History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.41.3

v3.c44.41.3

16), then a hymn to Indra. Then the ācārya is to perform homa towards the head of the image with Śāntika mantras and offer into the fire 1000 *samidhs* (fuel sticks) each of palāśa, udumbara, aśvattha, apāmārga and śamī trees and then touch the feet of the god; preparing nine kuṇḍas each one cubit square and offering into them one thousand samidhs each time on touching the navel, the chest and the head of the image; remembering the eight forms (mūrti) of god viz. the earth, fire, the sacrifice, the sun, the water, wind, moon and ākāśa and offering homa to these with *vaidika* mantras; placing auspicious jars near each kuṇḍa; bathing the image at every watch and offering incense, food (*naivedya*), sandalwood paste; offering *bali* to all beings, and dinner to brāhmaṇas and persons of other castes at one's desire; celebrating a festival at night with dances, song and music; this may go on from one day to seven days (it is called adhivāsana); then the temple building is to be sprinkled over; finding out a place for the image either to the north or slightly to the north-east in the temple; a stone in the form of a tortoise is to be placed on the temple floor;