Shloka 76

उमामहेश्वरव्रतं—पञ्चाक्षरमन्त्रस्य माहात्म्यं, न्यासः, जपविधिः, सदाचारः, विनियोगः

Devanagari script

आकारो नेत्रमस्त्रं तु यकारः परिकीर्तितः इत्थमङ्गानि विन्यस्य ततो वै बन्धयेद्दिशः

Transliteration

ākāro netramastraṃ tu yakāraḥ parikīrtitaḥ itthamaṅgāni vinyasya tato vai bandhayeddiśaḥ

Translation

‘આ’ અક્ષર નેત્ર-અસ્ત્ર કહેવાય છે અને ‘ય’ અક્ષર પણ (અંગરૂપે) પરિકીર્તિત છે. આ રીતે અંગ-ન્યાસ કરીને પછી દિશાઓનું બંધન કરવું—પૂજાસ્થાન સુરક્ષિત કરવું.

Word by Word

• आकारः (ākāraḥ): the syllable “Ā”

• नेत्रमस्त्रम् (netram-astram): the Netra-astra, the ‘eye-weapon’ mantra for protection and awakened sight

• तु (tu): indeed/and

• यकारः (yakāraḥ): the syllable “Ya”

• परिकीर्तितः (parikīrtitaḥ): is proclaimed/declared

• इत्थम् (ittham): thus/in this manner

• अङ्गानि (aṅgāni): limbs (of the body/mantra-limbs)

• विन्यस्य (vinyasya): having placed/installed (nyāsa)

• ततः (tataḥ): then/thereafter

• वै (vai): certainly

• बन्धयेत् (bandhayet): one should bind/secure

• दिशः (diśaḥ): the directions (quarters).

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It teaches the preparatory protection of the shrine through mantra-nyāsa and dikbandhana, ensuring the worshipper’s space is sealed against disturbances before approaching the Liṅga as Pati.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By invoking the Netra-astra, it implies Śiva-tattva as luminous awareness (netra/vision) that dispels pāśa (bondage) and guards the sādhaka’s rite with sovereign protection.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-nyāsa on the limbs followed by dikbandhana (binding the directions), a standard Shaiva protective rite used in Linga-puja and aligned with Pāśupata-style discipline of guarded, consecrated practice.