Shloka 47

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

विष्वक्सेनं ततो देवमैशान्यां दिशि पूजयेत् / एभिर्मन्त्रैर्नमो ऽन्तैश्च प्रणवाद्यैर्वृषध्वज

Transliteration

viṣvaksenaṃ tato devamaiśānyāṃ diśi pūjayet / ebhirmantrairnamo 'ntaiśca praṇavādyairvṛṣadhvaja

Translation

फिर ईशान्य दिशा में देव विष्वक्सेन की पूजा करे। हे वृषध्वज, प्रणव ‘ॐ’ से आरम्भ और ‘नमः’ पर समाप्त होने वाले इन मन्त्रों से (पूजन करे)।

Word by Word

• विष्वक्सेनम्: Viṣvaksena
• विष्वक्सेनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्वक् + सेन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (विष्वक् = सर्वत्र + सेन)

• ततः: thereafter
• ततः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक अव्यय (thereafter)

• देवम्: the deity
• देवम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ऐशान्याम्: in the north-east (Īśāna)
• ऐशान्याम्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ऐशानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; दिशि इति पदस्य विशेषणम्

• दिशि: in the direction
• दिशि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पूजयेत्: should worship
• पूजयेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पूज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एभिः: with these
• एभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• मन्त्रैः: mantras
• मन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नमः: salutation
• नमः: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नमस् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययीभाववत् निपात)
• Form: निपात (salutatory particle), प्रायः चतुर्थ्यर्थे प्रयोगः

• अन्तैः: ending with
• अन्तैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अन्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; मन्त्रैः इति पदस्य विशेषणम् (ending with)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (and)

• प्रणवाद्यैः: beginning with the praṇava (Oṃ)
• प्रणवाद्यैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रणव + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुषः (प्रणव-आदि = प्रणवेन आदिः येषाम्)

• वृषध्वज: O Bull-bannered one
• वृषध्वज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृष + ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinatā-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Viṣvaksena as the Lord’s commander and remover of obstacles is worshipped with praṇava-prefixed, namaḥ-suffixed mantras.

Vedantic Theme: Praṇava as pointer to Brahman/Īśvara; surrender (namaḥ) as ego-softening that enables grace.

Application: Begin key invocations with Oṁ and end with namaḥ to cultivate surrender; invoke Viṣvaksena before major undertakings to remove impediments.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: directional corner of the ritual space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.48 (Ananta worship; mūla-mantra)

Characters & Entities

• Viṣvaksena
• Praṇava (Oṁ)
• Namaḥ
• Īśānya (north-east direction)
• Vṛṣadhvaja (Śiva epithet)

FAQs

What is the importance of worshipping Viṣvaksena in the Garuda Purana?

This verse places Viṣvaksena as a deity to be specifically honored in the north‑east direction, indicating a structured ritual order where protective/attendant deities are invoked to support the main rite.

How does this verse explain the correct use of mantras in ritual?

It prescribes mantras that begin with the praṇava (Oṁ) and conclude with ‘namaḥ’, emphasizing a formal mantra structure used for reverential invocation during worship.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing pūjā or a protective invocation, maintain mantra discipline—use clear, reverential formulas (Oṁ … namaḥ) and follow a consistent direction-based setup to keep the ritual focused and traditional.