Story of Navavyūhārcana

This is a worship conducted to prevent epidemics. In olden days Mahāviṣṇu advised Nārada on the form of this worship. The form of this worship is given below:

In the centre of the circular lotus, consecrate Vāsudeva with the first syllable of mantra (spell) 'A'. To the south of him consecrate and worship Saṅkarṣaṇa and Pradyumna with the syllable 'Ā'; in the S.E. corner, Aniruddha with the syllable 'Aḥ'; in the west, Nārāyaṇa with the syllable 'Om'; Brahmā in the N.W. corner with the syllables 'Tatsat'; Viṣṇu in the North with the syllable 'Hum'; Nṛsiṃha with the syllable 'Kṣau' and Varāha in the N.E. corner with the syllable 'bhūm'.

Consecrate Garuḍa with spells having as first syllables 'Kam', 'ṭam', "sam" and 'śam' at the western entrance of the lotus figure; Pūrvavaktra, with syllables 'Kham' 'cham', Vam' and hum' at the southern entrance of the lotus figure; Gadā (club), with the syllables 'Kham', 'ṭham' and 'Śam' at the Northern entrance; consecrate Īśa with the syllables 'bam', 'ṇam', 'mam' and 'Kṣam, in the North East corner. Then consecrate Śrī with the syllables 'Dham', 'Dam', 'Bham' and 'Ham' on the southern side; Vanamālī with the syllables 'Gam', 'Ḍam' 'Vam' and 'Śam', on the northern side; Śrīvatsa with the syllables 'sam', 'ham' and 'lam', to the west of Vanamālī; and Kaustubha, with the syllables, 'cham', 'Tam' and 'yam', to the west of Śrīvatsa.

After having consecrated and worshipped persons as mentioned above, in the order of the ten member-parts of Mahāviṣṇu, Ananta should be consecrated below the seat of the deity and in the order of the ten member parts of Ananta, the four component parts called Mahendra and so on should be consecrated on the four directions such as east and so on, and consecrate in the same way all the decorations, flags, canopy etc. Then the three spheres of Vāyu (Air), Agni (fire) and Indu (moon) should be consecrated with the first syllables of the spells suited to each and meditating on them and worshipping them, dip the body in the meditation. Then imagine that the subtle form of the individual soul is staying in the sky. Then meditate that the individual soul is reborn by harmony with the universal soul after having been dipped and washed in the snowwhite ambrosia emanating from the moon. After that saying to yourself 'I am Viṣṇu himself reborn", utter the twelve-syllabled mantra or spell. Place heart, head, turban and weapon respectively on chest, head, hindpart of the lock of hair and Netra (eye) Place weapons in both hands. After this your body will become divine. This placing of the individual soul should be repeated in the same way with Deva (god) and Śiva. When this worship of Viṣṇu is conducted in heart in imagination (without the aid of materials) it is called 'Anirmālyapūjā, and when it is done with the aid of lotus figure etc., it is called Sanirmālya pūjā.

At this pūjā (worship) the disciple should stand with eyes tied. Then on whichever deity he places flower it should be given that name. Place it on the left side and burn gingelly, paddy and ghee in the sacrificial fire. After performing hundred and eight burnings perform another burning for the purification of the body. To each of the member-parts of the Navavyūha deities also burnt offering should be made, no less than hundred times to each. Then put the entire thing in fire as burnt offering. Then the disciples should take fast, and the disciples should offer wealth etc. to the teacher. (Agni Purāṇa, Chapter 201).