Shloka 15

Māheśvara-pūjā-vidhi: Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-āvāhana, Kalā-salutations, and Upacāra Worship

Devanagari script

तत्त्वन्यासं च मुद्राया दर्शनं द्यानमेव च / पाद्यमाचमनं ह्यर्घ्यं पुष्पाण्यभ्यङ्गदानकम्

Transliteration

tattvanyāsaṃ ca mudrāyā darśanaṃ dyānameva ca / pādyamācamanaṃ hyarghyaṃ puṣpāṇyabhyaṅgadānakam

Translation

One should also perform tattva-nyāsa (the placing of the principles), display the mudrās, and abide in meditation; then offer water for washing the feet (pādya), water for sipping (ācamanīya), and the reverential arghya, together with flowers, an oil-anointing (abhyaṅga), and gifts of charity (dāna).

Word by Word

• तत्त्वन्यासम्: placement of principles (tattva-nyāsa)
• तत्त्वन्यासम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यास (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Accusative singular); तत्पुरुष (तत्त्वानां न्यासः)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• मुद्रायाः: of the mudrā (hand-gesture)
• मुद्रायाः: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्रा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग; षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive singular)

• दर्शनम्: showing/seeing (darśana)
• दर्शनम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृश् (धातु) → दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular)

• ध्यानम्: meditation
• ध्यानम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्यै (धातु) → ध्यान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular)

• एव: indeed/only
• एव: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधारणार्थक-निपात (emphatic particle)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (coordination)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयार्थक

• पाद्यम्: water for washing feet
• पाद्यम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular)

• आचमनम्: sipping water (ācamanam)
• आचमनम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आ + चम् (धातु) → आचमन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphasis)

• अर्घ्यम्: offering-water (arghya)
• अर्घ्यम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्घ्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular)

• पुष्पाणि: flowers
• पुष्पाणि: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुष्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, बहुवचन (Nom./Acc. plural)

• अभ्यङ्गदानकम्: gift/offer of anointing (abhyanga)
• अभ्यङ्गदानकम्: Karma (Object/list item)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अभ्यङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + दानक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन (Nom./Acc. singular); तत्पुरुष (अभ्यङ्गस्य दानकम्)

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied worship integrates inner alignment (nyāsa, dhyāna) with outer hospitality (water offerings, flowers, anointing) and dāna—ritual as ethical-spiritual training.

Vedantic Theme: Body as temple (deha-mandira) through nyāsa; karma purified by devotion and generosity; inner/outer non-separation in sādhana.

Application: Before prayer/meditation: brief body-scan nyāsa (placing attention on elements/principles), then a simple offering (water/flower/light), and end with a concrete act of giving (dāna) to anchor spirituality in compassion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.40.14 (āvāhana etc. preceding these upacāras)

FAQs

What is the importance of tattva-nyāsa and mudrā in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats tattva-nyāsa and mudrā as preparatory acts that sacralize the practitioner’s body and focus the mind, making the ensuing worship offerings and meditation ritually complete.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing disciplined worship, meditation, and charity, it points to purificatory practices that support dharma and spiritual readiness—foundational themes that later connect to merit, fate after death, and liberation across the Purana.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Maintain a consistent worship routine: begin with inner alignment (attention/meditation), follow with respectful offerings, and conclude with generosity (dāna)—linking devotion to ethical action.