Agni Purana

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.

हृदये च तथा कार्य्यं कण्ठे सूत्रद्वयं तथा। ललाटे चापरं कार्यं मस्तके च तथापरम्

A thread should also be applied at the heart, and two threads at the neck; another at the forehead, and another at the crown of the head.

मुकुटोपरि कर्त्तव्यं सूत्रमेकं विचक्षणैः। सूत्राण्यूद्‌र्ध्वं प्रदेयानि सप्तैव कमलोद्भव

Above the crest-jewel, one thread should be placed by the wise; seven threads should be given above, O lotus-born one.

कक्षात्रिकान्तरेणैव षट् सूत्राणि प्रदापयेत्। मध्यसूत्रं तु सन्त्यज्य सूत्राण्येव निवेदयेत्

Through the space between the three armpits, six threads should be applied; omitting the middle thread, the other threads should be presented.

ललाटं नासिकावक्त्रं कर्त्तव्यञ्चतुरङ्गुलम्। ग्रीवाकर्णौ तु कर्त्तव्यौ आयामाच्चतुरङ्गुलौ

The forehead, nose, and mouth should be four fingers in length; the neck and ears should also be made four fingers long.

द्व्यङ्गुले हनुके कार्य्ये विस्ताराच्चिवुकन्तथा। अष्टाङ्गुलं ललाटन्तु विस्तारेण प्रकीत्तिंतम्

The chin should be two fingers in breadth, as should the width of the jaw; the forehead should be made eight fingers wide.

परेण द्व्यङ्गुलौ शङ्खौ कर्त्तव्यावलकान्वितौ। चतुरङ्गुलमाख्यातमन्तरं कर्णनेत्रयोः

The temples should be made two fingers wide, adorned with marks; the space between the ear and the eye is said to be four fingers.

द्व्यङ्गुलौ पृथुकौ कर्णौ कर्णापाङ्गार्द्धंपञ्च मे। भ्रूसभेन तु सूत्रेण कर्णक्षोत्रं प्रकीत्तितम्

The ears should be two fingers broad, and the outer half of the ear is five for me; the ear opening is described as measured by the thread of the brow.

विद्धं षडङ्गुलं कर्णमविद्धञ्चतुरङ्गुलम्। चिवुकेन समं विद्धमविद्धं वा षडङ्गुलम्

A pierced ear is six fingers, an unpierced ear is four fingers; a pierced ear is equal to the jaw, and an unpierced ear is also six fingers.

गन्धपात्रं तथावर्त्तं शष्कुलीं कल्वयेत्तथा। द्व्यङ्गुलेगधरः कार्यस्तस्यार्द्धेनोत्तराधरः

The perfume vessel, the circular ornament, and the cake should be made; the upper lip should be two fingers, and the lower lip half of that.

अर्द्धाङ्गुलं तथा नेत्रं वक्त्रन्तु चतुरङ्गुलम्। आयामेन तु वैपुल्यात् सार्द्धमङ्गुलमुच्यते

The eye should be half a finger, and the mouth four fingers; in length and breadth, one and a half fingers is stated.