Shloka 6

Gaṇa–Durgā–Tripurā Sādhanā: Bīja-Nyāsa, Śakti Arrays, Mātṛkā/Bhairava Worship, and Maṇḍala Contemplation

Devanagari script

पीठाम्बुजे तु ब्राहयादीर्ब्रह्माणी च महेश्वरी / कौमारी वैष्णवी पूज्या वाराही चेन्द्रदेवता

Transliteration

pīṭhāmbuje tu brāhayādīrbrahmāṇī ca maheśvarī / kaumārī vaiṣṇavī pūjyā vārāhī cendradevatā

Translation

Upon the lotus-seat are to be worshipped the Mothers (Mātṛs) beginning with Brāhmī—namely Brahmāṇī and Maheśvarī; also Kaumārī and Vaiṣṇavī; the venerable Vārāhī, and Indra as the presiding deity.

Word by Word

• पीठाम्बुजे: in/on the pedestal-lotus
• पीठाम्बुजे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पीठ (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/सप्तमी), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (पीठस्य अम्बुजम्)

• तु: indeed/but
• तु: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक अव्यय (but/indeed)

• ब्राहयादीः: (the group) beginning with Brāhmī, etc.
• ब्राहयादीः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मी (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (ब्राह्मी-आदि = ‘ब्राह्मी इत्यादि’)

• ब्रह्माणी: Brahmāṇī
• ब्रह्माणी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्माणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• महेश्वरी: Maheśvarī
• महेश्वरी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेश्वरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• कौमारी: Kaumārī
• कौमारी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कौमारी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वैष्णवी: Vaiṣṇavī
• वैष्णवी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैष्णवी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• पूज्या: worthy of worship
• पूज्या: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज्य (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √पूज् (धातु))
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कृदन्तः—तव्यत्/यत्-प्रत्ययार्थक (worthy to be worshipped)

• वाराही: Vārāhī
• वाराही: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाराही (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक अव्यय

• इन्द्रदेवता: the deity of Indra (Indra-associated deity)
• इन्द्रदेवता: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + देवता (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य देवता)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Cosmic functions are honored through specific divine powers (Mothers) in a structured worship sequence.

Vedantic Theme: Many deities as functional faces of one reality; harmonizing forces through ritual order (ṛta-like alignment).

Application: In any practice, acknowledge supporting ‘systems’ (body, mind, community) in a deliberate sequence; cultivate gratitude and balance rather than single-point fixation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: lotus-seat/maṇḍala altar

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.24: Tripurā installation followed by attendant deity worship (Mātṛkā/adhidevatā)

Characters & Entities

• Brāhmī
• Brahmāṇī
• Maheśvarī
• Kaumārī
• Vaiṣṇavī
• Vārāhī
• Indra

FAQs

What is the importance of the Mātṛkās (Mother Goddesses) in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a prescribed ritual honoring the divine Śaktis (Mātṛkās) such as Brāhmī, Maheśvarī, and others, indicating their role as protective and empowering presences to be invoked in worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul in the Garuda Purana?

This specific verse is primarily ritual-theological rather than afterlife-focused; it emphasizes correct worship of divine powers (Śaktis), which in the broader Purāṇic framework supports dharma and auspicious spiritual progress.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It suggests cultivating reverence for divine energies behind creation, preservation, and transformation—practically expressed through disciplined worship, ethical living, and seeking protection and clarity through devotion.