Shloka 15

Mṛtyuñjaya/Amṛteśvara Upāsanā: Three-Syllable Mantra, Kavaca, Japa-Phala, and Pūjā-Aṅgas

Devanagari script

मूर्तौ वा स्थण्डिले वापि क्षिपेत्पुष्पं तु भास्वरम् / आह्वानद्वारपूजार्थं पूजा चाधारशक्तितः

Transliteration

mūrtau vā sthaṇḍile vāpi kṣipetpuṣpaṃ tu bhāsvaram / āhvānadvārapūjārthaṃ pūjā cādhāraśaktitaḥ

Translation

Whether upon an idol-form or upon a consecrated ground-altar, one should place a radiant flower—so that the deity may be invoked and the threshold (gateway) worship may be performed; and the worship proceeds according to the power of the supporting base (ādhāra-śakti).

Word by Word

• मूर्तौ: in/at the idol (image)
• मूर्तौ: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• स्थण्डिले: on the altar/ground-spot
• स्थण्डिले: Adhikarana (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थण्डिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• वा: or
• वा: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वा (अव्यय)
• Form: विकल्पार्थक-अव्यय (disjunctive particle: 'or')

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अप्यर्थक-अव्यय (also/even)

• क्षिपेत्: should throw/place
• क्षिपेत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पुष्पम्: a flower
• पुष्पम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारण/विरोधार्थक-अव्यय (but/indeed)

• भास्वरम्: bright, radiant
• भास्वरम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भास्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying पुष्पम्)

• आह्वानद्वारपूजार्थम्: for the purpose of worship at the invocation-gate (ritual opening)
• आह्वानद्वारपूजार्थम्: Prayojana (Purpose/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आह्वान + द्वार + पूजा + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समासः (आह्वानस्य द्वारम्; तस्य पूजायाः अर्थः)

• पूजा: worship
• पूजा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Conjunction/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• आधारशक्तितः: from/according to the supporting power (of the base)
• आधारशक्तितः: Hetu/Apadana (Cause/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आधार + शक्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/पञ्चमी), एकवचन; तसिल्-प्रत्ययार्थे अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (from/according to the supporting power)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Āvāhana and dvāra-pūjā are grounded in the ‘supporting power’ (ādhāra-śakti) of the consecrated base; correct placement and intention stabilize worship.

Vedantic Theme: Saguṇa-upāsanā as a disciplined means to steady the mind; śakti as the functional support for manifest worship.

Application: In pūjā, establish a clean consecrated base (sthaṇḍila/āsana), offer a fresh flower as āvāhana-token, and perform threshold/guardian worship before main offerings.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual_space (murti-sthana / sthandila-vedi)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.18.16 (sānnidhya-karaṇa and aṅga-ṣaṭka); Garuda Purana 1.18.18 (dvāra/dehalī-related worship sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of āhvāna (invocation) and dvāra-pūjā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse frames worship as beginning with invocation and “gateway/threshold worship,” establishing a proper sacred entry into the rite before the main offerings are made.

How does this verse guide the correct place and method of offering during worship?

It allows worship either on a consecrated image (mūrti) or on a sanctified ground-altar (sthaṇḍila), with a radiant flower offered as a simple, valid act to initiate the ritual sequence.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Even in simple home worship, begin with a clear invocation and a respectful “threshold” setup (clean space, designated altar), offering flowers according to one’s capacity—emphasizing sincerity and proper order over extravagance.