Shloka 20

Pañcatattva-Pūjā: The Fivefold Vyuha of Hari, Mantras, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala, and Stotra

Devanagari script

ॐ पद्माय नमः / अङ्गन्यासं च कृत्वा तु मुद्राः सर्वाः प्रदशयत् / आत्मानं वासुदेवं च ध्यात्वा चैव परेश्वरम्

Transliteration

oṃ padmāya namaḥ / aṅganyāsaṃ ca kṛtvā tu mudrāḥ sarvāḥ pradaśayat / ātmānaṃ vāsudevaṃ ca dhyātvā caiva pareśvaram

Translation

“Om, obeisance to Padmā.” Having performed aṅganyāsa (the placing upon the limbs), one should display all mudrās, and then meditate—on one’s own self as Vāsudeva, and also on Pareśvara, the Supreme Lord.

Word by Word

• aṅganyāsaṃ: Nyasa on the limbs
• aṅganyāsaṃ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅganyāsa (अङ्गन्यास)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kṛ (कृ)
• Form: Gerund (Ktva)

• tu: but/indeed
• tu: None
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (तु)
• Form: Particle

• mudrāḥ: hand gestures (mudras)
• mudrāḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mudrā (मुद्रा)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• sarvāḥ: all
• sarvāḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (सर्व)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• pradaśayat: should display/show
• pradaśayat: Kriya (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pradṛś (प्रदृश्)
• Form: Causative, Optative/Imperative context (Text has typo, likely pradarśayet)

• ātmānaṃ: oneself/soul
• ātmānaṃ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ātman (आत्मन्)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• vāsudevaṃ: as Vasudeva
• vāsudevaṃ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāsudeva (वासुदेव)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• dhyātvā: having meditated upon
• dhyātvā: Purvakalika Kriya (Prior Action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: dhyai (ध्यै)
• Form: Gerund (Ktva)

• pareśvaram: the Supreme Lord
• pareśvaram: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pareśvara (परेश्वर)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (teaching Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Upāsanā culminates in dhyāna where the practitioner contemplates the ātman in identity/participation with Vāsudeva, alongside devotion to the transcendent Lord.

Vedantic Theme: Jīva–Īśvara sambandha moving toward abheda-bhāvanā (non-separative contemplation) while retaining īśvara-bhakti (Pareśvara-dhyāna).

Application: After nyāsa and mudrās, sit steadily and meditate: visualize Vāsudeva in the heart; cultivate the sense ‘my true self is aligned with the all-pervading Lord’ to reduce egoic fragmentation.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner meditative space (antar-maṇḍala)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.32.17 (aṅga-mantras); Garuda Purana 1.32.19 (maṇḍala-pūjā); Garuda Purana 1.32.21 (āsana-pūjā, dvāra-devatā)

Characters & Entities

• Padmā
• Vāsudeva
• Pareśvara

FAQs

What is the importance of aṅganyāsa and mudrās in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents them as preparatory rites that sanctify the body and focus the mind, making meditation on Vāsudeva/Pareśvara steady and effective.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Rather than describing after-death travel here, it teaches inner identification with Vāsudeva—training the practitioner to see the Self as aligned with the Supreme, a key orientation for liberation-focused practice.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before mantra-japa or prayer, do a brief centering: mentally consecrate the body (nyāsa-like intention), use simple hand gestures if known, and meditate on the Divine within and beyond.