Shloka 4

Matsya Purana — Ravi-Saṅkrānti Vow: Udyāpana

Devanagari script

कर्णिकायां न्यसेत्सूर्यम् आदित्यं पूर्वतस्ततः नम उष्णार्चिषे याम्ये नमो ऋङ्मण्डलाय च //

Transliteration

karṇikāyāṃ nyasetsūryam ādityaṃ pūrvatastataḥ nama uṣṇārciṣe yāmye namo ṛṅmaṇḍalāya ca //

Translation

In the lotus-centre (karnikā) one should install Sūrya; then, in the eastern direction, place Āditya. In the southern quarter, offer the salutation “Obeisance to Uṣṇārcis,” and also “Obeisance to Ṛṅmaṇḍala.”

Word by Word

• कर्णिकायाम् (karṇikāyām): in the pericarp/central whorl of the lotus (ritual diagram)

• न्यसेत् (nyaset): should place/install (perform nyāsa)

• सूर्यम् (sūryam): Sūrya, the Sun-deity

• आदित्यम् (ādityam): Āditya (a solar form/title)

• पूर्वतः (pūrvataḥ): in the east/from the eastern side

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• नम (nama): obeisance/salutation

• उष्णार्चिषे (uṣṇārciṣe): to Uṣṇārcis (“hot-rayed,” a solar epithet/form)

• याम्ये (yāmye): in the southern direction (Yama’s quarter)

• नमो (namo): salutation

• ऋङ्मण्डलाय (ṛṅmaṇḍalāya): to Ṛṅmaṇḍala (a named solar circle/solar form)

• च (ca): and/also

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu)

Entities Mentioned

• Sūrya
• Āditya
• Uṣṇārcis
• Ṛṅmaṇḍala

Tags

• Matsya Purana Vastu Shastra tips
• Pratima Lakshana
• Nyasa
• Temple ritual
• Directional deities

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it belongs to a ritual-architectural (Vastu/nyāsa) context describing directional placement and salutations to solar forms.

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

It reflects the duty to perform correct consecration and worship (especially when commissioning temples, images, or household shrines), emphasizing orderly placement of deities by direction as taught in the Matsya Purana.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a nyāsa/mandala instruction: place Sūrya in the lotus-centre (karnikā) and associate specific solar forms with directions (east, south) with prescribed salutations—key for Puranic temple ritual layout.