Shloka 3

Sūrya-upāsanā: Lotus Mandala, Mudrā, Dik-nyāsa, and the Twelve Ādityas

Devanagari script

आग्नेय्यां दिशि देवस्य हृदयं स्थापयेच्छिव ! / ऐशान्यां तु शिरः स्थाप्यं नैरृत्यां विन्यसेच्छिखाम्

Transliteration

āgneyyāṃ diśi devasya hṛdayaṃ sthāpayecchiva ! / aiśānyāṃ tu śiraḥ sthāpyaṃ nairṛtyāṃ vinyasecchikhām

Translation

Wahai Śiva! Hendaklah “hati” Dewa ditempatkan di arah tenggara; kemudian “kepala” diletakkan di arah timur laut, dan “śikhā” (jambul/ikat rambut puncak) disusun di arah barat daya.

Word by Word

• āgneyyām: in the south-east (Agneya)
• āgneyyām: Adhikarana (Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) विशेषणम्

• diśi: direction
• diśi: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• devasya: of the deity
• devasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sthāpayet: should place
• sthāpayet: Kriya (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śiva: O Śiva
• śiva: Sambodhana (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• aiśānyām: in the north-east (Aiśānya)
• aiśānyām: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) अध्याहृतम् (in the north-east direction)

• tu: and
• tu: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sthāpyam: is to be placed
• sthāpyam: Karya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + ya (तव्यत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive necessity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be placed)

• nairṛtyām: in the south-west (Nairṛtya)
• nairṛtyām: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nairṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) अध्याहृतम् (in the south-west direction)

• vinyaset: should place/assign
• vinyaset: Kriya (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should place/arrange)

• śikhām: tuft/flame (śikhā)
• śikhām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda; vocative 'Śiva' appears within the verse as an address)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa-like installation: the deity’s limbs/centers are placed in specific directions to establish a stable, protected ritual field.

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: spatial order mirrors divine order; disciplined action supports inner steadiness.

Application: During worship, assign specific placements to heart, head, and śikhā in the prescribed directions; maintain orientation and consistency to avoid ritual confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional grid around the altar/maṇḍala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.17 (continuation of Sūrya-nyāsa/maṇḍala procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Deva (the deity/Lord)

FAQs

What is the importance of directional placement in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats directions as ritually potent: specific parts of the deity (heart, head, śikhā) are assigned to specific quarters to ensure correct sacred orientation during worship/installation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it focuses on ritual orientation and correct placement of the deity’s aspects, a theme connected to proper dharmic procedure rather than afterlife travel.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing deity installation or setting up a shrine, follow traditional directional guidelines (especially for NE/SE/SW) under a qualified priest’s guidance to maintain ritual correctness.