Varaha Purana 57.5: Adhyaya 57, Shloka 5
The Observance for Attaining Radiance: The Soma Kānti-Vrata
परस्वरूपं सोमाख्यं द्विकलं तद्दिने हि यत् । तस्यार्घं दापयेद्धीमान् मन्त्रेण परमेष्ठिनः ॥ ५७.५ ॥
parasvarūpaṃ somākhyaṃ dvikalaṃ taddine hi yat | tasyārghaṃ dāpayeddhīmān mantreṇa parameṣṭhinaḥ || 57.5 ||
An jenem Tag soll der Weise dem, was Soma genannt wird—von der Gestalt «parasvarūpa» und aus zwei Teilen (dvikala) bestehend—die Arghya-Darbringung darreichen lassen, mit dem Mantra an Parameṣṭhin.
Varāha
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"instructor","bhu_devi_state":"curious","key_question":"On which day and by what mantra should arghya be offered to Soma/Parameṣṭhin, and what is the calendrical identification of ‘Soma’ here?"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"instruction_summary":"On the specified day, offer arghya to Soma (described as parasvarūpa and dvikalā) using the Parameṣṭhin-mantra.","karmic_consequence":"Correct mantra-and-time alignment is said to secure the rite’s efficacy; mis-timing/mantra error diminishes or nullifies the intended merit."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":true,"vrata_name":"Soma-arghya (Parameṣṭhin-mantra) observance (as part of the described ritual sequence)","tithi_month":"That day (taddina) as defined by the surrounding calendrical context of the chapter; verse itself does not specify tithi.","promised_fruit":"Ritual success (siddhi) and merit through proper arghya to Soma/Parameṣṭhin; specific phala not stated in this verse."}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ritual cosmology","core_concept":"Cosmic powers (Soma) are approached through precise correspondences of time (kāla), form-description, and mantra (śabda).","practical_application":"When performing vrata/rite, verify the calendrical condition and use the prescribed mantra rather than improvising."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Ethics","Calendrical Observance"]
Primary Rasa: śānta
Secondary Rasa: bhakti
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 57.57.6 (Soma-stuti/mantra-like praise); Varāha Purāṇa 57.57.7 (arghya procedure and night meal)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A ritualist prepares an arghya offering at dusk/dawn, facing a lunar emblem (Soma), reciting a Parameṣṭhin-directed mantra; the moon is depicted with a two-part (dvikalā) symbolism.","item_prompts":["arghya vessel (pātra) with water/flowers","moon disc or Soma emblem","mantra-recitation posture (japa-mudrā)","calendar/astral cues (nakṣatra/lunar phase motifs)","simple altar with kuśa grass"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: stylized moon-god Soma above, ritualist below offering arghya; strong outlines, symbolic two-kalā moon motif; include mantra-scroll visual cue.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Soma as radiant lunar deity with gold halo; devotee offering arghya; ornate arch and embossed gold for the moon disc.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: soft chiaroscuro night-sky, refined ritual implements; subtle depiction of ‘two parts’ in the moon’s glow; calm devotional focus.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: cool nocturne palette, small shrine by riverbank; moon overhead; devotee offering arghya with delicate linework."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"precise-ritual","suggested_raga":"Yaman (evening clarity)","pace":"medium-slow","voice_tone":"measured, mantra-like"}
FAQs
It reflects Purāṇic ritual standardization: calendar-linked observances and prescribed offerings (arghya) paired with specific mantras, illustrating how later Sanskrit compendia systematized earlier Vedic/Smārta ritual vocabulary.
No specific geographic toponym is named in this verse fragment; the instruction is calendrical and ritual rather than site-specific.
The verse emphasizes disciplined, knowledgeable performance of offerings—acting with understanding (dhīmān) and procedural correctness (mantra-guided arghya), framed as a cultural-philosophical practice of reverence and order.
Ask anything about this verse
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