The Agni Purana

by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596

This page describes Mode of performing consecration which is chapter 41 of the English translation of the Agni Purana, one of the eighteen major puranas dealing with all topics concerning ancient Indian culture, tradition and sciences. Containing roughly 15,000 Sanskrit metrical verses, subjects contained in the Agni-Purana include cosmology, philosophy, architecture, iconography, economics, diplomacy, pilgrimage guides, ancient geography, gemology, ayurveda, etc.

Chapter 41 - Mode of performing consecration

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[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1. I shall narrate the mode of consecration of the foundation and (the rites relating to) the laying down of the foundation stone. A shed is erected at first and four (sacrificial) pits (are made).

2. The placing of pitchers (of water) and bricks, the erection of the doors and pillars (are finished). The dug up pit is filled to a quarter (of its depth) and the presiding deity is worshipped at the same time.

3. The bricks should be of twelve fingers in length, with a breadth and width of four fingers respectively, and well-burnt.

4- 8. Stones measuring a cubit (in length) would be best in the case of stone slabs. Nine copper pitchers and bricks should be placed. The pitchers (should be filled) with water, (substance known as pañcakaṣāya^[1], waters of all herbs and fragrant waters. Then with the pitchers filled well with waters (and containing gold and rice and anointed by fragrant sandal, and having placed the stones along with (the recitation of) the mystic syllables—the three-footed āpo hi ṣṭhā^[2], śanno devī^[3], tarat sa mandīḥ^[4], pāvamānī^[5], uduttamaṃ varuṇa^[6], kayā naḥ^[7], varuṇasya^[8], haṃsaḥ śuciṣat^[9], śrīsūkta^[10].

9. Hari should be worshipped in a bed in the shed in the eastern part of the (drawn) diagram. Then having kindled the fire twelve twigs should be offered (as oblation).

10. The primary offering and the offering with clarified butter should be done with the syllable oṃ. Then subsequently eight offerings and again eight offerings with clarified butter (should be offered) with the syllables (known as) vyāhṛtis^[11] duly.

11. After that offer oblation (in the fire) to the gods, Agni, Soma and Puruṣottama separately with vyāhṛtis.

12-13. The preceptor (officiating at the rite) should do the expiatory rite facing the eastern quarter offering to the image, meat, and sesamum along with ghee separately in the pitchers with the vedic syllables or the mystic formula of twelve syllables. Having scattered (sesamum) in the eight directions a stone and a pitcher should be placed at the centre and the following divinities (should be invoked) in order.

14. Padma^[12], mahāpadma, makara, kacchapa, kumuda, nanda, padma, śaṅkha and padminī (are the divinities).

15. The pitchers should not be moved. Eight bricks should be placed in them duly beginning with the eastern direction and ending with the north-east.

16. The female energies Vimalā and others, the presiding deities of these bricks, should be invoked in their proper pitchers. The energy Anugraha should be invoked at the central pitcher.

17. “O perfect, unbroken, full-bodied brick, the daughter of the sage Aṅgiras, I am establishing you. You grant me the desired thing.”

18-20. The preceptor, having placed the brick with this mystic syllable should do garbhādhāna^[13]. Having invoked the goddess Padminī at the central pitcher, earth, flowers, minerals, gems, and iron pieces as well as the weapons of deities of quarters (should be placed) in the hole of twelve fingers’ width and four fingers’ depth.

21-22. The goddess earth should be worshipped in a copper vessel of the shape of a lotus. “O the exclusive mistress of all beings, abound with the summits of mountains as the seats, one surrounded by oceans, O goddess! You resort to this hole. O rejoicer! born of sage Vasiṣṭha! you rejoice with the Vasus and the progeny.

23. O Victorious! related to Bhārgava (Paraśurāma) Maker of thine subjects victorious! the perfect! the relative of Aṅgiras! fulfil all my desires.

24. O Auspicious one! related to sage Kāśyapa! Make my intellect good. One who is accomplished with all seeds! One who possesses all gems and herbs!

25. May you be victorious! O beautiful one! O rejoicer! Related to Vasiṣṭha! The daughter of the creator! O Goddess! O handsome one! Stay on here in bliss—O majestic one!

26. Stay thou in this house! O beautiful and brilliant one! the daughter of Kaśyapa! The honoured, most wonderful and bedecked with scents and garlands!

27. O Goddess! Stay in bliss in this room! O Bhār-gavi (daughter of Śukra)! Bestower of worldly prosperities! Possessed by the gods, kings, and masters of the house!

28. May you become the multiplier of animals for the happiness of men and others. Having said in this way one should then sprinkle cow’s urine on the pit.

29. Having done so, one should place in the pit (such that) the impregnation would take place in the night. One should give away cows and clothes to the preceptor (the officiating priest), and food to other people.

30. Having filled the hole and placing the bricks in the hole, the hole is completely filled. Then one should construct the base of the deity proportionate to the edifice of the deity.

31. An excellent base is that where it is more than half the breadth of the edifice, while a quarter lesser than that would be mediocre and that which is half of the excellent base (aforesaid) would be the lowest (in merit).

32. After completing the base, the rite for the presiding deity (of the ground) should be done again. One who performs the consecration of the base would enjoy in heavens free from sin.

33. One who would mentally think that “I am going to build a temple”, the sins which had stuck to his body would get destroyed that day itself.

34-35. No need to speak (about the merits) of one who has built a temple in the prescribed manner. It is impossible for anyone to describe the merits one would accrue by building a temple with eight bricks alone. One should indeed infer from this the (proportionate) fruits (accrued) (from the building) of temples of greater dimensions.

36. The door of the temple at the centre of the village or on the eastern part should face the west, while in other directions the door should be facing the west and in the southern, northern and western parts (the door) should face the east.