Shloka 14

Matsya Purana — The Ravi-Śayana

Devanagari script

ललाटमम्भोरुहवल्लभाय पुष्ये ऽलका वेदशरीरधारिणे सार्पे ऽथ मौलिं विबुधप्रियाय मघासु कर्णाविति गोगणेशे //

Transliteration

lalāṭamambhoruhavallabhāya puṣye 'lakā vedaśarīradhāriṇe sārpe 'tha mauliṃ vibudhapriyāya maghāsu karṇāviti gogaṇeśe //

Translation

On the Puṣya nakṣatra, one should adorn the forehead with the tilaka for Viṣṇu, the beloved of the lotus. On the Aśleṣā (Sārpa) nakṣatra, the side-locks of hair (alaka) are prescribed for Brahmā, whose body is the Vedas. Then, for Śiva, beloved of the gods, the topknot/crown (mauli) is prescribed; and on Maghā, the ears are prescribed—thus is the ordinance for Gaṇeśa among the divine hosts.

Word by Word

• ललाटम्: forehead

• अम्भोरुह-वल्लभाय: for the beloved of the lotus (Viṣṇu)

• पुष्ये: in/under the Puṣya nakṣatra

• अलकाः: locks/side-curls of hair

• वेद-शरीर-धारिणे: to the one who bears the Vedas as his body (Brahmā)

• सार्पे: in the Sārpa (Aśleṣā) nakṣatra

• अथ: then/next

• मौलिम्: head-topknot/crown (mauḷi)

• विबुध-प्रियाय: to the one dear to the gods (Śiva)

• मघासु: in Maghā (nakṣatra)

• कर्णौ: the two ears

• इति: thus/so

• गोगणेशे: for Gaṇeśa, lord among the gaṇas (divine attendants).

Speaker

• Lord Matsya (instructing Vaivasvata Manu in the Matsya Purana’s ritual/temple-practice sections)

Entities Mentioned

• Vishnu (Ambhoruha-vallabha)
• Brahma (Veda-sharira-dharin)
• Shiva (Vibudha-priya)
• Ganesha (Gogaṇeśa)
• Pushya Nakshatra
• Ashlesha / Sarpa Nakshatra
• Magha Nakshatra

Tags

• Matsya Purana
• Vastu Shastra
• Pratima Lakshana
• Pratishtha
• Nakshatra

FAQs

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

This verse is not about pralaya; it focuses on auspicious nakṣatra-based prescriptions for adorning/installing specific features of deities, reflecting ritual order rather than cosmic dissolution.

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

It supports the king/householder duty of maintaining dharmic worship: selecting proper auspicious timings (nakṣatras) for temple rites and icon-adornment, which the Matsya Purana treats as part of public and domestic religious responsibility.

What is the architectural or ritual significance mentioned here?

It gives a ritual-timing rule used in pratishṭhā/pratima-sevā: different nakṣatras are assigned to specific deity-features (forehead mark, hair-locks, topknot/crown, ears), guiding consecration and ornamentation within temple practice.