Agni Purana

पद्मामैशे वासुदेवं मध्ये नारायणञ्च वा। त्रयोदशालये मध्ये विश्वरूपं न्यसेद्धरिम्

Padmā and Īśa in the northeast, Vāsudeva in the center, or Nārāyaṇa; in a thirteen-shrine temple, Viśvarūpa Hari should be placed in the center.

पूर्वांदौ केशवादीन् वा अन्यधामस्वयं हरिम् । मृण्मयी दारुघटिता लोहजा रत्नजा तथा

In the east and so on, Keśava and others, or in other shrines, Hari himself; the image may be made of clay, wood, metal, or jewel.

शैलजा गन्धजा चैव कौसुमी सप्तदा स्मृता। कौसुमी गन्धजा चैव मृण्मयी प्रतिमा तथा

It is said to be of seven kinds: stone, fragrant substance, and also floral; floral, fragrant, and clay images as well.

तत्‌कालपूजिताश्चैताः सर्वकामफलप्रदाः। अथ शैलमयी वक्ष्ये शिला यत्र च गृह्यते

When worshipped at the proper time, these grant all desired results. Now I shall describe the stone image, and where the stone is to be obtained.

पर्वतानामभावे च गृह्णीयाद् भूगतां शिलाम्। पाण्डरा ह्यरुणा पीता कृष्णा शस्ता तु वर्णिनाम्

If there are no mountains, one should take a stone from the ground; white, reddish, yellow, and black are the best among colors.

न यदा लभ्यते सम्यग् वर्णिनां वर्णतः शिला। वर्णाद्यापादनं तत्र जुहुयात् सिंहविद्यया

When a stone of the proper color cannot be found, one should perform the Siṃha rite to impart the desired color.

शिलायां शुक्लरेखाग्र्या कृष्णाग्र्या सिंहहोमतः। कांस्यघण्टानिनादा स्यात् पुंलिङ्गा विस्फुलिङ्गिका

If the stone has a white line at the tip, or a black tip due to the Siṃha rite, the sound of a bronze bell arises; if masculine, it emits sparks.

तन्मन्दलक्षणा स्त्री स्याद्रूपाभावान्नपुंसका। दृश्यते मण्डलं यस्यां सगर्भां तां विवर्जयेत्

If it has the marks of a circle, it is feminine; if it lacks form, it is neuter. If a circle is seen within it, one should avoid it as containing a womb.

प्रतिमार्थं वनं गत्वा वनयागं समाचरेत्। तत्र खात्वोपलिप्याथ मण्डपे तु हरिं यजेत्

For the purpose of the image, one should go to the forest and perform the forest sacrifice; there, after digging and smearing, one should worship Hari in the pavilion.

बलिं दत्त्वा कर्म्मशस्त्रं टङ्कादिकमथार्च्चयेत्। हुत्वाथ शालितोयेन अस्त्रेण प्रोक्षयेच्छिलाम्

After offering the bali, one should worship the ritual implements such as axes and the like; then, having made an offering, one should sprinkle the stone with water mixed with rice using a ritual instrument.

रक्षां कृत्वा नृसिंहेन मूलमन्त्रेण पूजयेत् । हुत्वा पूर्णाहुतिं दद्यात्ततो भूतबलिं गुरुः

Having performed protection with the Narasimha mantra, one should worship with the root mantra; after making an offering, the teacher should then give the complete oblation and the offering to the spirits.

अत्र ये संस्थिताः सत्त्वा यातुधानाश्च गुह्यकाः। सिद्धादयो वा ये चान्ये तान् सम्पूज्य क्षमापयेत्

To all beings present here, including yātudhānas, guhyakas, siddhas, and others, having honored them, one should ask their forgiveness.

विष्णुबिम्बार्थमस्माकं यात्रैषा केशवाज्ञया। विष्ण्वर्थं यद्भवेत् कार्य्यं युष्माकमपि तद्भवेत्

This journey of ours is for the image of Viṣṇu, undertaken by the command of Keśava; whatever work is for Viṣṇu, may that also be for you.

अनेन बलिदानेन प्रीता भवत सर्वथा। क्षेमेण गच्छतान्यत्र मुक्त्वा स्थानमिदं त्वरात्

By this offering of bali, may you be pleased in every way; go elsewhere in peace, quickly leaving this place.

एवं प्रबोधिताः सत्त्वा यान्ति तृप्ता यथासुखम्। शिल्पिभिश्च चरुं प्रास्य स्वप्नमन्त्रं जपेन्निशि

Thus addressed, the beings depart, satisfied and at ease; the artisans, having offered the cooked rice, should recite the dream-mantra at night.

ओं नमः सकललोकाय विष्णवे प्रभविष्णवे। विश्वाय विश्वरूपाय स्वप्नाधिपतये नमः

Om, obeisance to Viṣṇu, lord of all worlds, the all-pervading, the universal form, obeisance to the lord of dreams.

आचक्ष्व देवदेवेश प्रसुप्तोस्मि तवान्तिकम्। स्वप्ने सर्वाणि कार्याणि हृदिस्थानि तु यानि मे

O Lord of gods, I am lying asleep before you; in my dream, reveal to me all the tasks that dwell in my heart.

ओं ओं ह्रुं फट् विष्णवे स्वाहा । शुभे स्वप्ने शुभं सर्वं ह्यशुभे सिंहहोमतः

Om om hrum phat, svāhā to Viṣṇu; in an auspicious dream, may all be auspicious, and in an inauspicious one, let it be purified by the lion-offering.

कुद्दालटङ्कशस्त्राद्यं मध्वाज्याक्तमुखञ्चरेत्। आत्मानं चिन्तयेद्विष्णुं शिल्पिनं विश्वकर्म्मकम्

One should take up implements such as spades and axes, their mouths anointed with honey and ghee; meditating on oneself as Viṣṇu, and the artisan as Viśvakarman.

शस्त्रं विष्णवात्मकं दद्यात्मुखपृष्ठादि दर्शयेत्। जितेन्द्रियः टङ्कहस्तः शिल्पी तु चतुरस्रकाम्

One should dedicate the implement as embodying Viṣṇu, showing its front, back, and other parts; the artisan, self-controlled and holding the axe, should make the stone four-sided.

शिलां कृत्वा पिण्डिकार्थं किञ्चिन्न्यूनान्तु कल्पयेत्। रथे स्थाप्य समानीय सवस्त्रां कारुवेश्मनि। पूजयित्वाथ घटयेत् प्रतिमां स तु कर्म्मकृत्

Having shaped the stone for the pedestal, making it slightly lower, it should be placed on a chariot and brought, covered with cloth, to the artisan’s workshop; after worshipping it, the craftsman should then fashion the image.

भगवानुवाच वासुदेवादिप्रतिमालक्षणं प्रवदामि ते। प्रासादस्योत्तरे पूर्वमुखीं वा चोत्ताराननाम्

The Blessed Lord said: I will describe to you the characteristics of the images of Vāsudeva and others; they should face east or north in the temple.

संस्थाप्य पूज्य च बलिं दत्त्वाथो मध्यसूत्रकम्। शिल्पी तु नवधा विभज्य नवमेंऽशके

Having established and worshipped it, and given the bali, then the central thread should be drawn; the artisan should divide it into nine parts, focusing on the ninth part.

सूर्पभक्तैः शिलायां तु भागं स्वाङ्गुलमुच्यते। द्व्यङ्गुलं गोलकं नाम्ना कालनेत्रं तदुच्यते

On the stone, the portion measured by a winnowing basket is called one finger-breadth; the sphere of two finger-breadths is called the 'kālanetra' (time-eye).

भागमेकं त्रिदा भक्त्वा पार्ष्णिभागं प्राकल्पयेत्। भागमेकं तथा जानौ ग्रीवायां भागमेव च

Dividing one part into three, one should form the heel portion; likewise, one part for the knees, and one part for the neck.

मुकुटं तालमात्रं स्यात्तालमात्रं तथा मुखम्। तालेनैकेन कण्ठन्तु तालेन हृदयं तथा

The crown should be one tāla in length, likewise the face; the neck should be one tāla, and so too the heart.

नाभिमेढ्रान्तरन्तालं द्वितालावूरुकौ तथा। तालद्वयेन जङ्घा स्यात् सूत्राणि श्रृणु साम्प्रतम्

From navel to genitals is one tāla; the thighs are two tālas; the shanks are two tālas; now listen to the measurements.

कार्य्यं सूत्रद्वयं पादे जङ्घामध्ये तथापरम्। जानौ सूत्रद्वयं कार्य्यमूरुमध्ये तथापरम्

Two threads should be applied at the foot, another at the middle of the shin; two threads should be applied at the knee, another at the middle of the thigh.

मेढ्रे तथापरं कार्य्यं कट्यां सूत्रन्तथापरम्। मेखलाबन्धसिद्ध्यर्थं नाभ्यां चैवापरन्तथा

Another thread should be applied at the genitals, and another at the waist; for the proper fastening of the girdle, another at the navel as well.