Shloka 3

Matsya Purana — Kamalā-Saptamī Vow: Lotus Rite for Sūrya

Devanagari script

वस्त्रयुग्मावृतं कृत्वा गन्धपुष्पैः समर्चयेत् नमः कमलहस्ताय नमस्ते विश्वधारिणे //

Transliteration

vastrayugmāvṛtaṃ kṛtvā gandhapuṣpaiḥ samarcayet namaḥ kamalahastāya namaste viśvadhāriṇe //

Translation

Having covered (the deity or icon) with a pair of garments, one should worship reverently with sandal fragrance and flowers, saying: “Salutations to the Lotus-handed One; salutations to You, the Supporter of the universe.”

Word by Word

• वस्त्र-युग्म-आवृतम् (vastra-yugma-āvṛtam): covered with a pair of garments

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/made

• गन्ध-पुष्पैः (gandha-puṣpaiḥ): with fragrances (sandal, perfumes) and flowers

• समर्चयेत् (samarcayet): should worship/offer reverential adoration

• नमः (namaḥ): salutation

• कमल-हस्ताय (kamala-hastāya): to the lotus-handed (Vishnu-like epithet)

• नमस् ते (namas te): salutations to You

• विश्व-धारिणे (viśva-dhāriṇe): to the bearer/supporter of the world/universe

Speaker

• Suta (narrating the prescribed worship as taught in the Matsya Purana’s discourse, traditionally rooted in Matsya’s instruction to Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu (implied by epithets: Kamalahasta, Vishvadharin)

Tags

• Puja
• Iconography
• Ritual offerings
• Mantra
• Bhakti

FAQs

What does this verse reveal about the creation or dissolution (Pralaya)?

It does not describe Pralaya directly; instead, it presents devotional salutations to the cosmic sustainer (“viśva-dhāriṇe”), a title that implicitly affirms the deity’s role in upholding the universe through cycles of creation and dissolution.

How does this verse relate to the duties of a King or Householder?

It frames a simple, orthodox worship sequence—clothing the deity and offering fragrance and flowers—reflecting the householder’s (and king’s) duty to uphold dharma through regular, respectful temple/home worship and recitation of fitting divine epithets.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies upacāras: offering garments (vastra), fragrance (gandha), and flowers (puṣpa), along with a praise-mantra; such steps are central to temple and household worship protocols that accompany icon consecration and daily service.