Shloka 22

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

अर्कसोमाग्निसंज्ञानां मण्डलानां हि पूजनम् / मध्यदेशे प्रकर्तव्यमिति रुद्र प्रकीर्तितम्

Transliteration

arkasomāgnisaṃjñānāṃ maṇḍalānāṃ hi pūjanam / madhyadeśe prakartavyamiti rudra prakīrtitam

Translation

Die Verehrung der rituellen Maṇḍalas, bekannt als Arka (Sonne), Soma (Mond) und Agni (Feuer), soll wahrlich in Madhyadeśa, der heiligen mittleren Region, vollzogen werden; so hat es Rudra verkündet.

Word by Word

• अर्कसोमाग्निसंज्ञानाम्: of those named Arka, Soma, and Agni
• अर्कसोमाग्निसंज्ञानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क-सोम-अग्नि-संज्ञा (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग (संज्ञा), षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन; अर्कसोमाग्नीनां संज्ञा यस्य/येषां तेषाम् (नामधेय-विशेषण)

• मण्डलानाम्: of the circles/mandalas
• मण्डलानाम्: Sambandha (Genitive/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मण्डल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निश्चय/हेतुवाचक (indeed/for)

• पूजनम्: worship (the act of worship)
• पूजनम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-भाव)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (कर्ता/विषय), एकवचन; √पूज् + ल्युट् (भाववाचक)

• मध्यदेशे: in the middle region
• मध्यदेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्यदेश (प्रातिपदिक; समास)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• प्रकर्तव्यम्: should be done
• प्रकर्तव्यम्: Kriya (Obligation/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+कृ (धातु) + तव्यत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तव्यत्-प्रत्ययः (कर्तव्य = to be done), कर्मणि प्रयोग-योग्य

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (Quotative/इति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्य-समाप्ति/उद्धरणचिह्न

• रुद्र: O Rudra
• रुद्र: Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• प्रकीर्तितम्: has been proclaimed
• प्रकीर्तितम्: Kriya (Predicate/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्र+कीर्त् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda; citing Rudra’s injunction)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual efficacy depends on correct locus (deśa) and correct placement (madhya) for key cosmic mandalas (Sun, Moon, Fire).

Vedantic Theme: Cosmic order mirrored in ritual order; harmonizing prāṇa/tejas/manas symbolism via arka-soma-agni triad.

Application: When designing worship/meditation space, keep the ‘core’ practices at the center—prioritize clarity (arka), cool discernment (soma), and transformative discipline (agni) in one integrated routine.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred region / ritual center

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.21 (central worship); Garuda Purana 1.34.23 (śakti list in kriyā-yoga context)

Characters & Entities

• Rudra
• Arka (Surya)
• Soma (Chandra)
• Agni
• Madhyadeśa

FAQs

What is the importance of Arka–Soma–Agni maṇḍala worship in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats the Arka (Sun), Soma (Moon), and Agni (Fire) maṇḍalas as specific ritual forms worthy of worship, emphasizing their sanctioned place within orthodox practice.

How does this verse relate to the Garuda Purana’s broader ritual guidance?

Rather than describing the soul’s journey, it sets a rule of ritual propriety—what is to be worshipped (specific maṇḍalas) and where it is ideally performed (Madhyadeśa), grounding ritual efficacy in correct place and injunction.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Perform worship with attention to proper method and setting—choose a sanctified, clean space, follow a tradition-backed procedure, and treat Sun–Moon–Fire symbolism as disciplines of order, time, and inner purification.