Shloka 4
Sūrya-pūjā-vidhi: Gateway Deities, Lotus-Mandala, Nyāsa, Navagrahas, and Arghya
ॐ पद्माय नमः / ॐ कर्णिकायै नमः / मघ्ये तु पूजयेद्रुद्र पूर्वादिषु तथैव च / दीप्ताद्याः पूजयेन्मध्ये पूजयेत्सर्वतोमुखीः / ॐ वां (रां) दीप्तायै नमः / ॐ वीं (रीं) सूक्ष्मायै नमः / ॐ वूं (रूं भद्रायै नमः / ॐ वैं (रैं) जयायै नमः / ॐ वौं (रौं) विबूत्यै नमः / ॐ वं (रं) अधोरायै नमः / ॐ वं (रं) वैद्युतायै नमः / ॐ वः (रः) विजयायै नमः / ॐ रो सर्वतोमुख्यै नमः
oṃ padmāya namaḥ / oṃ karṇikāyai namaḥ / maghye tu pūjayedrudra pūrvādiṣu tathaiva ca / dīptādyāḥ pūjayenmadhye pūjayetsarvatomukhīḥ / oṃ vāṃ (rāṃ) dīptāyai namaḥ / oṃ vīṃ (rīṃ) sūkṣmāyai namaḥ / oṃ vūṃ (rūṃ bhadrāyai namaḥ / oṃ vaiṃ (raiṃ) jayāyai namaḥ / oṃ vauṃ (rauṃ) vibūtyai namaḥ / oṃ vaṃ (raṃ) adhorāyai namaḥ / oṃ vaṃ (raṃ) vaidyutāyai namaḥ / oṃ vaḥ (raḥ) vijayāyai namaḥ / oṃ ro sarvatomukhyai namaḥ
Salutations to the Lotus (Padmā); salutations to the Pericarp (Karṇikā). In the center one should worship Rudra, and likewise in the eastern and other directions. In the center one should worship the powers beginning with Dīptā, and one should worship Sarvatomukhī, the All-faced One. Salutations to Dīptā, Sūkṣmā, Bhadrā, Jayā, Vibhūti, Adhorā, Vaidyutā, Vijayā, and to Sarvatomukhī.
Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa, ritual-vidhi section)
Concept: Ritual mapping of divinity onto space: center (bindu) and directions as a complete body of worship, integrating Rudra and śaktis.
Vedantic Theme: Many forms, one sacred presence; the ‘all-faced’ suggests omnipresence (sarvavyāptitva) expressed through ritual plurality.
Application: In pūjā/nyāsa, use lotus visualization: establish the center first, then proceed directionally; treat protection as ‘360-degree’—mindful attention to all ‘corners’ of conduct and practice.
Primary Rasa: adbhuta
Secondary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual-lotus (padma) with pericarp (karnikā) and directional petals
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.39.3 (directional worship); Garuda Purana 1.39.5-7 (Sūrya-mūrti mantras and dhyāna)
FAQs
This verse frames worship as a lotus-maṇḍala: the padma and its central karṇikā symbolize the sacred seat where the deity and attendant powers are invoked for order, protection, and successful completion of the rite.
It does not directly describe the soul’s post-death journey; instead it provides a ritual mapping (centre and directions) used to stabilize worship and invoke protective śaktis—an indirect support to dharmic practice emphasized throughout the Purāṇa.
Use it as a structured reminder for disciplined worship: keep a clear ‘centre’ (focus), honour directional order (method), and cultivate the listed qualities—radiance, subtlety, auspiciousness, victory, and spiritual power—in daily sādhanā.