Narada Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 44
Mantraśodhana, Dīkṣā-krama, Guru-Pādukā, Ajapā-Haṃsa, and Ṣaṭcakra-Kuṇḍalinī Sādhana
यदा मध्ये यजेद्विष्णुं बाह्यादिषु विनायकम् । रविं शिवां शिवं चैव यदा मध्ये तु शङ्करम् ॥ ४४ ॥
yadā madhye yajedviṣṇuṃ bāhyādiṣu vināyakam | raviṃ śivāṃ śivaṃ caiva yadā madhye tu śaṅkaram || 44 ||
When one worships Viṣṇu in the central position, one should worship Vināyaka on the outer sides; likewise one should worship the Sun, Śivā the Goddess, and Śiva as well. But when Śaṅkara is worshipped in the center, the arrangement should be made accordingly, with the proper complementary deities placed around.
Narada (teaching a technical ritual arrangement within Book 1.3’s Vedanga/vidhi-oriented material)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
FAQs
It teaches that worship is not only about the chosen central deity but also about maintaining ritual harmony by honoring complementary deities in their proper positions, reflecting an integrated Vedic-puranic devotional order.
Bhakti here is expressed as disciplined reverence: the devotee centers the heart on Viṣṇu (or Śaṅkara) while respectfully acknowledging related divine powers—Vināyaka, Sūrya, Śivā, and Śiva—so devotion becomes complete and unobstructed.
It highlights ritual procedure (vidhi) and deity-placement principles (devatā-vinyāsa) used in pūjā/maṇḍala arrangements—technical guidance aligned with the applied sciences of worship found in Book 1.3.