185 - Consecration of bronze images

Varaha said:

1-2. Getting a well-made, complete and beautiful idol in bronze, the devotee may take it into the temple to the accompaniment of song and drums and all that is auspicious.

3. Then taking arghya in the proper manner, the following mantra should be uttered:

4. “O Lord of the worlds, worshipped in all sacrifices, contemplated upon, the desire of the whole universe, the great soul, the master benign, may you be pleased with me and remain for worship here”.

5. After this arghya, the idol should be placed facing north and adhivasana done in the prescribed manner.

6. Then four pots should be got ready for my bath containing Panchagavya, sandal paste, fried rice and honey.

7-8. When the sun has set, the worshipper may perform consecration holding pots and in the company of other devotees.

9. He should utter Namo Narayanaya and recite the following mantra:

10. “O lord of the worlds, you are the primeval being remaining through all aeons and the dispenser for all time. You are one, you have no second. Please come and take your abode here. You are all the transformations, but you yourself have no transformation. You are the letters A, S, S, S. You take forms at will. The decaying, the undecaying, the sustaining, the formless are all you. Bow to you, O Purushottama”.

11. When the night is over and the sun is rising and when the latter part of asterism Mula is reached,

12. According to the rites mentioned before, the idol may be placed at the door-way of the Sanctum. 

13. Then taking the sacred water, sandal and fruits, the devotee should utter Namo narayanaya and recite the following mantra:

14. “Om, you are Indra, yourself (Vishnu), Yama, Kubera, Varuna, Soma, Bruhaspati, Shukra, Shani, Budha, Rahu, Ketu, Surya and Kuja.

15. Your are herbs, waters, air, earth, fire, Nägas, Yakshas and quarters. Bow to you, O Purushottama.”

16. Doing well all the rituals with this mantra, the idol may be taken into the sanctum.

17. It may then be bathed with the water with sandal kept in the pots.

18. During the bath, the following mantra may be recited:

19. “For you, Purushottama, may the lakes, oceans, rivers, tirthas and wells, make their presence here by your grace for this bath”.

20. I may be installed in this manner and then worshipped with sandal, incense etc, according to the materials available.

21. Then clothes should be offered as also decorations for pleasure.

22. Placing the clothes before me and prostrating at my feet, the following mantra may be recited.

23. “O lord of the worlds, I have brought here for you nice and beautiful clothes pleasant to put on. Be pleased to receive them. O Veda, Upaveda, Rugveda, Yajurveda, Sämaveda, Atharvaveda, I extol you. Bow to you, O most supreme”.

24. After decoration in the manner stated before, food is to be offered as prescribed.

25. After food, water should be given, and then šhäntipätha should be recited in the form of the following mantra:

26. “May all knowledge, Brahman, Brahmins, planets, rivers and oceans, Indra and other guardian deities of the quarters bring about peace. Äyäma, Yama, Kämadama, Vãma Om namah Purushottamäya.”

27. When all these upachäras (services) are over, circumambulation should be made and then abhivädana and stuti (praise).

28. Then the pure devotees should be honoured and the Brahmins fed with Päyasa and other materials.

29. Sacred water should be received from the Brahmins and sprinkled on me. Then after sending them off, worship of the Guru should be performed.

30. There is no doubt that I become worshipped when the preceptor is honoured with ring, garments .and other gifts.

31. It is also true that I see to the extinction of those that condemn the Brahmins, my devotees and the preceptors.

32. He who me in this manner remains in my world for as many thousands of years as there are drops of water in my body.

33. He liberates every one in his paternal and maternal lines.

34. I have thus told you about the consecration of bronze images.

35. I shall tell you now about the consecration of silver images.