Shloka 16

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

आत्मानं पद्मसंस्थं च हौं शिवाय ततो बहिः / द्वारे नन्दिमहाकालौ गङ्गा च यमुनाथ गौः

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ padmasaṃsthaṃ ca hauṃ śivāya tato bahiḥ / dvāre nandimahākālau gaṅgā ca yamunātha gauḥ

Translation

自己（アートマン）を蓮華に坐すものと観想し、「hauṃ—シヴァに帰敬す」と唱える。ついでその内なる座の外、門口において、禅観のうちにナンディンとマハーカーラを配し、さらにガンガーとヤムナー、そして聖なる牡牛ナンディ（尊き乗り物）をも安置する。

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पद्मसंस्थम्: situated in the lotus
• पद्मसंस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आत्मानम्)

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

• हौं: hauṃ (seed syllable)
• हौं: Sambodhana/Mantra (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हौं (अव्यय; बीजमन्त्र)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र-अव्यय (mantric syllable)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (outside)

• द्वारे: at the door/gate
• द्वारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नन्दिमहाकालौ: Nandi and Mahākāla
• नन्दिमहाकालौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• यमुनाथ: lord of Yamunā (Yamunātha)
• यमुनाथ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + अथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यमुनायाः अथः/स्वामी)

• गौः: the cow
• गौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātma-dhyāna within a lotus-seat, guarded by auspicious and fierce liminal powers; inner Self approached through ordered visualization.

Vedantic Theme: Antarātman as the inner sanctum; upāsanā as a means to steadiness (citta-sthairya) leading toward self-recognition.

Application: Use a brief nyāsa-like visualization: center awareness at the heart-lotus, then mentally place protective guardians at the ‘door’ of attention; conclude with remembrance of sacred waters for purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred threshold/mandala-gate

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23 (mandala/nyasa-style worship sequence continuing in 1.23.17–20)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandin
• Mahakala
• Ganga
• Yamuna

FAQs

What is the importance of visualizing the Self on a lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses lotus-seating as a dhyāna framework: it stabilizes attention, establishes inner purity, and prepares the practitioner for mantra-based worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing inner purification and disciplined visualization, it presents worship as a means to refine the jīva’s orientation toward auspicious states rather than fear-driven afterlife outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin japa or prayer by a brief visualization—self seated on a lotus—then recite a Śiva-mantra with reverence, cultivating steadiness, restraint, and ethical clarity.