Matsya Purana 265: adhyāyaḥ 265

265.1

devapratiṣṭhāvidhivarṇanam.

Sûta said:—"I shall now tell you about the persons who should consecrate and worship the idols"—1

265.2

sūta uvāca.
ataḥ paraṃ pravakṣyāmi mūrtipānāntu lakṣaṇam.
sthāpakasya samāsena lakṣaṇaṃ śruṇuta dvijāḥ ! .. 265.1

Now, in brief, about the qualifications of the Sthâpaka (who places the idol). The Sthâpaka or Âchârya should be well versed in the Vedas, Purânas, Sâmkhya free from avarice, born in a country abounding with black deer, handsome of full limbs, of clean habits, free from hypocrisy, making no difference between friend and foe, having equal devotion for Śiva, Viṣṇu and Brahmâ, accomplished in Logic, having no vices, belonging to a good Kulîn family and versed in the building science or Vâstu Sastra The Murtipa Brâhmanas should consecrate the images according to the prescribed rites *Thirty-two, 16 or 8 persons should be employed for consecration* These three distinctions indicate as superior, middling and ordinary There should be great rejoicings at the time of consecrating the idols, which should first be taken to the bathing mandapa and washed with Pañchgavya, Panchakaṣâya, earth, ash, and water while reciting the four Vedic mantras, viz, (1) Samudra jyeṣṭha etc, (2) Âpodivyâ, (3) Yâsâmrâjâ (4) Âpohiṣṭhâ Then the idol should be purified with Pañchagavya and other three substances and then bathed, it should then be adored with sandal and incense after which it should be covered with two pieces of cloth by reciting "Abhi Vastre, then after reciting the mantra Uttiṣṭha Brâhmanaspate the idols should be placed in standing posture By reciting the two mantrams "Âmuraja and rathotiṣṭha," they should be placed in the chariot and conducted into the temple.—2-12

265.3

sarvāvayavasampūrṇo vedamantraviśāradaḥ.
purāṇavettā tatvajño dambhalobhavivarjitaḥ .. 265.2

265.4

kṛṣṇasāramaye deśe utpannaśca śubhākṛtiḥ.
śaucācāraparo nityaṃ pāṣaṇḍakulanispṛhaḥ .. 265.3

265.5

samaḥ śatrau ca mitre ca brahmopendraharapriyaḥ.
ūhāpohārthatatvajño vāstuśāstrasya pāragaḥ .. 265.4

265.6

ācāryyastu bhavennityaṃ sarvadoṣavivarjitaḥ.
mūrtipāstu dvijāścaiva kulīnā ṛjavastathā .. 265.5

265.7

dvātriṃśat ṣoḍaśāthāpi aṣṭau vā śrutipāragāḥ.
jyeṣṭhamadhyakaniṣṭheṣu mūrtipāvaḥ prakīrtitā .. 265.6

265.8

tato liṅgamathārcāṃ vā nītvā snapanamaṇḍapam.
nītamaṅgalaśabdena snapanaṃ tatra kārayet .. 265.7

265.9

pañcagavyakaṣāyeṇa mṛdbhirbhasmodakena vā.
śaucaṃ tatra prakurvīta vedamantra catuṣṭayāt .. 265.8

265.10

samudrajyeṣṭhamantreṇa āpodivyeti cāparaḥ.
yāsāṃ rājetimantrastu āpohiṣṭheti cāparaḥ .. 265.9

265.11

evaṃ snāpya tato devaṃ pūjya gandhānulepanaiḥ.
pracchādya vastrayugmena abhivastretyudāhṛtam .. 265.10

265.12

utthāpayettato devamuttiṣṭha brahmaṇaspate!.
amūrujeti ca tathā rathe tiṣṭheti cāparaḥ .. 265.11

265.13

rathe brahmarate vāpi dhṛtāṃ śilpigaṇena tu.
āropya ca tato vidvānākṛṣṇena praveśayet .. 265.12

265.14

tataḥ prāstīryya śayyāyāṃ sthāpayecchanakairbudhaḥ.
kuśānāstīrya puṣpāṇi sthāpayet prāṅmukhaṃ tataḥ .. 265.13

Later on it should be placed flat on a bed after strewing Kuśa grass and then by turning the face to the east flowers should be strewn and at the head of the idol should be placed a vase full of water, with gold also and then the image should be covered with a piece of silk cloth after reciting the mantra "Âpodeve Aposmâns mâtarmpi or the silk cloth may be put upon the head of the idol The Deva is then to be bathed with honey, ghee, mustard and then worshipped with the mantras "Âpyâsva and "Yâto rudra Śiva" and with incense and flowers also—13 17 By reciting "Bârhaspataye" mantra a white thread should be tied round the wrist of the idol) which should then be covered with various kinds of fine clothes, and umbrella, chamara, mirror, awning with flowers, should be placed close by as well as jewels, various kinds of medicinal herbs, utensils, bed, seats All these should be placed after reciting the mantra "Abhi twâ Sura" and then gradually make offerings of milk, honey, clarified butter, other eatables, rice cooked in sugar and milk Then after reciting the mantra "tryamvakam yajâmahe" a number of Valis (sacrifices) are to be offered in all directions and then the image is to be installed Then four gate keepers should be placed at the gates, and the Brâhman priest Bahvṛicha is to recite in low voice Srisukta, Pâchamâna Sûkta auspicious Soma Sûkta, Śântikâdhyâya, Indra Sûkta and Rakṣoghna Sûkta (facing towards the east)—18 25

265.15

tatastu nidrākalaśaṃ vastrakāñcana-saṃyatam.
śirobhāgetu devasya japannevaṃ nidhāpayet .. 265.14

265.16

āpodevīti mantreṇa āpo'smān mātaro'pi ca.
tato dukūlapaṭṭaiścācchādya netropadhānakam .. 265.15

265.17

dadyacchirasi devasya kauśeyaṃ vā vicakṣaṇaḥ.
madhunāsarpiṣābhyajya pūjyasidhyārthakaistataḥ .. 265.16

265.18

āpyāyasveti mantreṇa yāte rudraśiveti ca.
upaviśyārcayeddevaṃ gandhapuṣpaiḥ samantataḥ .. 265.17

265.19

sitaṃ pratisaraṃ dadyāt bārhaspatyeti mantrataḥ.
dukūlapaṭṭaiḥ kārpāsairnānācitrai rathāpi vā .. 265.18

265.20

ācchādya devaṃ sarvatra chatracāmaradarpaṇam.
pārśvataḥ sthāpayettatra vitānaṃ puṣpasaṃyutam .. 265.19

265.21

ratnānyoṣadhayastatra gṛhopakaraṇāni ca.
bhājanāni vicitrāṇi śayanānyāsanāni ca .. 265.20

265.22

abhitvā śūramantreṇa yathā vibhavato nyaset.
kṣīraṃ kṣaudraṃ ghṛtaṃ tadvat bhakṣyabhojyānya(nna)pāyasaiḥ .. 265.21

265.23

ṣaḍvidhaiśca rasaistadvat samantāt paripūjayet.
baliṃ dadyāt prayatnena mantreṇānena bhūriśaḥ .. 265.22

265.24

tryambakaṃ yajāmeha iti sarvataḥ śanakairbhuvi.
mūrtipān sthāpayet paścāt sarvadikṣu vicakṣaṇaḥ .. 265.23

265.25

caturo dvārapālāṃśca dvāreṣu viniveśayet.
śrīsūktaṃ pāvamānañca somasūktaṃ sumaṅgalam .. 265.24

265.26

tathā ca śāntikādhyāyamindrasūktaṃ tathaiva ca.
rakṣoghnañca tathā sūktaṃ pūrvato bahvṛco japet .. 265.25

265.27

raudraṃ puruṣasūktañca ślokādhyāyaṃ saśakriyam.
tathaiva maṇḍalādhyāyamadhvaryurdakṣiṇe japet .. 265.26

The learned Adharyu seated to the south should recite Raudra Puruṣasûkta, Ślokâdhyâya Śukriya and Mandaladhâya—26

265.28

vāmadevaṃ bṛhatsāma jyeṣṭhasāma rathantaram.
tathā puruṣasūktañca rudrasūktaṃ saśāntikam .. 265.27

The Chhandoga Brâhmaṇas sitting in the west should recite Vamadevya, Vṛihatsâma, Jyeṣṭhasâma Rathantara Puruṣasûkta, Rudra sûkta with Śantika and Bhâruṇda Sama And in the north the Atharvans should recite Nîlarudra, Aparajitâ, Saptasûkta and Rudrasûktaântikâdhyâya—27-29

265.29

bhāruṇḍāni ca sāmāni cchandogaḥ paścime japet.
atharvo'ṅgirasaṃ tadvannīlaṃ raudraṃ tathaiva ca.. 265.28

265.30

tathā parājitā devī saptasūktaṃ saraudrakam.
tathaiva śāntikādhyāyamatharvāṃ cottare japet .. 265.29

265.31

śiraḥsthāne tu devasya sthāpako homamācaret.
śāntikaiḥ pauṣṭikaistadvan mantrairvyāhṛtipūrvakaiḥ .. 265.30

Towards the head of the idol the priest who consecrates it, should perform Hôma ceremony with Vyarhiti and Santik and Pauṣtik mantras—30

265.32

palāśo dumbarāśvattha apāmārgaḥ śamī tathā.
hutvā sahasramekaikaṃ devaṃ pāde tu saṃspṛśet .. 265.31

The wood of Palâśa, Udumbara Asvattha, Apâmârga and Samî should be used as sacrificial fuel in the Homa ceremony and a thousand offerings should be made taking at each time a stick and every time the feet of the image should be touched and when the thousand offerings are over the navel, chest and head should be similarly touched Afterwards the four priests officiating at the consecration ceremony should perform Homa ceremony over the Kuṇḍa (pit) with a girdle and a Yoni measuring one hand with the greatest care Next a Yoni is to be made on it one cubit long and resembling the lips of an elephant It should have a hole and be extended and ornamented on both sides with beautiful ornamental workmanship This Yoni is to be 4 fingers higher than the level of the sacrificial hollow (Kunda) This part should be square and be made to look beautiful At a distance of thirteen Angulas from the foundation of the Vedi (altar), nine other Kundas are to be similarly made—31 36

265.33

tato homasahasreṇa hutvā hutvā tatastataḥ.
nābhimadhyaṃ tathā vakṣaḥ śiraścāpyālabhet punaḥ .. 265.32

265.34

hastamātreṣu kuṇḍeṣu mūrtipāḥ sarvato diśam.
samekhaleṣu te kuryuryonivaktreṣu cādarāt .. 265.33

265.35

vitasti mātrā yoniḥ syad gajoṣṭhasadṛśī tathā.
āyatācchidrasaṃyuktā pārśvataḥ kalayocchritā .. 265.34

265.36

kuṇḍāt kalānusāreṇa sarvataścaturaṅgulā.
vistāreṇocchrayātadvaccaturasrā samā bhavet .. 265.35

265.37

vedī bhittiṃ parityajya trayodaśabhiraṃgulaiḥ.
evaṃ navasu kuṇḍeṣu lakṣaṇañcaiva dṛśyate .. 265.36

265.38

āgneya śākrayāmyeṣu hotavyamudagānanaiḥ.
śāntayo lokapālebhyo mūrtibhyaḥ kramaśastathā .. 265.37

Then the priests should perform Achman and with a calm mind perform Homa ceremonies by reciting the mantras sacred to Agni in the East and Indra and the other Lokapâlas in the South Afterwards rites to propitiate the several Devas should be performed—37

265.39

tathā mūrtyadhidevānāṃ homaṃ kuryāt samāhitaḥ.
vasudhā vasuretā ca yajamāno divākaraḥ .. 265.38

Afterwards the sacrificial offerings should be made to the presiding Deity of the idol (Earth) Vasudhâ, Vasuretâ (Agni), Yajamâna, Sûrya, Jala Vâyu, Chandramâ, Âkâśa are the eight Devas to be remembered in the Kunda—38 39

265.40

jalaṃ vāyu stathā soma ākāśaścāṣṭamaḥ smṛtaḥ.
devasya mūrtayastvaṣṭā vetāḥ kuṇḍeṣu saṃsmaret .. 265.39

265.41

etāsāmadhipānvakṣye pavitrān mūrti nāmataḥ.
pṛthvīṃ pāti sarvaśca paśupaścāgnimeva ca .. 265.40

Pṛithvî is protected by Śarva Mahâdeva, Agni by Paśupati, Yajamâna by Ugra, Âditya by Rudra, Jala by Bhava Vâyu by Iśâna, Chandramâ by Mahâdeva, Âkâśa by Bhima Murti In this way at the time of the conseration of any idol these eight are the Mûrtipas, *i e.*, protectors of the component parts of the idol—40-42

265.42

yajamānaṃ tathaivogro rudraścādityameva ca.
bhavo jalaṃ sadā pāti vāyumīśāna eva ca .. 265.41

265.43

mahādevastathā candra bhīmaścākāśameva ca.
sarvadevapratiṣṭhāsu mūrtipā hyeta eva ca .. 265.42

265.44

etebhyo vaidikairmantreryathāsvaṃ homamācaret.
tathā śāntighaṭaṃ kuryyāt pratikuṇḍeṣu sannyaset .. 265.43

Homa ceremonies should be performed according to one's means by reciting the prescribed Vedic mantra and a vase (Sântighata) should be placed in each Kunda—43

265.45

śatānte vā sahasrānte sampūrṇāhutiriṣyate.
samapādaḥ pṛthivyāntu praśāntātmā vinikṣipet .. 265.44

Pûrnâhutî should be offered after 100 or 1,000 Homas These offerings are to be poured on the Pûrna Kumbha (jar filled with water) The base, middle and head of the Devatâ are to be sprinkled with water, also the several Devas there are to be bathed also with the water frequently At each prahara incense, sandal, etc., should be offered and Homas (libations of ghee) should be offered and the devotee should repeatedly make gifts (offer sacrificial fees) to the priests—44-47

265.46

āhutīnāntu sampātaṃ pūrṇakumbheṣu vai nyaset.
mūlamadhyottamāṅgeṣu devaṃ tenāvasecayet .. 265.45

265.47

sthitaśca snāpayettena sampātāhutivāriṇā.
pratiyāmeṣu dhūpantu naivadyañcadanodakam .. 265.46

265.48

punaḥ punaḥ prakurvīta homaḥ kāryaḥ punaḥ punaḥ.
punaḥ punaśca dātavyā yajamānena dakṣiṇā .. 265.47

265.49

sitavastraiśca te sarve pūjanīyāḥ samantataḥ.
vicitrairhemakaṭakaiḥ hemasūtrāṃgulīyakaiḥ .. 265.48

The priests should be given white garments, golden ear rings, girdle, rings, etc., as well as a bedstead with all the necessary things As long as they officiate, they should be provided with food—48-49

265.50

vāsobhiḥ śayanīyaiśca paridhāpyāḥ svaśaktitaḥ.
bhojanañcāpi dātavyaṃ yāvat syādadhivāsanam .. 265.49

265.51

balistrisandhyaṃ dātavyo bhūtebhyaḥ sarvato diśam.
brāhmaṇān bhojayet pūrvaṃ śeṣān varṇāṃstu kāmataḥ .. 265.50

Offerings should be made to the Bhûtas in all the three parts of the day The Brahmans should be fed first and afterwards the members of all the castes are to be fed—50

265.52

rātrau mahotsavaḥ kāryo nṛtyagītakamaṅgalaiḥ.
sadā pūjyāḥ prayatnena caturthī karma yāvatā .. 265.51

In course of the night festivities should be observed Dancing singing should be performed Till Chaturthî Karma Brâhmaṇas should be fed Adhivâsa should be observed for 3, 5, 7 or 1 nights On some occasions Adhivâsa may be observed at once The Adhivasa ceremony performed on such occasions gives the benefit of having performed all the sacrifices—51 52

265.53

trirātramekarātraṃ vā pañcarātramathāpi vā.
saptarātramatho kuryyāt kvacitsadyo'dhivāsanam
sarvayajñaphalo yasmādadhivāsotsavaḥ sadā .. 265.52