Chapter 58 - Consecration of the idol (snāna)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The lord said:

1-3. The priest should get ready a pit (for sacrificial fire) in the north-east. The fire relating to Viṣṇu should be kindled with (the recitation) of gāyatrī^[1] one hundred and eight times. Having cleansed the pitchers thoroughly and established (the priest) he should go to the shed where the image has been made ready accompanied by the sculptors and custodians of the idol and along with music of (the instrument) tūrya. The woollen thread containing mustard seeds should be tied on the right arm (of the idol) with the syllables Viṣṇave śipiviṣṭāya^[2] etc. The priest should also have a piece of silk cloth tied (to his arm).

4-5. Having placed the idol in the pavilion and having adored and worshipped the dressed idol (one has to say) “I bow to you the sovereign lady of celestials who has been made (ready) by Viśvakarman (the divine architect).” I make obeisance to you who is resplendant and is the sustainer of the entire universe. I worship in you the healthy Lord Nārāyaṇa.

6. Be thou always prosperous (goddess) devoid of defects due to the sculptors. Having submitted thus that idol should be carried to the bathing pavilion [i.e., snāna-maṇḍapa].

7. The sculptor should be satisfied by offering articles (of present). A cow should be given as gift to the priest. Then the eyes of the idol should be made open with (the recitation of) the syllable citraṃ deva.^[3]

8. The sight should be endowed with (the recitation of the syllable) agnir jyoti.^[4] Then white flowers, ghee and mustard seeds should be placed on the pedestal.

9. The priest should place dūrvā grass and tips of kuśa grass on the head of the deity. Then the priest should anoint the eyes (of the deity) with the syllables madhu vātā.^[5]

10. The syllables hiraṇyagarbha and imam me should be recited. Then the idol should be anointed with ghee reciting (the hymn) ghṛtavatā.^[6]

11. The flour paste of masūra (a variety of grain) should be rubbed on the deity reciting (the hymn) ato devā.^[7] Then the priest should wash (the deity) with hot water with the recitation of) sapta te agne^[8].

12. It should be anointed with (the syllables) Urupadādiva. (The image) should be bathed  [i.e., snāna] with (the waters of) the rivers and sacred places with (the syllables) āpo hi ṣṭḥā^[9] and with the (waters containing) gems (with the) pāvamāna.

13. (The image) (should be bathed) with the waters of an earthern pot with (the syllable) samudraṃ gaccha^[10]. It should be consecrated with śanno devī^[11] and bathed with hot water (consecrated) by gāyatrī.

14. The supreme god should be bathed with five (kinds of) earth with (the syllable) hiraṇya. With pot made of earth of an anthill and sand waters and (the syllable) imam me^[12] (it should be bathed).

15. (The image should be bathed) with herbal waters (with the syllable) tadviṣṇoḥ^[13] and yā oṣadhī,^[14] with herbal decoctions (with the syllable) yajñā-ajñā^[15] and then with the pañcagavya (the five things got from a cow).

16. (The image should be bathed) with the waters containing fruits (with the syllables) payaḥ pṛthivyām^[16] and yāḥ phalinī^[17] and with (the contents of) the pitchers (kept in) the north and east with (the syllables) viśvataścakṣuḥ.^[18]

17. The cleansing (of the image) of Hari (Viṣṇu) should be done with (the recitation of the syllables somaṃ rājānam, viṣṇo rarāṭamasi^[19] from the right and with haṃsaḥ śuci^[20] on the west

18. One should offer the dhātrī and māṃsī (herbs) on the head with the sacred syllables mūrdhānaṃ divā^[21]. (One should bathe the image) with perfumes with the syllables gandhadvāra and mā nas toka.^[22]

19. (One has to pour over its head the contents of the pitchers) placed in the eighty-one squares (with the syllables) idam ȧpaḥ. O Lord Viṣṇu! the bestower of grace on the universe! you come.

20. (You) accept this share in the sacrificial offerings. O Vāsudeva! Salutations to you! Having invoked the lord in this way, the wrist thread (on the hand of the image) should be unfastened.

21. The wrist thread on (the hand of) the priest should also be unfastened with the hymn muñcāmi tvā.^[23] The water for washing the feet should be offered with (the syllable) hiraṇmaya^[24] and the offering with ato devā.^[25]

22. The madhuparka (should be offered) with (the syllables) madhuvātā^[26] and the ācamana (the ceremonial sipping of waters at the commencement of any rite) should be done with mayi gṛhṇāmi.^[27] The learned (priest) should scatter the unbroken rice-with (the syllable) akṣannamīmadanta.^[28]

23. The image should be rubbed part by part and perfumes (should be offered) with (the syllable) gandhavat [?note?], garland with (the syllable) unnayāmi and the sacred thread with (the syllable) idaṃ viṣṇu.

24. Pair of cloth pieces (should be offered) (with the syllable) bṛhaspate (and) the upper cloth (with the syllable) vedāham. The herbs and the flower of concluding worship should.. be placed with the mahāvrata.

25. Incense should be offered with dhūrasi and the collyrium (to the eyes of the image) with the hymn (called) vibhrāṭ. The mark on the forehead (should be made) with (the syllable) yuñjanti and the garland (should be offered) with dīrghāyuṣṭvā.

26. (One should offer) an umbrella with (the syllable) indra cchatra, mirror with virāja, the chowrie with vikarṇa and_ the ornaments with rathantara.

27. (One should offer) the fan with (the syllable) vāyu daivatya and flowers with muñcāmi tvā. One should sing in praise of (Lord) Hari (Viṣṇu) with vedic hymns and (the hymn called) puruṣasūkta.

28. All these rites should be performed similarly relating to pedestals of Hara (Śiva) and other gods. The hymn (called) sauparṇa should be recited at the time of raising (the image of) the deity.

29. (The image) having been raised (by reciting) (the syllable) uttiṣṭha, the lord should be led to the bed in the pavilion with (the recitation of) the hymn śakuna^[29] and with (the syllable) brahmaratha.

30. Then the image and the pedestal (should be laid) in the bed with the hymn ato devā.^[30] With the (recitation of) śrīsūkta the rite for Viṣṇu is completed.

31. The eight auspicious things are: the lion, bull, serpent, fan, pitcher, banner, trumpet and lamp.

32-33. (The priest) should show (these) at the foot with the hymn (called) aśvasūkta and the tripād (gāyatrī). One should submit a cooking vessel, covering pan, ladle, pestle, crushing stone, grinding stone, groomstick, utensils for eating and other household things should be given to the goddess.

34. A pitcher known as nidrā provided with clothes and gems and filled with edibles (should be placed) at the head-side (of the image). This is the mode of bathing (the image).

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

The mantra beginning with ‘Oṃ bhūr bhuvaḥ svaḥ’ consisting of twenty-four letters.

[2]:

VS. 22.20.

[3]:

ṚV. 1.115.1.

[4]:

VS. 3.9.

[5]:

ṚV. 1.90.6.

[6]:

ṚV. 6.70.1.

[7]:

ṚV. 1.22.16.

[8]:

VS. 17.79.

[9]:

ṚV. 10 9.1.

[10]:

ṚV. kh. 5.49.2.

[11]:

ṚV. 10.9.4.

[12]:

ṚV. 1.25.19.

[13]:

ṚV. 1.22.20.

[14]:

ṚV. 10.97.1.

[15]:

ṚV. 6.48.1.

[16]:

Vs. 18.36.

[17]:

ṚV. 10.97.15.

[18]:

ṚV. 10.81.3.

[19]:

VS. 5.11.

[20]:

ṚV. 4.40.5.

[21]:

ṚV. 6.7.1.

[22]:

ṚV. 1.114.8.

[23]:

See LXVII. 22.1.

[24]:

ṚV. 10.161.1

[25]:

ŚB. 14.7.1.12

[26]:

ṚV. 1.22.16

[27]:

ṚV. 1.90.6

[28]:

ṚV. 10.9.

[29]:

ṚV. 9.107.

[30]:

ṚV. 1.22.16.