Agni Purana

नावलोक्या भचवद्भिस्ते तद्‌गता यान्ति तद्गतिम्। ये पुष्पधूपवासोभिर्भूषणैश्चातिवल्लभैः

They are not to be regarded by you, O eaters of offerings; those whose minds are fixed on Him attain His state. Those who worship with flowers, incense, fasting, and beloved ornaments—

अर्च्ययन्ति न ते ग्राह्या नराः कृष्णालये गताः । उपलेपनकर्त्तारः सम्मार्जनपरश्च ये

Those who worship in this way are not to be seized, even if they enter the house of Kṛṣṇa; nor those who apply ointments or are devoted to cleaning.

कृष्णालये परित्याज्यास्तेषां पुत्रास्तथा कुलम्। येन चायतनं विष्णोः कारितं तत् कुलोद्भवम्

Those who are in the house of Kṛṣṇa are to be left aside, as well as their sons and families. Whoever has established a shrine of Viṣṇu, his family—

पुंसां शतं नावलोक्यं भवद्भिर्दुष्टचेतसा। यस्तु देवालयं विष्णोर्द्दारुशौलमयं तथा

A hundred men of evil mind who are descendants of such a one are not to be regarded by you; and whoever builds a temple for Viṣṇu, whether of wood or stone—

कारयेन्मृण्मयं वापि सर्वपापैः प्रमुच्यते। अहन्यहनि यज्ञेन यजतो यन्महाफलम्

Or even of clay, is freed from all sins. The great fruit obtained by daily sacrifice—

प्राप्नोति तत् फलं विष्णोर्यः कारयति केतनम्। सप्तलोकमयो विष्णुस्तस्य यः कुरुते गृहम्

That fruit is attained by one who builds a temple for Viṣṇu. Viṣṇu, who encompasses the seven worlds, dwells in the house of the one who builds it.

कारयन् भगवद्धाम् नयत्यच्युतलोकताम्। सप्तलोकमयो विष्णुस्तस्य यः कुरुते गृहम्

By building the divine abode, he leads (the builder) to the world of Acyuta. Viṣṇu, who encompasses the seven worlds, dwells in the house of the one who builds it.

तारयत्यक्षयांल्लोकानक्षयान् प्रातिपद्यते। इष्टकाचयविन्यासो यावनत्यब्दानि तिष्ठति

He saves unending worlds and attains imperishable realms. As long as the arrangement of bricks endures, for that many years—

तावद्वर्षसहस्नाणि तत्‌कर्त्तु र्द्दि वि संस्थितिः। प्रतिमाकृद्विष्णुलोकं स्थापको लीयते हरौ

For as many thousands of years, the builder remains established. The maker of Viṣṇu’s image attains Viṣṇu’s world; the installer merges into Hari.

अग्निरुवाच यमोक्ता नानयंस्तेथ प्रतिष्ठादिकृतं हरेः। हयशीर्षः प्रतिष्ठार्थं देवानां ब्रह्मणेऽब्रवीत्

Agni said: Those whom I instructed did not bring the one who performed the installation for Hari; Hayagrīva spoke to Brahmā and the gods about the installation.

हयग्रीव उवाच विष्ण्वादीनां प्रतिष्ठादि वक्ष्ये ब्रह्मन् श्रृणुष्व मे। प्रोक्तानि पञ्चरात्राणि सप्तरात्राणि वै मया

Hayagrīva said: I will explain the installation rites for Viṣṇu and others; O Brahman, listen to me. I have described the five-night and seven-night (rites).

व्यस्तानि मुनिभिर्लेके पञ्चविंशतिसङ्ख्यया। हयशीर्षं तन्त्रमाद्यं तन्त्रं त्रैलोक्यमोहनम्

They have been separately taught by sages in the world, numbering twenty-five. The Hayashirṣa Tantra is the first, a tantra that bewilders the three worlds.

वैभवं पौष्करं तन्त्रं प्रह्रादङ्गार्ग्यगालवम्। नारदीयञ्च सम्प्रश्नं शाण्डिल्यं वैश्वकं

The Vaibhava, the Pauṣkara Tantra, the Prahrāda, Aṅgārga, Gālava, the Nārada, the Sampraśna, the Śāṇḍilya, and the Vaiśvaka (Tantras).

सत्योक्तं शौनकं तन्त्रं वासिष्ठंज्ञानसागरम्। स्वायम्भुवं कापिलञ्चातार्क्षं नारायणीयकम्

The Shaunaka Tantra, the Vasiṣṭha, the Ocean of Knowledge, the Svāyambhuva, the Kāpila, the Ātārkṣa, and the Nārāyaṇīya are all declared to be true.

आत्रेयं नारसिंहाख्यमानन्दाख्यं तथारुणम्। बौधायनं तथार्षं तु विश्वोक्तं तस्य सारतः

The Ātreya, the Nārasiṃha, the Ānanda, the Āruṇa, the Baudhāyana, and the Ārṣa, as well as the Viśva, are considered the essence of these.

प्रतिष्ठां हि द्विजः कुर्य्यान्मध्यदेशादिसम्भवः। न कच्छदेशसम्भूतः कावेरीकोङ्कणोद्‌गतः

A twice-born who originates from Madhyadeśa and similar regions should perform the installation; not one who comes from Kaccha, Kāverī, Koṅkaṇa, or similar places.

कामरूपकलिङ्गोत्थः काञ्चीकारमीरकोशलः । आकाशवायुतेजोम्बुभूरेताः पञ्च रात्रयः

Those from Kāmarūpa, Kaliṅga, Kāñcī, Kāramīra, and Kośala, and the five Rātras—Ākāśa, Vāyu, Tejas, Ambu, and Bhū—

अचैतन्यास्तमोद्रिक्ताः पञ्चरात्रविवर्जितम्। ब्रह्माहं विष्णुरमल इति विद्यात्स देशिकः

Those lacking consciousness, overwhelmed by darkness, and devoid of the Pañcarātra should be excluded; the teacher should know, 'I am Brahmā, I am Viṣṇu, I am pure.'

सर्व्लक्षणहीनोपि स गुरुस्तन्त्रपारगः। नगराभिमुखाः स्थाप्या देवा न च पराङ्‌मुखाः

Even if lacking all characteristics, the one who has mastered the Tantra is the teacher; deities should be installed facing the city, not facing away.

कुरुक्षेत्रे गयादौ च नदीनान्तु समीपतः। ब्रह्मा मध्ये तु नगरे पूर्वे शक्रस्य शोभनम्

At Kurukṣetra, Gayā, and similar places, and near rivers, Brahmā should be in the center of the city; in the east, the seat of Indra is auspicious.

अग्नावग्नेश्च मातॄणां भूतानाञ्च यमस्य च। दक्षिणे चण्डिकायाश्च पितृदैत्यादिकस्य च

In the southeast, the temple of Agni and Agneya; in the south, for the Mothers, Bhūtas, and Yama; in the southwest, for Caṇḍikā and for ancestors, demons, and others.

नैर्ऋते मन्दिरं कुर्यात् वरूणादेश्चवारुणे। वायोर्न्नागस्य वायव्ये सौम्ये यक्षगुहस्य च

In the west, the temple should be for Nairṛta and Varuṇa; in the northwest, for Vāyu and Nāga; in the north, for Soma and Yakṣa's cave.

चण्डीशस्य महेशस्य ऐशे विष्णोश्च सर्वशः। पूर्वदेवकुलं पीड्य प्रासादं स्वल्पकं त्वथ

In the northeast, for Caṇḍīśa and Maheśa, and for Viṣṇu in all respects; after establishing the eastern temple, a small shrine should be built.

समं वाप्यधिकं वापि न कर्त्तव्यं विजानता। उभयोर्द्विगुणां सीमांत्वक्त्वा चोच्छयसम्मिताम्

One who knows should not make it equal or greater; having left a boundary twice the size of both, corresponding to the height,

प्रासादं कारयेदन्यं नोभयं पीडयेद् बुधः। भूमौ तु शोधितायां तु कुर्याद्‌भूमिपरिग्रहम्

A wise person should construct another temple, but not oppress both; on purified ground, one should acquire the land.

प्राकारसीमापर्य्यन्तं ततो भूतबलिं हरेत्। माषं हरिद्राचूर्णन्तु सलाजं दधिसक्तुभिः

Up to the boundary of the enclosure wall, one should offer oblations to the spirits: grains, turmeric powder, with fried grains, curd, and parched flour.

अष्टाक्षरेण सक्तूँश्च पातयित्वाष्टदिक्षु च। राक्षसाश्च पिशाचाश्च यस्मिंस्तिष्ठन्ति भूतले

Having scattered parched flour with the eight-syllable mantra in the eight directions, for the Rākṣasas and Piśācas who dwell on the earth,

सर्व्वे ते व्यपगच्छन्तु स्थानं कुर्य्यामहं हरेः। हलेन वाहयित्वा गां गोभिश्चैवावदारयेत्

May all of them depart; I shall establish the place of Hari. Having ploughed the ground with a plough, one should also break it with cows.

परमाण्वष्टकेनैव रथरेणुः प्रकीर्तितः। रथरेण्वष्टकेनैव त्रसरेणुः प्रकीर्त्यते

Eight atoms make what is called a chariot-dust; eight chariot-dusts are said to make a trasareṇu.