yogin! to the person having contemplation as food! Om obeisance to Siva! Lord of all (beings)! One having Išhāna as the head! One having Tatpurusha and others as the five faces! O Guha! The five chambers on the eastern petal in the principle of satshould be worhipped! To one having Aghora as the heart! To one having Vamadeva as the secret organ! To one embodied as Sadyojata! Om obeisance! To one extremely secret! To one who conceals! To one who does not have death! To one who presides over death! To one of the form of radiance! in the leaf (presided over) by Fire, in the principle of oblation! in the principle of knowledge! in the south! To the supreme lord! To the sentient and insentient! To the sky-pervading one! The splendour of the prime splendour! in the principle of illusion in the south-west! in the principle of time in the west! Oñ, dhr, dhr, nânā, vāṁ, vam! Deathless one! Born of death! Benevolent one! The supreme soul! Great god! Master of good feelings! Great splendour! Presiding deity of yoga! Release, release, churn, churn! Om! O Sarva (everything) (2)! Om Bhava (The source) (2)! One who bestows happiness on all beings! In the son of Wind (god) and in the man of restraint in the north! Onc who is manifest in the presence of all! One who is above Brahmå, Vishņu and Rudra! One who is not worshipped! One who is not worshipped! One who is not extolled! The witness (2)! Come! Come! O Sun! O Fire (2) 10 Knowledge (2)! Sound! Subtlc one (2) I Benevolent one (2)! Giver of all things (2)! Om! Obeisance to Siva. Om obeisance to Śiva. Om! Obeisance. Oneshould worship, offer oblation and repeat (the above formula) in the pråkruta principle in the north-east. It would remedy all afflictions due to planets, diseases and incantations and accomplish all things.
Summary of chapter 326 of the Agni Purāṇa is as follows:
The rites for consecrating village deities and protective divinities are described. Agni explains the distinction between the great temple deities installed with full āgamic rites and the protective village deities (kṣetrapāla, grāma-devatā) installed at the boundaries of settlements. The materials for the mūrti — wood, stone, clay, or metal — and the appropriate forms for each deity class are specified. The prāṇapratiṣṭhā ceremony, in which life-force is ritually infused into the image, is outlined step by step, along with the subsequent daily pūjā obligations of the community. The chapter stresses that a properly installed deity protects the village from drought, disease, and invasion.