Shloka 1
Hasta-Nyāsa and Karāsphālana; Directional and Protective Nyāsa; Worship of the Twelve Maṇḍalas
नाम पञ्चविंशो ऽध्यायः श्रीगरूडमहापुराणम्- २६ सूत उवाच / अनन्तरं करन्यासः / विद्याकरी शुद्धिः कार्या / पद्ममुद्रां बद्ध्वा मन्त्रन्यासं कुर्यात् / कैं कनिष्ठायै नमः / नैं अनामिकायै नमः / मैं मध्यमायै नमः / तैं तर्जन्यै नमः / अं अङ्गुष्ठायै नमः / लां करतलायै नमः / वां करपृष्ठायै नमः
nāma pañcaviṃśo 'dhyāyaḥ śrīgarūḍamahāpurāṇam- 26 sūta uvāca / anantaraṃ karanyāsaḥ / vidyākarī śuddhiḥ kāryā / padmamudrāṃ baddhvā mantranyāsaṃ kuryāt / kaiṃ kaniṣṭhāyai namaḥ / naiṃ anāmikāyai namaḥ / maiṃ madhyamāyai namaḥ / taiṃ tarjanyai namaḥ / aṃ aṅguṣṭhāyai namaḥ / lāṃ karatalāyai namaḥ / vāṃ karapṛṣṭhāyai namaḥ
सूत उवाच—अनन्तरं करन्यासः। विद्याकरी शुद्धिः कार्या। पद्ममुद्रां बद्ध्वा मन्त्रन्यासं कुर्यात्—कैं कनिष्ठायै नमः, नैं अनामिकायै नमः, मैं मध्यमायै नमः, तैं तर्जन्यै नमः, अं अङ्गुष्ठायै नमः, लां करतलायै नमः, वां करपृष्ठायै नमः।
Sūta
Concept: Ritual internalization: sanctifying the practitioner through nyāsa and mudrā so the vidyā becomes effective (śuddhi/adhikāra).
Vedantic Theme: Embodied practice as preparation for higher contemplation; transforming the instrument (body-mind) into a fit locus for mantra.
Application: Before japa/pujā, perform brief hand-nyāsa with attention and cleanliness; use it as a mindfulness protocol to reduce distraction.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual-space
Related Themes: Garuda Purana: sequences of nyāsa, mudrā, and mantra-śuddhi in ritual chapters around 25–26
FAQs
This verse presents kara-nyāsa as a required preparatory consecration: the practitioner ritually “installs” bīja-syllables onto the fingers and hand to make the mantra-practice effective and purified.
It does not directly describe the soul’s journey; instead, it gives the ritual preliminaries (purification, mudrā, nyāsa) that traditionally precede recitations and rites connected with dharma and post-death observances.
If performing Garuda Purana-related recitation or rites, begin with a disciplined, reverent preparation—purification and focused mantra-placement—to cultivate attention, sanctity, and correctness in practice.