Shloka 3

Sūrya-upāsanā: Lotus Mandala, Mudrā, Dik-nyāsa, and the Twelve Ādityas

Devanagari script

आग्नेय्यां दिशि देवस्य हृदयं स्थापयेच्छिव ! / ऐशान्यां तु शिरः स्थाप्यं नैरृत्यां विन्यसेच्छिखाम्

Transliteration

āgneyyāṃ diśi devasya hṛdayaṃ sthāpayecchiva ! / aiśānyāṃ tu śiraḥ sthāpyaṃ nairṛtyāṃ vinyasecchikhām

Translation

اے شیو! آگنیہ سمت میں دیوتا کا ہردیہ قائم کرے؛ ایشان سمت میں سر قائم کرے، اور نَیٖرِتّیہ سمت میں شِکھا کا وِنیاس کرے۔

Word by Word

• āgneyyām: in the south-east (Agneya)
• āgneyyām: Adhikarana (Location qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: āgneya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) विशेषणम्

• diśi: direction
• diśi: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• devasya: of the deity
• devasya: Sambandha (Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन

• hṛdayam: heart
• hṛdayam: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hṛdaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sthāpayet: should place
• sthāpayet: Kriya (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √sthā (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śiva: O Śiva
• śiva: Sambodhana (Addressee)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• aiśānyām: in the north-east (Aiśānya)
• aiśānyām: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aiśānya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) अध्याहृतम् (in the north-east direction)

• tu: and
• tu: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle)

• śiraḥ: head
• śiraḥ: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• sthāpyam: is to be placed
• sthāpyam: Karya (Obligation predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √sthā (धातु) + ya (तव्यत्)
• Form: तव्यत्-प्रत्ययान्त (gerundive/passive necessity); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विधेय (to be placed)

• nairṛtyām: in the south-west (Nairṛtya)
• nairṛtyām: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nairṛtya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; (diśi) अध्याहृतम् (in the south-west direction)

• vinyaset: should place/assign
• vinyaset: Kriya (Injunction)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nyas (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ्, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद (should place/arrange)

• śikhām: tuft/flame (śikhā)
• śikhām: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śikhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in instruction to Garuda; vocative 'Śiva' appears within the verse as an address)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Nyāsa-like installation: the deity’s limbs/centers are placed in specific directions to establish a stable, protected ritual field.

Vedantic Theme: Microcosm–macrocosm correspondence: spatial order mirrors divine order; disciplined action supports inner steadiness.

Application: During worship, assign specific placements to heart, head, and śikhā in the prescribed directions; maintain orientation and consistency to avoid ritual confusion.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: adbhuta

Secondary Rasa: shanta

Geographic Context

Type: directional grid around the altar/maṇḍala

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.17 (continuation of Sūrya-nyāsa/maṇḍala procedure)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Deva (the deity/Lord)

FAQs

What is the importance of directional placement in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats directions as ritually potent: specific parts of the deity (heart, head, śikhā) are assigned to specific quarters to ensure correct sacred orientation during worship/installation.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

It does not directly discuss the soul’s journey; instead, it focuses on ritual orientation and correct placement of the deity’s aspects, a theme connected to proper dharmic procedure rather than afterlife travel.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

When performing deity installation or setting up a shrine, follow traditional directional guidelines (especially for NE/SE/SW) under a qualified priest’s guidance to maintain ritual correctness.