Shloka 16

Śivapūjā-vidhi: Purifications, Sūrya–Graha Mantras, Nyāsa, and Bhūtaśuddhi leading to Śivoham-bhāva

Devanagari script

आत्मानं पद्मसंस्थं च हौं शिवाय ततो बहिः / द्वारे नन्दिमहाकालौ गङ्गा च यमुनाथ गौः

Transliteration

ātmānaṃ padmasaṃsthaṃ ca hauṃ śivāya tato bahiḥ / dvāre nandimahākālau gaṅgā ca yamunātha gauḥ

Translation

اپنے آپ کو کنول کے آسن پر بیٹھا ہوا تصور کرے اور “ہَوں—شیوائے نمः” کا جپ کرے۔ پھر اندرونی آسن کے باہر دروازے پر نندی اور مہاکال، نیز گنگا‑یَمُنا اور بیل (نندیواہن) کا دھیان کرے۔

Word by Word

• आत्मानम्: the Self
• आत्मानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• पद्मसंस्थम्: situated in the lotus
• पद्मसंस्थम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पद्म (प्रातिपदिक) + संस्थ (कृदन्त; √स्था धातु)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (आत्मानम्)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हौं: hauṃ (seed syllable)
• हौं: Sambodhana/Mantra (Invocation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हौं (अव्यय; बीजमन्त्र)
• Form: बीजमन्त्र-अव्यय (mantric syllable)

• शिवाय: to Śiva
• शिवाय: Sampradana (Recipient/सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• ततः: then/thereafter
• ततः: Desha-Kala (Adverbial/देश-काल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रम/अनन्तरार्थक (then/thereafter)

• बहिः: outside
• बहिः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: बहिः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (outside)

• द्वारे: at the door/gate
• द्वारे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण), एकवचन

• नन्दिमहाकालौ: Nandi and Mahākāla
• नन्दिमहाकालौ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नन्दि (प्रातिपदिक) + महाकाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; द्वन्द्वसमास

• गङ्गा: Gaṅgā
• गङ्गा: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गङ्गा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• यमुनाथ: lord of Yamunā (Yamunātha)
• यमुनाथ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यमुना (प्रातिपदिक) + अथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (यमुनायाः अथः/स्वामी)

• गौः: the cow
• गौः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vainateya)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Ātma-dhyāna within a lotus-seat, guarded by auspicious and fierce liminal powers; inner Self approached through ordered visualization.

Vedantic Theme: Antarātman as the inner sanctum; upāsanā as a means to steadiness (citta-sthairya) leading toward self-recognition.

Application: Use a brief nyāsa-like visualization: center awareness at the heart-lotus, then mentally place protective guardians at the ‘door’ of attention; conclude with remembrance of sacred waters for purification.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: sacred threshold/mandala-gate

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23 (mandala/nyasa-style worship sequence continuing in 1.23.17–20)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Nandin
• Mahakala
• Ganga
• Yamuna

FAQs

What is the importance of visualizing the Self on a lotus in the Garuda Purana?

This verse uses lotus-seating as a dhyāna framework: it stabilizes attention, establishes inner purity, and prepares the practitioner for mantra-based worship.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly: by emphasizing inner purification and disciplined visualization, it presents worship as a means to refine the jīva’s orientation toward auspicious states rather than fear-driven afterlife outcomes.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Begin japa or prayer by a brief visualization—self seated on a lotus—then recite a Śiva-mantra with reverence, cultivating steadiness, restraint, and ethical clarity.