Shloka 16

Tithi-Vrata Vidhāna: Śikhī-vrata (Pratipadā), Tṛtīyā Devī/Śrīdhara rites, Gaṇeśa Caturthī Mantra-Nyāsa, and Nāga Pañcamī

Devanagari script

पूजयोत्तिलहोमैश्च एते पूज्या गणास्तथा / गणाय गणपतये स्वाहा कूष्माण्डकाय च

Transliteration

pūjayottilahomaiśca ete pūjyā gaṇāstathā / gaṇāya gaṇapataye svāhā kūṣmāṇḍakāya ca

Translation

These attendant hosts (gaṇas) are to be worshipped also with offerings and sesame-seed oblations (tilahoma). One should offer with the mantra: “svāhā to the Gaṇa, to Gaṇapati,” and also “svāhā to Kūṣmāṇḍaka.”

Word by Word

• पूजय: worship!
• पूजय: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पूज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• उत्तिलहोमैः: with sesame oblations
• उत्तिलहोमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्तिल + होम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—उत्तिल-होम (तत्पुरुष; ‘with sesame-offerings’)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

• एते: these
• एते: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पूज्याः: worthy of worship
• पूज्याः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (√पूज् धातोः यत्-प्रत्ययान्त)
• Form: कृदन्त-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘पूजनीयाः’

• गणाः: groups/attendants (gaṇas)
• गणाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (adverb: ‘so/likewise’)

• गणाय: to Gaṇa (name)
• गणाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• गणपतये: to Gaṇapati
• गणपतये: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गणपति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• स्वाहा: svāhā (oblation formula)
• स्वाहा: Mantra (मन्त्र-पद)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वाहा (अव्यय/निपात)
• Form: होम-सम्बद्ध निपात (oblation exclamation), अव्यय

• कूष्माण्डकाय: to Kūṣmāṇḍaka (name)
• कूष्माण्डकाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कूष्माण्डक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vainateya, typical Garuda Purana dialogue frame)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ritual completeness includes honoring subsidiary beings (gaṇas) and offering homa with proper mantras; protection arises from ordered propitiation.

Vedantic Theme: Sādhana as saṃskāra: disciplined action refines the mind; acknowledging cosmic hierarchy reduces egoic isolation.

Application: When performing worship, include ancillary offerings (tilahoma) and explicit svāhā to Gaṇa/Gaṇapati and related guardians to remove obstacles and stabilize the rite.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: homa/pūjā altar (havanakuṇḍa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.129 (gaṇa-pūjā; tilahoma; svāhā-mantras)

Characters & Entities

• Gaṇas
• Gaṇapati
• Kūṣmāṇḍaka
• Svāhā (homa formula)

FAQs

What is the importance of tila (sesame) homa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents sesame oblations as an approved means of worship, indicating tila-homa as a purificatory and propitiatory act within prescribed rites.

How does this verse relate to Garuda Purana ritual practice?

It gives a direct liturgical instruction: worship the gaṇas through offerings and specifically through homa using the svāhā formula addressed to Gaṇa, Gaṇapati, and Kūṣmāṇḍaka.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing traditional fire-offerings or pūjā, practitioners may include respectful Gaṇapati/gaṇa invocation and sesame offerings as part of a disciplined, rule-based ritual approach.