Shloka 16

Matsya Purana — Navagraha Sacrifice for Planetary Pacification and Prosperity

Devanagari script

प्रजापतिश्च सर्पाश्च ब्रह्मा प्रत्यधिदेवताः विनायकं तथा दुर्गां वायुराकाशमेव च आवाहयेद्व्याहृतिभिस् तथैवाश्विकुमारकौ //

Transliteration

prajāpatiśca sarpāśca brahmā pratyadhidevatāḥ vināyakaṃ tathā durgāṃ vāyurākāśameva ca āvāhayedvyāhṛtibhis tathaivāśvikumārakau //

Translation

With the sacred utterances (vyāhṛtis), one should invoke Prajāpati, the Serpents (Nāgas), and Brahmā as the presiding counter-deities; likewise Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa), Durgā, Vāyu (Wind), and Ākāśa (Space)—and in the same manner the Aśvinī-kumāras, the twin divine physicians.

Word by Word

• prajāpatiḥ: Prajāpati, the Lord of progeny

• ca: and

• sarpāḥ: serpents/Nāgas

• ca: and

• brahmā: Brahmā

• praty-adhidevatāḥ: presiding counter-deities/associated overseeing deities

• vināyakam: Vināyaka (Gaṇeśa)

• tathā: likewise

• durgām: Durgā

• vāyuḥ: Vāyu (wind-god)

• ākāśam: Ākāśa (ether/space)

• eva: indeed/also

• ca: and

• āvāhayet: one should invoke

• vyāhṛtibhiḥ: by means of the vyāhṛtis (bhūḥ, bhuvaḥ, svaḥ etc.)

• tathā eva: in the same way

• āśvi-kumārakau: the Aśvinī-kumāras (Aśvins), the twin gods.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, ritual/vidhi section context)

Entities Mentioned

• Prajapati
• Sarpas (Nagas)
• Brahma
• Pratyadhidevatas
• Vinayaka (Ganesha)
• Durga
• Vayu
• Akasha
• Ashvini-kumaras (Ashvins)
• Vyahritis

Tags

• Ritual
• Devata-Avahana
• Mantra
• Vyahriti
• Puranic Worship

FAQs

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

This verse is not describing pralaya directly; it outlines a ritual sequence of invoking cosmic and protective deities (Prajāpati, Brahmā, Vāyu, Ākāśa) whose domains relate to creation and the elements, indicating a cosmological grounding for the rite.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of performing properly ordered worship: invoking Vināyaka for obstacle-removal, Durgā for protection, and elemental/cosmic deities for stability—reflecting the Matsya Purana’s emphasis on correct ritual as a foundation for prosperity and public well-being.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it specifies devatā-āvāhana “invocation” using vyāhṛtis—often employed as sanctifying utterances before major rites; such invocations commonly function as protective preliminaries for consecrations, including temple/installation contexts discussed elsewhere in the Matsya Purana.