The Agni Purana
by N. Gangadharan | 1954 | 360,691 words | ISBN-10: 8120803590 | ISBN-13: 9788120803596
This page describes Renovation of decayed images (jirnoddhara) which is chapter 67 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 67 - Renovation of decayed images (jīrṇoddhāra)
[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]
The Lord said:
1. I shall describe the process of replacing the old images. The priest should bathe the images with their ornaments on them. The fixed class of images should be put in a room and the extremely time-worn ones should be rejected.
2. A broken or mutilated stone (image) (should be cast aside) and a new one the same as the previous one should be installed (in its place) by the priest after merging the principles according to the process of merging (described earlier).
3. Having made one thousand oblations with the Narasiṃha (mantra), the priest should lift that image. The old image made of wood should be put into fire and the one made of stone should be thrown into water.
4. The old image made of a mineral or gem should be carried on a vehicle after covering it with cloth etc. and be discarded in the deep waters of the ocean.
5. It [i.e., jīrṇoddhāra] should be thrown into waters accompanied by the notes of music instruments. Fees should be paid to the priest.
6. New images of the same size and made of the same material should be installed on the same day. One accrues great merit by the renovation of wells, tanks and ponds.