Shloka 38
पृतिवी पश्चिमे पत्रे आपश्चोत्तरसंस्थिताः / तेजस्तु दक्षिणे पत्रे वायुं पूर्वेण पूजयेत्
pṛtivī paścime patre āpaścottarasaṃsthitāḥ / tejastu dakṣiṇe patre vāyuṃ pūrveṇa pūjayet
పశ్చిమ పత్రంలో పృథివిని, ఉత్తరస్థానంలో ఆపస్సును, దక్షిణ పత్రంలో తేజస్సు (అగ్ని)ను, తూర్పు వైపున వాయువును పూజించాలి.
Lord Vishnu
Concept: Elemental harmonization: recognizing earth, water, fire, and wind as structured powers within space; ritual becomes a contemplative map of reality.
Vedantic Theme: Seeing prakṛti’s constituents as ordered appearances within awareness; cultivating sāttvika steadiness by systematic arrangement.
Application: In visualization or diagram, assign each element to its direction consistently; use it to steady attention and to ‘ground’ the practice before subtler nyāsas.
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: adbhuta
Type: ritual mandala space (internal or external)
Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.197.39–40 (bīja/element correspondences and tanmātra-bhūta worship)
FAQs
This verse prescribes a specific east–south–west–north placement for honouring the elemental deities, aligning the rite with cosmic order (dik and bhūta-tattva harmony) for purity and correctness.
Element-invocation and directional worship commonly frame purificatory rites; the verse gives a practical rule for arranging offerings so the ritual proceeds according to prescribed sacred directions.
When performing a traditional pūjā or śrāddha-related setup, keep offerings oriented by direction—Earth (west), Water (north), Fire (south), Wind (east)—to maintain disciplined, text-based ritual order.