History of Dharmashastra (Ancient and Mediaeval Religious and Civil Law in India) v3.c44.48.4

v3.c44.48.4

carries the image with the jar while muttering the śākuna hymn (Ṛg. II. 42. 1-3 and II. 43. 1-3) in the northwestern direction into his house or in a temple or in the agnihotra-shed; placing down on the pedestal meant for the image jewels and gold he instals the image of Viṣṇu saying ‘I install Viṣṇu’ while repeating a hymn to Viṣṇu and the hymn to Puruṣa (Ṛg. X. 90). He makes a *nyāsa* on the head, on the navel, on the feet and the chest of the image of the syllables svaḥ, bhuvaḥ and bhūḥ and om; fixing his mind on the god with the mantra ‘idam Viṣṇur’ (Ṛg. I. 22. 17) and taking with a bunch of kuśa grass the clear water that has been already poured in the jar and that has already the *śakti* (power personified) in it, he makes (the water) flow on the head of the image and performs the invocation with the words ‘I invoke Viṣṇu’. Having propitiated by worship as laid down in the śāstric rules he presents the sacrificial food (to the image).