Shloka 3

Māheśvara-pūjā-vidhi: Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-āvāhana, Kalā-salutations, and Upacāra Worship

Devanagari script

न्यासं कृत्वा मण्डले वै पूजयच्चे महेश्वरम् / मन्त्रैरेतैर्महेशान परिवारयुतं हरम्

Transliteration

nyāsaṃ kṛtvā maṇḍale vai pūjayacce maheśvaram / mantrairetairmaheśāna parivārayutaṃ haram

Translation

न्यासं कृत्वा मण्डले वै पूजयेत् तु महेश्वरम्; मन्त्रैरेतैर्महेशानं परिवारयुतं हरम्।

Word by Word

• nyāsam: (ritual) nyāsa
• nyāsam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nyāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• kṛtvā: having done
• kṛtvā: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• maṇḍale: in the maṇḍala
• maṇḍale: Adhikarana (Locus/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• vai: indeed
• vai: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic particle)

• pūjaya: worship
• pūjaya: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pūj (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चयबोधक (conjunction)

• maheśvaram: Maheśvara (Śiva)
• maheśvaram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• mantraiḥ: with mantras
• mantraiḥ: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• etaiḥ: with these
• etaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: etad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; विशेषण (mantraiḥ)

• maheśāna: O Maheśāna
• maheśāna: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: maheśāna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (8th), एकवचन

• parivāra-yutam: accompanied by attendants
• parivāra-yutam: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: parivāra (प्रातिपदिक) + yuta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक, √yuj)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (सह/युक्तार्थ) विशेषण (haram)

• haram: Hara (Śiva)
• haram: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Speaker

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

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied sanctification through nyāsa and structured worship through maṇḍala and parivāra-sevā.

Vedantic Theme: The body-mind becomes a temple via nyāsa; devotion is stabilized by form and order, leading to one-pointedness (ekāgratā).

Application: Use preparatory centering (nyāsa/intentional placement of awareness) and a clear ritual structure; honor the ‘ecosystem’ of practice (supports, attendants, guardians) rather than isolating the main goal.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: mandala/altar-space

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana: subsequent mantras for āvāhana and parivāra-pūjā (next verses); Garuda Purana ritual chapters on mantra-nyāsa and devatā-āvaraṇa

Characters & Entities

• Maheśvara
• Maheśāna
• Hara

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in Garuda Purana rituals?

This verse places nyāsa as a prerequisite act—mantric installation/purification—before beginning formal worship in the maṇḍala.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes disciplined mantra-ritual worship as a dharmic practice that supports spiritual purification, rather than describing the post-death journey in this line itself.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any japa or pūjā, perform a simple nyāsa (or mindful mantra-sankalpa) and worship with clarity and reverence, remembering the deity along with associated divine attendants.