Shloka 6

Matsya Purana — Ravi-Saṅkrānti Vow: Udyāpana

Devanagari script

मार्तण्डमुत्तरे विष्णुम् ईशाने विन्यसेत्सदा गन्धमाल्यफलैर्भक्ष्यैः स्थण्डिले पूजयेत्ततः //

Transliteration

mārtaṇḍamuttare viṣṇum īśāne vinyasetsadā gandhamālyaphalairbhakṣyaiḥ sthaṇḍile pūjayettataḥ //

Translation

One should always place Mārtaṇḍa (the Sun) in the northern direction, and Viṣṇu in the north-east (Īśāna). Thereafter, on a prepared earthen altar (sthaṇḍila), one should worship them with perfumes, garlands, fruits, and edible offerings.

Word by Word

• मार्तण्डम् (mārtaṇḍam): Mārtaṇḍa, the Sun-god

• उत्तरे (uttare): in the north

• विष्णुम् (viṣṇum): Viṣṇu

• ईशाने (īśāne): in the north-east (Īśāna direction)

• विन्यसेत् (vinyaset): should place/assign/install (ritually)

• सदा (sadā): always

• गन्ध (gandha): perfumes/fragrance

• माल्य (mālya): garlands

• फलैः (phalaiḥ): with fruits

• भक्ष्यैः (bhakṣyaiḥ): with edible offerings/sweets

• स्थण्डिले (sthaṇḍile): on a sthaṇḍila, a leveled/purified earthen altar

• पूजयेत् (pūjayet): should worship

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu on ritual/installation procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Mārtaṇḍa (Surya)
• Viṣṇu
• Īśāna (north-east direction)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Ritual Nyasa
• Directional Deities
• Iconography
• Puja Vidhi

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it gives practical ritual instructions—directional placement of deities (Surya and Vishnu) and their worship with standard offerings.

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

It frames a householder/royal duty as correct performance of worship: installing deities according to prescribed directions and offering gandha, garlands, fruits, and food—supporting dharma through orderly, rule-based ritual.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It encodes Vastu-linked ritual mapping: north and north-east placements (uttara, īśāna) and worship on a sthaṇḍila (purified earthen altar), reflecting how sacred space is organized before puja.