Agni Purana

होमार्थे स्थण्डिलं कुर्य्यात् सिकतामिः समन्ततः। सार्द्धहस्तप्रमाणं तु चतुरस्रं सुशोभनम्

For the purpose of the offering, he should prepare an altar of sand all around, measuring half a cubit, square, and very beautiful.

अष्टदिक्षु यथान्यासं कलशानाप विन्यसेत्। पूर्वाद्यानष्टवर्णेन अग्निमानीय संस्कृतम्

He should arrange the pots in the eight directions as appropriate, bring the consecrated fire with the eight-syllabled mantra beginning with 'pūrva', and place it.

त्वमग्नेद्युभिरिति गायत्र्या समिधो हुनेत्। अष्टार्णेनाष्टशतकं आज्यं पूर्णा प्रदापयेत्

Reciting 'tvam agne dyubhir' with the Gāyatrī meter, he should offer the kindling; with the eight-syllabled mantra, he should offer clarified butter one hundred and eight times.

शान्त्युदकं आम्रपत्रैः मूलेन शतमन्त्रितम्। सिञ्चेद्देवस्य तन्मूर्दिध्न श्रीश्च ते ह्यनया ऋचा

He should sprinkle sanctifying water, infused with one hundred mantras, using mango leaves and their stems, upon the deity's head, reciting 'śrīś ca te' with this verse.

ब्रह्मयानेन चोद्धृत्य उत्तिष्ठ ब्रह्मणस्पते। तद्विष्णोरिति मन्त्रेण प्रासादाभिमुखं नयेत्

Lifting up with the Brahma-mantra, he should say, 'Arise, O Lord of Speech,' and, with the mantra 'tad viṣṇoḥ', lead it facing the temple.

शिविकायां हरिं स्थाप्य भ्रामयीत पुरादिकम्। गीतवेदादिशब्दैश्च प्रासादद्वारि धारयेत्

Placing Hari in a palanquin, he should carry him around the city, accompanied by singing, Vedic recitation, and other sounds, and then set him at the temple entrance.

स्त्रीभिर्विप्रैर्मङ्गलाष्टघटै संस्नापयेद्धरिम्। ततो गन्धादिनाभ्यर्च्य मूलमन्त्रेण देशिकः

With women and Brahmins, using eight auspicious pots, he should bathe Hari; then, worshipping with sandal and other offerings, the teacher should recite the root-mantra.

अतो देवेति वस्त्राद्यामष्टाङ्गार्घ्यं निवेद्य च। स्थिरेलग्ने पिण्डिकायां देवस्य त्वेति धारयेत्

Then, saying 'ato deve', he should offer cloth and other eightfold arghya; at an auspicious moment, he should place the deity on the pedestal, reciting 'devasya tva'.

ओं त्रेलोक्यविक्रान्ताय नमस्तेस्तु त्रिविक्रम। संस्थाप्या पिण्डिकायान्तु स्थिरं कुर्य्याद्विचक्षणः

Reciting 'Om, homage to Trivikrama, who strides the three worlds,' the wise should firmly establish the deity on the pedestal.

ध्रुवा द्यौरिति मन्त्रेण विश्वतश्चक्षुरित्यपि। पञ्चगव्येन संस्नाप्य क्षाल्य गन्धदकेन च

With the mantras 'dhruvā dyaur' and 'viśvataś cakṣur', he should bathe with pañcagavya, then cleanse with perfumed water.

पूजयेत् सकलीकृत्य साङ्गं सावरणं हरिम्। ध्यायेत् स्वं तस्य मूर्त्तिन्तु पृथिवी त्स्य पीठिका

Having completed the worship, he should honor Hari with all his limbs and attendants, meditate on his own form as that of Hari, and see the earth as his seat.

कल्पयेकद्विग्रहं तस्य तैजसैः परमाणुभिः। जीवमावाहयिष्यामि पञ्चविंशतितत्त्वगम्

He should imagine a second form for him, composed of radiant atoms, and invoke the living principle, endowed with the twenty-five elements.

चैतन्यं परमानन्दं जाग्रत्‌स्वप्नविवर्जितम्। देहेन्द्रियमनोबुद्धिप्राणाहङ्कारवर्जितम्

Consciousness, supreme bliss, free from waking and dream, devoid of body, senses, mind, intellect, breath, and ego.

ब्रह्मादिस्तम्बपर्य्यन्तं हृदयेषु व्यवस्थितम्। हृदयात् प्रतिमाविभ्बे स्थिरो भव परेश्वर

From Brahmā down to a blade of grass, abiding in the hearts, from the heart entering the image—be firm, O Supreme Lord.

सजीवं कुरु विम्बं त्वं ब्हह्म एकमेवाद्वितीयकम्। सजीवीकरणं कृत्वा प्रणवेन निबोध्येत्

Make the image endowed with life; you are Brahman, one without a second. Having performed the enlivening, instruct with the praṇava.

ज्योतिर्ज्ञानं परं ब्रह्म एकमेवाद्वितीयकम्। सजीवीकरणं कृत्वा प्रणवेन निबोधयेत्

Light, knowledge, the supreme Brahman, one without a second—having performed the enlivening, instruct with the praṇava.

सान्निध्यकरणन्नाम हृदयं स्पृस्य वै जपेन्। सूक्तन्तु पौरुषं ध्यायन् इदं गुह्यमनुं जपेत्

Touching the heart for the rite called 'bringing near', he should recite, meditating on the Puruṣa hymn, and utter this secret mantra.

नमस्तेस्तु सुरेशाय सन्तोषविभवात्नमे। ज्ञानविज्ञानरूपाय ब्रह्मतेजोनुयायिने

Homage to the Lord of gods, the source of satisfaction and prosperity, the embodiment of knowledge and wisdom, who follows the radiance of Brahman.

गुणातिक्रान्तवेशाय पुरुषाय भहात्मने। अक्षयाय पुराणाय विष्णो सन्निहितो भव

To the one whose form transcends qualities, the Supreme Person, the great soul, the imperishable, the ancient one—O Viṣṇu, be present here.

यच्च ते परमं तत्त्वं यच्च ज्ञानमयं वपुः। तत् सर्वमेकतो लीनमस्मिन्देहे विबुध्यताम्

And that supreme reality of yours, and that form composed of knowledge—let all of that, as one, which is merged in this body, be awakened.

आत्मानं सन्निधीकृत्य ब्रह्मादिपरिवारकान्। स्वनाम्ना स्थापयेदन्यानायुधादीन् स्वमुद्रया

Having invoked the Self, and the retinue beginning with Brahma, let one establish the others by their own names, and weapons and so on, with their own seals.

यात्रावर्षादिकं दृष्ट्वा ज्ञेयः स्न्निहितो हरिः। नत्वा स्तुत्वा स्तवाद्यैश्च जप्त्वा चाष्टाक्षरादिकम्

Observing the auspicious journey and the like, one should know that Hari is present; having bowed, praised with hymns and the like, and recited the eight-syllabled mantra and others.

चण्डप्रचण्डौ द्वारस्थौ निर्गत्याभ्यर्चयेद्‌गुरुः। अग्निमण्डपमासाद्य गरुडं स्थाप्य पूजयेत्

Let the teacher worship Caṇḍa and Pracaṇḍa, who stand at the door, after going out; having reached the fire altar, let him install Garuḍa and worship.

दिगीशान् दिशि देवाश्चं स्थाप्य सम्पूज्य देशिकः। विश्वक्‌सेनं तु संस्थाप्य शङ्खचक्रादि पूजयेत्

Let the teacher install and duly worship the guardians of the directions and the gods in the directions; having established Viśvaksena, let him worship with conch, discus, and so on.

सर्वपार्षदकेभ्यश्च बलिं भूतेभ्य अर्पयेत्। ग्रामवस्त्रसुवर्णादि गुरवे दक्षिणां ददेत्

Let him offer oblations to all the attendants and to the spirits; let him give to the teacher gifts such as garments, gold, and so on from the village.

यागोपयोगिद्रव्याद्यमाचार्य्याय नरोर्पयेत्। आचार्य्यादक्षिणार्द्धन्तु ऋत्विगभ्यो दक्षिणां ददेत्

Let him offer to the teacher all the substances used in the sacrifice; and half the teacher's fee should be given as honorarium to the officiating priests.

अन्येब्यो दक्षिणां दद्याद्भोजयेद्‌ ब्राह्मणांस्ततः। अवारितान् फलान् दद्याद्यजमानाय वैगुरुः

Let him give honoraria to others, then feed the Brāhmaṇas; then, let him give the unrestricted fruits to the sacrificer, in accordance with the Vaiṣṇava tradition.

विष्णुं नयेत् प्रतिष्ठाता चात्मना सकलं कुलम । सर्वेषामेव देवानामेष साधारणो विधिः। मूलमन्त्राः पृथक् तेषा शेषं कार्य्यं समानकम्

The installer should lead Viṣṇu, along with his entire family; this is the common procedure for all the gods; their root mantras are distinct, but the rest of the procedure is the same.

भगवानुवाच समुदायेन देवादेः प्रतिष्ठां प्रवदामि ते। लक्ष्म्याः प्रतिष्ठां प्रथमं तथा देवीगणस्य च

The Blessed Lord said: I will explain to you the installation of the gods and others in their entirety; first, the installation of Lakṣmī, and likewise of the host of goddesses.