Agni Purana

शय्यायां मण्डपे प्राच्यां मण्डले हरिमर्च्चयेत्। जुहुयाज्जनयित्वाग्निं समिधो द्वादशीस्ततः

On a bed within an eastern pavilion, in the mandala, let Hari be worshipped; having kindled the fire, offer the sacred sticks on the twelfth day.

आधारावाज्यभागौ तु प्रणवेनैव कारयेत्। अष्टाहुतीस्तथाष्टान्तैराज्यं व्याहृतिभिः क्रमात्

Let the two portions, the support and the clarified butter, be prepared with the Praṇava; then, with the eight Vyāhṛtis, offer eight oblations of ghee in sequence.

लोकेशानामग्नये वै सोमायावग्रहेषु च । पुरुषोत्तमायेति च व्याहृतीर्जुहुयात्ततः

To the Lords of the Worlds, to Agni, and to Soma in the vessels, and to Puruṣottama, let the Vyāhṛtis be offered thereafter.

प्रायश्चित्तं ततः पूर्णां मूर्त्तिमांसघृतांस्तिलान्। वेदाद्यैर्द्वादशान्तेन कुम्भेषु च पृथक् पृथक्

Then, as expiation, fill the vessels separately with a complete mixture of form, flesh, ghee, and sesame, ending with the twelfth Veda mantra.

प्राङमुखस्तु गुरुः कुर्य्यादष्टदिक्षु विलिप्य च। मध्ये चैकां शिलां कुम्भं न्यसेदेतान् सुरान् क्रमात्

The teacher, facing east, should anoint the eight directions, and in the center place one stone and one vessel, invoking these deities in order.

पद्मं चैव महापद्मं मकरं कच्छपं तथा। कुमुदञ्च तथा नन्दं पद्मं शङ्खञ्च पद्मिनीम्

A lotus, a great lotus, a makara, a tortoise, a kumuda, likewise Nanda, a lotus, a conch, and Padminī should be established.

कुम्भान्न चालयेत्तेषु न्यसेदष्टेष्टकाः क्रमात्। ईशानान्ताश्च पूर्व्वादाविष्टकां प्रथमं न्यसेत्

The vessels should not be moved; in them, eight bricks are to be placed in order, beginning with the easternmost brick at the direction of Īśāna.

शक्तयो विमलाद्यास्तु इष्टकानान्तुक देवताः। न्यसनीया यथायोगं मध्ये न्यस्या त्वनुग्रहा

The energies, beginning with Vimala, and the deities of the bricks, should be established as appropriate; in the center, the grace-bringing one is to be placed.

अव्यङ्गे चाक्षते पूर्णे मुनेरङ्गिरसः सुते। इष्टके त्वं प्रयच्छेष्टं प्रतिष्ठां कारयाम्यहम्

On an unblemished, unbroken, full brick, to the son of the sage Aṅgiras, let the desired object be offered: 'I establish the foundation.'

मन्त्रेणानेन विन्यस्य इष्टका देशिकोत्तमः। गर्भाधानं ततः कुर्य्यान्मध्यस्थाने समाहितः

With this mantra, having placed the brick, the best of teachers should then perform the garbhādhāna (foundation-laying) in the central spot with concentration.

कुम्भोपरिष्टाद्देवेशं पद्मिनीं न्यस्य देवताम्। मृत्तिकाश्चैव पुष्पाणि धातवो रत्नमेव च

Above the vessel, let the deity Padminī be established; also clay, flowers, metals, and a jewel are to be placed.

लौहानि दिक्पतेरस्त्रं यजेद्वै गर्भभाजने। द्वादशाङ्गुलविस्तारे चतुरङ्गुलकोच्छ्रये

In a vessel of iron, let the weapon of the guardian of the directions be worshipped for the womb-holder, measuring twelve fingers across and four fingers high.

पद्माकारे ताम्रमये भाजने पृथिवीं यजेत्। एकान्ते सर्वभूतेशे पर्वतासनमण्डिते

In a lotus-shaped copper vessel, let the earth be worshipped; in a secluded place, with the Lord of all beings, adorned with a mountain seat.

समुद्रपरिवारे त्वं देवि गर्भं समाश्रय। नन्दे नन्दय वासिष्ठे वसुभिः प्रजया सह

O goddess, surrounded by the ocean, take up the womb; rejoice, O Nandā, with the Vāsiṣṭhas, Vasus, and their offspring.

जये भार्गवदायादे प्रजानां विजयावहे। पूर्णेङ्गिरसदायादे पूर्णकामं कुरुष्व माम्

O victorious one, descendant of Bhṛgu, bring victory to the people; O full descendant of Aṅgiras, fulfill all my desires.

भद्रे काश्यपदायादे कुरु भद्रां मतिं मम। सर्वबीजसमायुक्ते सर्वरत्नौषधीवृते

O Auspicious One, descendant of Kaśyapa, grant me a blessed mind—filled with all seeds, adorned with every gem and medicinal herb.

जये सुरुचिरे नन्दे वासिष्ठे रम्यतामिह। प्रजापतिसुते देवि चतुरस्रे महीयसि

May victory, splendor, and delight abide here in the noble, beautiful, and pleasing abode of Vasiṣṭha, O goddess, daughter of Prajāpati, in this great and four-sided place.

सुभगे सुप्रभे भद्रे गृहे काश्यपि रम्यताम्। पूजिते परमाश्चर्य्ये गन्धमाल्यैरलङ्कृते

O fortunate, radiant, and auspicious one, may you dwell happily in the house of Kaśyapa, honored and wondrous, adorned with fragrant garlands.

भवभूतिकरी देवि गृहे भार्गवि रम्यताम्। देशस्वामिपुरस्वामिगृहस्वामिपरिग्रहे

O goddess, bringer of prosperity, may you, descendant of Bhṛgu, dwell happily in the house, in the domain of the lord of the land, the city, and the household.

मनुष्यादिकतुष्ट्यर्थं पशुवृद्धिकरी भव। एवमुत्क्वा ततः खातं गोमूत्रेण तु सेचयेत्

Become the cause of satisfaction for humans and others, and bring increase of cattle; having spoken thus, then sprinkle the pit with cow urine.

कृत्वा निधापयेद्‌गर्भं गर्भाधानं भवेन्निशि। गोवस्त्रादि प्रदद्याच्च गुरवेन्येषु भोजनम्

Having done this, deposit the embryo (foundation deposit); let the implantation take place at night. One should give cow cloth and other gifts, as well as food, to the teacher and others.

गर्भं न्यस्येष्टका न्यस्य ततो गर्भं प्रपूरयेत्। पीठबन्धमतः कुर्य्यान्मितप्रासादमानत

Place the embryo, then lay the bricks, and then fill the foundation; after that, construct the platform according to the prescribed method, with a modestly sized building.

पीठोत्तमं चोच्छ्रयेण प्रासादस्यार्द्धविस्तरात्। पादहीनं मध्यमं स्यात् पनिष्ठं चोत्तमार्द्धतः

The best platform should be half the width of the building in height; the medium one is less by a quarter, and the lowest is half of the best.

पीठबन्धोपरिष्टातु पुनर्यजत्। पादप्परतिष्ठकारी तु निष्पापो दिवि मोदते

Upon the completed platform, one should again perform worship; the one who establishes the foundation with his own feet, being free from sin, rejoices in heaven.

देवागारं करोमीति मनसा यस्तु चिन्तयेत्। तस्य कायगतं पापं तदह्रा हि प्रणश्यति

Whoever, with mind intent, thinks 'I will build a temple for the gods,' all the sins attached to his body are destroyed that very day.

कृते तु किं पुनस्तस्य प्रासादे विधिनैव तु। अष्टेष्टकसमायुक्तं यः कुर्य्याहेवतालयम्

What then, when he actually builds the temple according to the rules, using eight bricks—such a temple for the gods?

न तस्य फलसम्पत्तिर्वक्तुं शक्येत केनचित्। अनेनैवानुमेयं हि फलं प्रासादविस्तरात्

No one is able to describe the abundance of fruits (merit) that accrues to him; the result is to be inferred from the very extent of the temple.

ग्राममध्ये च पूर्वे च प्रत्यग्द्वारं प्रकल्पयेत्। विदिशासु च सर्वासु ग्रामे प्रत्यङ्मुखो भवेत्

In the middle of the village and also in the east, one should arrange for an eastern-facing door; in all directions, the temple in the village should face west.

इयग्रीव उवाच प्रासादं सम्प्रवक्ष्यामि सर्वसाधारण श्रृण। चतुरस्त्रीकृतं क्षेत्रं भजेत् षोडशधा बुधः

Iyagrīva said: I will now explain the general rule for building a temple—listen. The wise should divide a square plot into sixteen parts.