Shloka 1
Śrī-nyāsa, Lotus Maṇḍala Construction, and Homa to Mahālakṣmī with Sarasvatī Invocation
नवमो ऽध्यायः हरिरुवाच / र् श्यादिपूजां प्रवर्श्यामि स्थण्डिलादिषु सिद्धये / श्रीं ह्रीं महालक्ष्म्यै नमः / श्रां श्रीं श्रूं श्रैं श्रौं श्रः क्रमाद्धृदयं च शिरः शिखाम् / कवचं नेत्रमस्त्रं च आसनं मूर्तिमर्चयेत्
navamo 'dhyāyaḥ hariruvāca / r śyādipūjāṃ pravarśyāmi sthaṇḍilādiṣu siddhaye / śrīṃ hrīṃ mahālakṣmyai namaḥ / śrāṃ śrīṃ śrūṃ śraiṃ śrauṃ śraḥ kramāddhṛdayaṃ ca śiraḥ śikhām / kavacaṃ netramastraṃ ca āsanaṃ mūrtimarcayet
Hari said: “For the attainment of siddhi, I shall set forth the worship that begins with the syllable ‘śrī’, to be performed upon the sthaṇḍila (ritual altar) and the related arrangements. (Recite:) ‘Śrīṃ, Hrīṃ—obeisance to Mahālakṣmī.’ Then, in due order with ‘Śrāṃ, Śrīṃ, Śrūṃ, Śraiṃ, Śrauṃ, Śraḥ’, one should place these as nyāsas upon the heart, head, topknot (śikhā), armor (kavaca), eyes, and weapon; thereafter consecrate the seat and worship the mūrti.”
Hari (Lord Vishnu)
Concept: Mantra-nyāsa and icon-worship as a disciplined means to invoke Mahālakṣmī’s auspicious power for siddhi.
Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-upāsanā as a preparatory discipline (citta-śuddhi) where the sacred is approached through name, form, and ordered ritual.
Application: Maintain a clean, bounded worship space; recite the bīja/mantra with attention; perform nyāsa as mindful placement of divinity in one’s faculties before any prayer for success.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual_space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana (sections on pūjā-vidhi, mantra-nyāsa, and devatā-arcana in the early kāṇḍas)
FAQs
This verse frames Mahālakṣmī worship through bīja-mantras and nyāsa as a means to gain siddhi (successful fruition) and ritual protection.
It does not describe the after-death journey here; instead, it teaches a protective and success-oriented ritual discipline (nyāsa and mūrti-arcana) within the Purāṇic framework.
Use the verse as a guideline for structured worship: mantra-recitation with mindful “placement” (nyāsa) and respectful icon-worship, emphasizing order, clarity, and devotion.