Shloka 13

Hayagrīva Pūjāvidhi: Root Mantra, Nyāsa, Maṇḍala-Devatā Worship, and Stotra

Devanagari script

भावयित्वा महात्मानं सर्वदेवैः समन्वितम् / अङ्गमन्त्रैस्ततो न्यासं मूलमन्त्रेण वै तथा

Transliteration

bhāvayitvā mahātmānaṃ sarvadevaiḥ samanvitam / aṅgamantraistato nyāsaṃ mūlamantreṇa vai tathā

Translation

మహాత్ముని సమస్త దేవతలతో కూడినవాడిగా భావించి ధ్యానించిన తరువాత, అంగమంత్రాలతో న్యాసం చేయవలెను; అలాగే మూలమంత్రంతో కూడ న్యాసం ఆచరించవలెను॥

Word by Word

• भावयित्वा: having contemplated/visualized
• भावयित्वा: Kriya (Gerundial action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), णिच्-प्रेरण (causative) — 'having meditated upon/caused to be contemplated'

• महात्मानम्: the great-souled one
• महात्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् आत्मा)

• सर्वदेवैः: with all the gods
• सर्वदेवैः: Sahakari (Association/सह)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva + deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण/सह), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (सर्वैः देवैः)

• समन्वितम्: accompanied (endowed)
• समन्वितम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: samanvita (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; 'endowed/attended by'

• अङ्गमन्त्रैः: with the limb-mantras
• अङ्गमन्त्रैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), बहुवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (अङ्गानां मन्त्राः)

• ततः: then
• ततः: Adhikarana (Context/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण) — 'thereafter'

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

• मूलमन्त्रेण: with the root-mantra
• मूलमन्त्रेण: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūla + mantra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (मूलः मन्त्रः)

• वै: indeed
• वै: Sambandha (Emphasis/पादपूरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vai (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निश्चय/पादपूरण)

• तथा: thus, likewise
• तथा: Kriya-viseshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tathā (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकार/अनुक्रम) — 'thus/likewise'

Speaker

Lord Viṣṇu (in instruction to Garuḍa)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Embodied practice (nyāsa) internalizes the divine, transforming the body-mind into a sacred locus for realization.

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm-macrocosm correspondence (piṇḍa-brahmāṇḍa); upāsanā leading to inner steadiness and liberation-oriented insight.

Application: Before japa/puja, perform a brief aṅga-nyāsa/karanyāsa with the chosen mantra, placing attention on each limb to unify mind and breath.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: ritual body (microcosm)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.34.9 (preparatory procedures and bija grounding); Garuda Purana 1.34.10-12 (dhyana of Hayagriva/Lord preceding nyasa)

Characters & Entities

• Devas (all gods)

FAQs

What is the importance of nyāsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents nyāsa as a preparatory rite: after visualizing the deity as attended by all devas, the practitioner installs the mantra’s power in the body through aṅga-mantras and the mūla-mantra, making worship focused and ritually complete.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: it emphasizes inner purification and correct ritual alignment (meditation + mantra-installation), which the Garuda Purana treats as supports for dharma and spiritual steadiness—foundational for a refined inner state that influences one’s spiritual trajectory.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Before any serious japa or pūjā, begin with a brief visualization of the chosen deity and then do a simple aṅga-nyāsa/karanyāsa (as per one’s tradition) to cultivate attention, reverence, and consistency in practice.