Shloka 5

Śiva-pūjā: Mantra-phonetics, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala, Dīkṣā and Homa

Supreme Worship Leading to Śiva-sāyujya

Devanagari script

कनिष्ठामादितः कृत्वा तर्जन्यङ्गानि विन्यसेत् / पूजनं संप्रवक्ष्यामि कर्णिकायां त्दृदम्बुजे

Transliteration

kaniṣṭhāmāditaḥ kṛtvā tarjanyaṅgāni vinyaset / pūjanaṃ saṃpravakṣyāmi karṇikāyāṃ tdṛdambuje

Translation

Dengan memulakan dari jari kelingking, kemudian susunlah bahagian-bahagian jari telunjuk menurut tertibnya; kini akan aku jelaskan cara pemujaan pada karnikā, yakni putik teras teratai yang teguh.

Word by Word

• कनिष्ठाम्: the little finger
• कनिष्ठाम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कनिष्ठा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• आदितः: from the beginning, first
• आदितः: सम्बन्ध (Adverbial/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• कृत्वा: having done/made
• कृत्वा: क्रिया (Prior action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund); पूर्वक्रिया

• तर्जनी: the index finger
• तर्जनी: सम्बन्ध (Reference/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तर्जनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (सम्बोधन/निर्देशार्थे)

• अङ्गानि: the limbs/parts
• अङ्गानि: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• विन्यसेत्: should place/assign
• विन्यसेत्: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि + नि + अस्/न्यस् (धातु; न्यस्)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• पूजनम्: worship
• पूजनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पूजन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: I shall explain
• संप्रवक्ष्यामि: क्रिया (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + प्र + वच् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• कर्णिकायाम्: in the pericarp (of the lotus)
• कर्णिकायाम्: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्णिका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन

• त्दृदम्बुजे: in the firm lotus
• त्दृदम्बुजे: अधिकरण (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दृढ (प्रातिपदिक) + अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; कर्मधारय (दृढम् अम्बुजम्); पाठे 'त्दृद' = 'दृढ' (लिप्यन्तर-दोष)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: The locus of worship is internalized: the heart-lotus becomes the altar; finger-nyāsa maps mantra and deity into embodied awareness.

Vedantic Theme: Hridaya as seat of contemplation; moving from external ritual to internal upāsanā (antar-yāga).

Application: During meditation, visualize a lotus in the heart; use a brief finger-nyāsa sequence as a cue to enter focused attention before mantra-japa.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: inner lotus (hṛdaya-padma / subtle center)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.22.6 (inner offerings: dharma, jnana, vairagya)

Characters & Entities

• Garuda

FAQs

What is the importance of finger placement (nyasa) in Garuda Purana worship?

This verse introduces a precise sequence—starting from the little finger and arranging the index-finger segments—indicating that correct bodily placement supports the intended inner worship and concentration.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined ritual and inner visualization (worship in the lotus’ center), which in Garuda Purana contexts is used for purification and spiritual steadiness that supports higher goals like liberation.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Approach worship or meditation with method and consistency—use a step-by-step practice (even a simple hand gesture or breath cue) to stabilize attention and make the ritual more intentional.