Shloka 32
Akālamṛtyu: Preta-state Categories and the Nārāyaṇa-bali / Ekoddiṣṭa Remedy
विष्णुः स्वर्णमयः कार्यो रुदस्ताम्रमयस्तथा / ब्रह्मा रूप्यमयस्तद्वद्यमो लोहमयो भवेत्
viṣṇuḥ svarṇamayaḥ kāryo rudastāmramayastathā / brahmā rūpyamayastadvadyamo lohamayo bhavet
يُصاغُ فيشنو (Viṣṇu) من الذهب؛ وكذلك يُصاغُ رودرا (Rudra) من النحاس. ويُصاغُ براهما (Brahmā) من الفضة؛ وعلى هذا النحو يُصاغُ يَما (Yama) من الحديد.
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Within preta-kriyā/ekoddiṣṭa setup before offerings; during mandala/kumbha preparation
Concept: Ritual propriety (vidhi) and symbolic material correspondences for deities.
Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as a support for dharma and inner steadiness; honoring cosmic order through correct representation.
Application: When preparing śrāddha/pretakriyā implements, use prescribed metals for deity-forms to align intention, symbolism, and rite.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual-space (vedi/mandala area)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40.33-36 (placement by mantras; kumbha-sthapana; pañcaratna)
FAQs
This verse gives prescriptive guidance for crafting ritual representations of key deities, aligning materials with traditional symbolic and procedural requirements within the Preta-kāṇḍa rites.
By prescribing an iron form for Yama, the text situates Yama as a ritually acknowledged authority in post-death proceedings, reinforcing the structured, rule-governed framework of the soul’s passage and judgment themes in the Preta Kanda.
If one follows traditional śrāddha/funeral observances, this verse supports using appropriately symbolic materials (or their respectful substitutes) while keeping the intent—reverence, order, and dharmic performance of rites—central.