Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

मनोन्मनी यजेदेताः पठिमध्ये शिवाग्रतः / शिवासनं महामूर्ति मूर्तिमध्ये शिवाय च

Transliteration

manonmanī yajedetāḥ paṭhimadhye śivāgrataḥ / śivāsanaṃ mahāmūrti mūrtimadhye śivāya ca

Translation

മനോന്മനീവിധിയിൽ പഥത്തിന്റെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ, ശിവന്റെ മുൻപിൽ, ഇവയെ പൂജിക്കണം. ശിവാസനവും മഹാമൂർത്തിയും സ്ഥാപിച്ച്, ആ മൂർത്തിയുടെ മദ്ധ്യത്തിൽ ശിവനെയും ആരാധിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• मनोन्मनी: Manonmanī (name)
• मनोन्मनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोन्मनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

• एताः: these (feminine ones)
• एताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवाग्रतः: before Śiva
• शिवाग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; देशवाचक-अव्यय (in front of Śiva)

• शिवासनम्: Śiva’s seat
• शिवासनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आसनम्)

• महामूर्ति: the great form/image
• महामूर्ति: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती मूर्तिः)

• मूर्ति: of the image/form
• मूर्ति: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध) वा सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण) एकवचन; पाठानुसार अनिश्चित (मूर्तिमध्ये इति अपेक्षया षष्ठी)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manonmanī (mind-transcending absorption) is supported by layered worship culminating in recognition of the indwelling Śiva within the very form contemplated.

Vedantic Theme: From saguṇa-upāsanā to inner realization: the contemplated form becomes a doorway to the formless ground; antaryāmin-bhāva (indweller) is emphasized.

Application: Meditate in stages: (1) visualize Śiva before you, (2) establish a stable seat/altar in the mind, (3) hold a single ‘great form’ steadily, (4) shift to feeling Śiva as present within that form and within awareness itself.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic locus/mandala-axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.16–19 (preparatory placements and mantra leading into Manonmanī worship)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of Manonmanī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Manonmanī as a contemplative mode in which worship is performed through focused placement/visualization—externally before Śiva and internally within the very form.

How does this verse explain the method of worship?

It indicates a layered worship: arranging/visualizing Śiva’s seat and great icon in a designated central place, then directing devotion to Śiva both ‘in front’ and ‘within’ the icon (inner presence).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During pūjā or meditation, keep a stable focal point (liṅga/mūrti) and pair outer reverence with inner recollection—treating the deity as present both in the image and in awareness.