Shloka 7

Matsya Purana — Rite of Donating the ‘Sugar Mountain’

Devanagari script

मन्दरे कामदेवस्तु प्रत्यग्वक्त्रः सदा भवेत् गन्धमादनशृङ्गे तु धनदः स्यादुदङ्मुखः //

Transliteration

mandare kāmadevastu pratyagvaktraḥ sadā bhavet gandhamādanaśṛṅge tu dhanadaḥ syādudaṅmukhaḥ //

Translation

On Mount Mandara, Kāmadeva should always be installed facing west; and on the peak of Gandhamādana, Dhanada (Kubera), the Lord of wealth, should be installed facing north.

Word by Word

• मन्दरे (mandare): on Mount Mandara

• कामदेवः (kāmadevaḥ): Kāma, the god of desire

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• प्रत्यग्वक्त्रः (pratyag-vaktraḥ): west-facing

• सदा (sadā): always

• भवेत् (bhavet): should be/should be placed

• गन्धमादनशृङ्गे (gandhamādana-śṛṅge): on the peak of Gandhamādana

• तु (tu): and

• धनदः (dhanadaḥ): Dhanada, giver of wealth (Kubera)

• स्यात् (syāt): should be

• उदङ्मुखः (udaṅ-mukhaḥ): north-facing.

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (in instruction to Vaivasvata Manu, within Vastuvidya teaching)

Entities Mentioned

• Mandara
• Kāmadeva
• Gandhamādana
• Dhanada (Kubera)

Tags

• Vastu Shastra
• Directional deities
• Temple iconography
• Pratima orientation
• Sacred geography

FAQs

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

This verse is not about Pralaya; it belongs to Vastuvidya, prescribing auspicious directional orientations for specific deities in sacred layouts.

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

It guides patrons (kings/householders) sponsoring temples or shrines: correct deity orientation is treated as a dharmic requirement to ensure prosperity, harmony, and ritually valid construction.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It specifies mukha-direction (facing) for installations: Kāmadeva should be west-facing on Mandara, and Kubera (Dhanada) north-facing on Gandhamādana—rules used in Puranic temple planning and icon placement.