Agni Purana

देशकालादिसम्पत्तौ दुर्न्निमित्तप्रशान्त्ये। होमङ्‌कृत्वा तु मन्त्रज्ञः पूर्णा दत्त्वा शुभावहां

When the place, time, and other conditions are auspicious, and in order to pacify inauspicious omens, the knower of mantras should perform a homa, then give a full and auspicious offering.

पूर्ववच्चरुकं कृत्वा प्रतिकुण्डं निवेदयेत् । यजमानालङकृतास्तु व्रजेयुः स्नानमण्डपं

As before, prepare the cooked offering and present it at each fire-pit; the sacrificers, adorned, should proceed to the bathing pavilion.

भद्रपीठे निधायेशं ताडयित्वावगुण्ठयेत्। स्नापयेत् पूजयित्वा तु मृदा काषायवारिणा

Placing the Lord on the auspicious seat, striking and then covering Him, one should bathe Him, worshipping with clay and saffron water.

गोमूत्रैर्गोमयेनापि वारिणा चान्तरान्तरा। भस्माना गन्धतोयेन फडन्तास्त्रेण वारिणा

With cow urine, cow dung, and water in succession, with ashes, fragrant water, and water empowered by the protective mantra, one should bathe.

देशिको मूर्त्तिपैः सार्द्धं कृत्वा कारणशोधनं । धर्मजप्तेन सञ्छाद्य पीतवर्णेन वाससा

The teacher, together with the images, should perform the ritual purification; covering them with a yellow garment sanctified by recitation of dharma-mantras.

सम्पूज्य सितपुष्पैश्च नयदुत्तरवेदिकां। तत्र दत्तासनायाञ्च शय्यायां सन्निवेश्य च

Having worshipped with white flowers, he should lead them to the northern altar; there, after providing a seat and a bed, he should arrange them.

कुङ्कुमालिप्तसूत्रेण विभज्य गुरुरालिखेत्। शलाकया सुवर्णस्य अक्षिणी शस्त्रकर्मणा

With a thread anointed with saffron, the teacher should mark divisions and inscribe with a golden stick the eyes by means of the prescribed ritual.

अञ्जयेल्लक्ष्मकृत् पश्चाच्छास्त्रदृष्टेन कर्मणा। कृतकर्मा चशस्त्रेण लक्ष्मी शिल्पी समुत्तक्षिपेत्

He should then apply collyrium to the eyes, and, following the prescribed procedure, the accomplished artist should lift the auspicious mark with the instrument.

त्र्यंशादर्द्धोथ पादार्द्धादर्द्धाया अर्द्धतोथवा । सर्वकामप्रसिद्ध्यर्थं शुभं लक्ष्मावतारणं

From one-third, one-half, or half of a quarter, or even half of that, for the fulfillment of all desires, the auspicious mark should be established.

लिङ्गदीर्घविकारांशे त्रिभक्ते भागवर्णनात् । विस्तारो लक्ष्म देहस्य भवेल्लिङ्गस्य सर्वतः

In the elongated portion of the liṅga, divided into three parts as described, the breadth of the auspicious mark should be measured everywhere according to the body of the liṅga.

यवस्य नवभक्तस्य भागैरष्टाभिरावृता हस्तिके । लक्ष्मरेखा च गाम्भीर्य्याद् विस्तरादपि

With eight parts of barley out of nine, encircling the hand, the line of the auspicious mark should be measured both in depth and width.

एवमष्टांशवृद्ध्या तु लिङ्गे सार्द्धकरादिके । भवेदष्टयवा पृथ्वी गम्भीरात्र च हास्तिके

Thus, by increasing by one-eighth, in a liṅga of one and a half hands, the earth should be eight barleys wide and deep at the hand.

एवमष्टांशवृद्ध्या तु लिङ्गे सार्द्धकरादिके। भवेदष्टयवा पृथ्वी गम्भीरन्नवहास्तिके

Thus, by increasing by one-eighth, in a liṅga of one and a half hands, the earth should be eight barleys wide and deep at nine hands.

शाम्भवेषु च लिङ्गेषु पादवृद्धेषु सर्वतः। लक्ष्म देहस्य विष्कम्भो भवेद्वै यववर्द्धनात्

In Śaiva liṅgas, when the height is measured by the foot, the breadth of the auspicious mark should be determined everywhere by the increase of barley grains.

गम्भीरत्वपृथुत्वाभ्यां रेशापि त्रयंशवृद्धितः। सर्वेषु च भवेत् सूक्ष्मं लिङ्गमस्तकमस्तकं

By the increase of one-third, in both depth and width, the line should be made; in all, the liṅga from base to top should be subtle.

लक्ष्मक्षेत्रेष्टधाभक्ते मूद्‌र्ध्नि भागद्वये शुभे । षड्‌भागपरिवर्त्तेन मुक्त्वा भागद्वयन्त्वधः

In the field of the auspicious mark, divided into eight parts, at the top, in two auspicious portions, with a sixth part in between, leaving two portions below.

रेखात्रयेण सम्बद्धं कारयेत् पृष्ठदेशगं। रत्नजे लक्षणोद्धारो यवौ हेमसमुद्भवे

With three lines joined at the back, one should make the mark; in a gem-made liṅga, the mark should be two barleys wide if made of gold.

स्वरूपं लक्षणन्तेषां प्रभा रत्नेषु निर्मला। नयनोन्मीलनं वक्त्रे सान्निध्याय च लक्ष्म तत्

Their true form is indicated by the marks; the radiance in gems is pure. The opening of the eyes upon the face is a sign of presence.

लक्ष्मणोद्धाररेखाञ्च घृतेन मधुना तथा। मृत्युञ्जयेन सम्पूज्य शिल्पिदोषनिवृत्तये

To extract the marks and lines, one should use ghee and honey, and worship with the Mṛtyuñjaya mantra, for the removal of defects in the workmanship.

अर्च्चयेच्च तता लिङ्गं स्नापयित्वा मृदादिभिः। शिल्पिनन्तोषयित्वा तु दद्याद् गां गुरवो ततः

One should worship the liṅga after bathing it with clay and other substances; having satisfied the artisans, one should then give cows to the teachers.

लिङ्गं धूपादिभिः प्राच्यं गायेयुर्भर्तृगास्त्रियः। सव्येन चापसव्येन सूत्रेणाथ कुशेन वा

The liṅga should be honored with incense and similar offerings; the wives of the master should sing, using a thread either to the right or left, or with kuśa grass.

स्मृत्वा च रोचनं दत्वा कुर्यान्निर्मञ्जनादिकं । गुडलवणधान्याकदानेन विसृजेच्च ताः

Remembering the pigment, having given it, one should perform cleansing and related rites; with gifts of jaggery, salt, and grains, one should dismiss them.

गुरुमूर्त्तिधरैः सार्द्धं हृदा वा प्रणवेन वा। मृत्स्नागोमयगोमूत्रभस्मभिः सलिलान्तरं

Together with those bearing the form of the teacher, or with the heart or with the praṇava, one should use clay, cow dung, cow urine, ashes, and other waters.

स्नापयेत् पञ्चगव्येन पञ्चमृतपुरः सरं । विरूक्षणं कषायैश्च सर्वौषधिजलेन वा

One should bathe with pañcagavya, preceded by the five nectars; purification may also be done with decoctions or with water from all medicinal herbs.

शुभ्रपुष्पफलस्वर्णरत्न श्रृङ्गयवोदकैः। तथा धारासहस्रेण दिव्यौषधिजलेन च

With pure flowers, fruits, gold, gems, horns, barley water, and also with a thousand streams and divine medicinal water.

तीर्थोदकेन गङ्गेन चन्दनेन च वारिणा। क्षीरार्णवादिभिः कुम्भैः शिवकुम्भजलेन च

With water from sacred places, from the Ganges, with sandalwood water, with pots from the ocean of milk, and with water from the vessel of Shiva.

विरूक्षणं विलेपञ्च सुगन्धैश्चन्दनादिभिः। सम्पूज्य ब्रह्मभिः पुष्पैर्वर्मणा रक्तचीवरैः

Purification and anointing should be done with fragrant substances like sandalwood; worship with Brahmins, flowers, armor, and red garments.

रक्तरूपेण नीराज्य रक्षातिलकपूर्वकं। घृतौघैर्जलदुग्धैश्च कुशाद्यैरर्घ्यसूचितैः

With a red form, perform the waving of lights, preceded by protective marks; with streams of ghee, water, milk, and offerings indicated by kuśa grass and threads.

द्रव्यैः स्तुत्यादिबिस्तुष्टमर्चयेत् पुरुषाणुना । समाचम्य हृदा देवं ब्रूयादुत्थीयतां प्रभो

With materials, hymns, and other praises, one should worship the satisfied liṅga with the Purusha mantra; after bowing with the heart to the deity, one should say: 'Arise, O Lord.'