Shloka 50
Maṇḍala–Pūjā–Homa Krama
Maṇḍala Worship and Homa Sequence for the Disciple
शुद्धामेव शिशोर्मूर्ध्नि न्यसेच्छान्तिमुखे तथा । विद्यां गलादिनाभ्यंतं प्रतिष्ठां तदधः क्रमात्
śuddhāmeva śiśormūrdhni nyasecchāntimukhe tathā | vidyāṃ galādinābhyaṃtaṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ tadadhaḥ kramāt
He should place (install) ‘Śuddhā’ upon the child’s head, and likewise ‘Śānti’ upon the face. ‘Vidyā’ should be placed from the throat down to the navel, and ‘Pratiṣṭhā’ below that—thus, in due order.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
The verse teaches a Shaiva nyāsa pattern: purity (Śuddhā), peace (Śānti), knowledge (Vidyā), and stable establishment (Pratiṣṭhā) are invoked in the body in a graded manner, aligning the devotee’s embodied life with Shiva’s purifying grace (Pati) so the bound soul (paśu) becomes fit for liberation.
Nyāsa is a preparatory act before Saguna Shiva worship (including Liṅga-pūjā): the body is consecrated as a vessel of mantra and śakti, so the external offering to the Liṅga is matched by an inner installation of Shiva’s auspicious qualities.
A sequential nyāsa/anga-vinyāsa: mentally (or with mantra) install Śuddhā on the crown, Śānti on the face, Vidyā from throat to navel, and Pratiṣṭhā below—used as a centering practice before japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and Shiva worship.