Shloka 13

Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi: Gateway Deities, Lotus-Mandala, Nyāsa, Navagrahas, and Arghya

Devanagari script

राहुं वायव्यदेशे तु नन्द्यावर्तनिभिं हर / ऐशान्यां धूम्रवर्णं तु केतुं सं परिपूजयेत्

Transliteration

rāhuṃ vāyavyadeśe tu nandyāvartanibhiṃ hara / aiśānyāṃ dhūmravarṇaṃ tu ketuṃ saṃ paripūjayet

Translation

O Hara (Śiva), in the north‑west quarter one should worship Rāhu with offerings arranged in nandyāvarta patterns; and in the north‑east quarter one should duly worship Ketu, who is smoke‑hued.

Word by Word

• राहुम्: Rāhu
• राहुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• वायव्यदेशे: in the north-western region
• वायव्यदेशे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वायव्य-देश (प्रातिपदिक; वायव्य + देश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (वायव्यस्य देशः)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/contrast particle)

• नन्द्यावर्तनिभिः: with (things) resembling the nandyāvarta (auspicious symbol)
• नन्द्यावर्तनिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नन्द्यावर्त-निभ (प्रातिपदिक; नन्द्यावर्त + निभ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष (नन्द्यावर्त-सदृशैः)

• हर: worship/offer (O Hara)
• हर: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृ (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ऐशान्याम्: in the north-eastern (direction)
• ऐशान्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• धूम्रवर्णम्: smoke-colored
• धूम्रवर्णम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धूम्र-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; धूम्र + वर्ण)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः कर्मधारय (धूम्रः वर्णः यस्य)

• तु: indeed/and
• तु: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic/contrast particle)

• केतुम्: Ketu
• केतुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: केतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• सम्: fully/together
• सम्: Sambandha (Preverb/उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सम् (उपसर्ग/अव्यय)
• Form: उपसर्ग (prefix) — ‘सम्’ intensifier/completive with verb

• परिपूजयेत्: should worship (thoroughly)
• परिपूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: परि + पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्-लकार (optative), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Karmic afflictions indicated by grahas can be mitigated through properly ordered worship (upāsanā) with correct direction and auspicious arrangement (nandyāvarta).

Vedantic Theme: Īśvara-anugraha as a means to soften prārabdha; ritual as a subsidiary aid (sādhana) within dharma.

Application: When performing graha-śānti, place offerings per prescribed quarters; use nandyāvarta arrangement for Rāhu; worship Ketu in the NE with appropriate color symbolism (dhūmra).

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual space / mandala directions

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39.15 (graha-mantras); Garuda Purana 1.39.16 (pādya-ādi and mudrā); Garuda Purana 1.39.17 (Aiśānya worship)

Characters & Entities

• Rahu
• Ketu
• Hara (Shiva)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Rahu and Ketu in specific directions in the Garuda Purana?

This verse assigns Rāhu to the north‑west and Ketu to the north‑east, indicating that graha-upāsanā is performed with directional discipline to align the rite with cosmic order (dik and graha sambandha).

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by prescribing graha-śānti style worship, it reflects the Purāṇic view that planetary forces can obstruct wellbeing; pacification practices are taught as supportive disciplines alongside dharma, especially in contexts where rites and auspicious order are emphasized.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

If performing traditional Rahu–Ketu worship, follow directional placement (NW for Rahu, NE for Ketu) and keep the ritual orderly and reverent; more broadly, use the teaching as a reminder to practice disciplined, intention-driven spiritual routines.