Shloka 23

Matsya Purana — The Observance of Ananta-Tritiya

Devanagari script

जातीपुष्पैर्मार्गशीर्षे पौषे पीतैः कुरण्टकैः कुन्दकुङ्कुमपुष्पैस्तु देवीं माघे तु पूजयेत् सिन्दुवारेण जात्या वा फाल्गुने ऽप्यर्चयेदुमाम् //

Transliteration

jātīpuṣpairmārgaśīrṣe pauṣe pītaiḥ kuraṇṭakaiḥ kundakuṅkumapuṣpaistu devīṃ māghe tu pūjayet sinduvāreṇa jātyā vā phālgune 'pyarcayedumām //

Translation

In Mārgaśīrṣa, one should worship (the Goddess) with jāti (jasmine) flowers; in Pauṣa, with yellow kuraṇṭaka blossoms; in Māgha, one should worship the Goddess with kunda and kuṅkuma flowers; and in Phālguna too, one should worship Umā with sinduvāra or with jasmine.

Word by Word

• jātī-puṣpaiḥ: with jasmine flowers

• mārgaśīrṣe: in the month of Mārgaśīrṣa

• pauṣe: in the month of Pauṣa

• pītaiḥ: with yellow (flowers)

• kuraṇṭakaiḥ: with kuraṇṭaka blossoms

• kunda: kunda (jasmine-like) flowers

• kuṅkuma-puṣpaiḥ: with saffron-flowers / saffron-colored blossoms

• tu: and/indeed

• devīm: the Goddess

• māghe: in the month of Māgha

• pūjayet: one should worship

• sinduvāreṇa: with sinduvāra (five-leaved chaste tree) blossoms/leaves

• jātyā: with jāti (jasmine)

• vā: or

• phālgune: in the month of Phālguna

• api: also

• arcayet: one should adore/worship

• umām: Umā (Pārvatī).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (teaching Vaivasvata Manu the ritual procedure)

Entities Mentioned

• Umā
• Devī
• Jātī (jasmine)
• Kuraṇṭaka
• Kunda
• Kuṅkuma
• Sinduvāra

Tags

• Devi Puja
• Vrata
• Monthly worship
• Flower offerings
• Ritual procedure

FAQs

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

This verse does not address Pralaya; it focuses on a ritual calendar—prescribing seasonally appropriate flower offerings for worship of the Goddess (Umā/Devī).

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

It supports the householder (and ruler) duty of regular deity-worship (nitya/naimittika pūjā) by giving practical, month-specific guidance for offerings—an aspect of dharma that sustains personal discipline and public religious order.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

Ritually, it codifies dravya-niyama (rules for worship materials): choosing flowers according to lunar months for Devī/Umā worship, reflecting Puranic temple and home-puja procedure rather than architectural measurements.