Shloka 32
विष्णुः स्वर्णमयः कार्यो रुदस्ताम्रमयस्तथा / ब्रह्मा रूप्यमयस्तद्वद्यमो लोहमयो भवेत्
viṣṇuḥ svarṇamayaḥ kāryo rudastāmramayastathā / brahmā rūpyamayastadvadyamo lohamayo bhavet
विष्णुं स्वर्णमयं कार्यं, रुद्रं ताम्रमयं तथा। ब्रह्माणं रूप्यमयं कुर्यात्, यमं लोहमयं भवेत्॥
Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda/Vinata-putra)
Ritual Type: Ekoddishta
Beneficiary: Pitr
Timing: Within preta-kriyā/ekoddiṣṭa setup before offerings; during mandala/kumbha preparation
Concept: Ritual propriety (vidhi) and symbolic material correspondences for deities.
Vedantic Theme: Saguna-upasana as a support for dharma and inner steadiness; honoring cosmic order through correct representation.
Application: When preparing śrāddha/pretakriyā implements, use prescribed metals for deity-forms to align intention, symbolism, and rite.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Type: ritual-space (vedi/mandala area)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 2.40.33-36 (placement by mantras; kumbha-sthapana; pañcaratna)
FAQs
This verse gives prescriptive guidance for crafting ritual representations of key deities, aligning materials with traditional symbolic and procedural requirements within the Preta-kāṇḍa rites.
By prescribing an iron form for Yama, the text situates Yama as a ritually acknowledged authority in post-death proceedings, reinforcing the structured, rule-governed framework of the soul’s passage and judgment themes in the Preta Kanda.
If one follows traditional śrāddha/funeral observances, this verse supports using appropriately symbolic materials (or their respectful substitutes) while keeping the intent—reverence, order, and dharmic performance of rites—central.