Varaha Purana 186.21 — Adhyaya 186, Shloka 21
Ritual Procedure for Installing Silver and Gold Images, and the Special Status of Śālagrāma
नमो नारायणायेति इमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत्॥ शाल्यन्नं पायसैर्युक्तं सितया च घृतेन च॥
namo nārāyaṇāyeti imaṃ mantram udāharet || śāly-annaṃ pāyasair yuktaṃ sitayā ca ghṛtena ca
“നമോ നാരായണായ” എന്ന മന്ത്രം ഉച്ചരിക്കണം. (നൈവേദ്യമായി) ശാലി അരിയുടെ അന്നം, പായസത്തോടുകൂടി, പഞ്ചസാരയും നെയ്യും ചേർത്ത് അർപ്പിക്കണം।
Varāha (default, based on Varāha–Pṛthivī dialogue framework)
Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":false}
Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":false,"speaker_role":"instructor"}
Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false}
Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"dana","instruction_summary":"Recite ‘Namo Nārāyaṇāya’ and offer naivedya: rice-food with pāyasa, along with sugar and ghee, as part of Vaiṣṇava worship.","karmic_consequence":"Offering naivedya with mantra and purity supports devotional merit and auspiciousness; neglecting mantra/śauca renders the offering ritually deficient."}
Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false}
Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false}
Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"ethics of offering (īśvara-arpana)","core_concept":"Food becomes prasāda when first offered to Nārāyaṇa; enjoyment is transformed into service.","practical_application":"Before eating, mentally and verbally offer the meal to Nārāyaṇa; cultivate gratitude and restraint by treating food as sacred."}
Subject Matter: ["Ritual Practice","Food Culture"]
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: śānta
Type: household/temple kitchen and altar
Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 186.24 (post-naivedya ācamana and prāpaṇa acceptance)
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A pūjā scene where bowls of cooked rice and sweet pāyasa are placed before Nārāyaṇa while the worshipper recites ‘Namo Nārāyaṇāya’; sugar and ghee are shown as separate offerings.","item_prompts":["bowl of śāli-anna (rice)","pāyasa (milk-rice) in a silver bowl","small dish of sugar","small pot of ghee","tulasi leaves (optional Vaiṣṇava cue)","altar lamp and bell"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: warm lamp-lit altar; stylized vessels; devotee chanting ‘Namo Nārāyaṇāya’; emphasis on ritual purity and symmetry.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: gold-backed Nārāyaṇa; richly ornamented offering bowls; ghee pot gleaming; inscriptions of the mantra near the base.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: detailed textures of food and metalware; gentle devotional expressions; balanced composition around the naivedya.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: cozy shrine interior; delicate depiction of sweets and rice; soft, lyrical mood with restrained palette."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"simple mantra-japa during offering","suggested_raga":"Madhyamāvati","pace":"slow","voice_tone":"tender, focused, repetitive (japa-like)"}
FAQs
It documents a standard offering set (rice, pāyasa, sugar, ghee) and pairs it with a widely attested Vaiṣṇava mantra, reflecting continuity between Purāṇic and later devotional practice.
No location is specified; the verse concerns ritual recitation and food offerings.
The instruction emphasizes disciplined recitation and careful preparation of offerings, implying attentiveness and sincerity in ritual conduct.
Ask anything about this verse
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