Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Maheshvara Vow: Śiva-Caturdaśī Vrata

Devanagari script

व्योमकेशात्मरूपाय केशान्पृष्ठं च पूजयेत् नमः पुष्ट्यै नमस्तुष्ट्यै पार्वतीं चापि पूजयेत् //

Transliteration

vyomakeśātmarūpāya keśānpṛṣṭhaṃ ca pūjayet namaḥ puṣṭyai namastuṣṭyai pārvatīṃ cāpi pūjayet //

Translation

One should worship the hair and the back as the very form of Vyomakeśa. Saying, “Homage to Puṣṭi; homage to Tuṣṭi,” one should also worship Pārvatī.

Word by Word

• vyomakeśa-ātma-rūpāya: as the very form (ātmarūpa) of Vyomakeśa

• keśān: the hair (locks)

• pṛṣṭham: the back (of the deity/form)

• ca: and

• pūjayet: one should worship

• namaḥ: homage/salutation

• puṣṭyai: to Puṣṭi (nourishment, prosperity personified)

• namas: homage

• tuṣṭyai: to Tuṣṭi (contentment, satisfaction personified)

• pārvatīm: Pārvatī

• ca api: also

• pūjayet: one should worship.

Speaker

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

Entities Mentioned

• Vyomakeśa
• Puṣṭi
• Tuṣṭi
• Pārvatī

Tags

• Iconography
• Puja Vidhi
• Mantra
• Shiva-Parvati
• Ritual Procedure

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it teaches a ritual method of honoring specific divine aspects (Vyomakeśa, Puṣṭi, Tuṣṭi) and Pārvatī within a structured worship sequence.

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

It frames dharmic duty as correct devotional practice: a householder (and by extension a ruler) sustains order and prosperity by performing worship with proper mantras and by honoring auspicious powers like Puṣṭi (nourishment) and Tuṣṭi (contentment).

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it indicates a limb-by-limb (aṅga) or feature-focused worship—specifically venerating hair and back as sacred loci—along with mantra-salutations to personified qualities and worship of the goddess Pārvatī, reflecting iconography-driven puja procedure.