Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

मनोन्मनी यजेदेताः पठिमध्ये शिवाग्रतः / शिवासनं महामूर्ति मूर्तिमध्ये शिवाय च

Transliteration

manonmanī yajedetāḥ paṭhimadhye śivāgrataḥ / śivāsanaṃ mahāmūrti mūrtimadhye śivāya ca

Translation

منونمنی کے وِدھان میں راستے کے بیچ، شیو کے سامنے، ان سب کی پوجا کرے۔ شیو آسن اور مہامورتی کو قائم کرکے، اسی مورتی کے اندر شیو کی بھی عبادت کرے۔

Word by Word

• मनोन्मनी: Manonmanī (name)
• मनोन्मनी: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मनोन्मनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• यजेत्: should worship
• यजेत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √यज् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (optative), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• एताः: these (feminine ones)
• एताः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• पथि: on the path
• पथि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पथिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिवाग्रतः: before Śiva
• शिवाग्रतः: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्रतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव; देशवाचक-अव्यय (in front of Śiva)

• शिवासनम्: Śiva’s seat
• शिवासनम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव (प्रातिपदिक) + आसन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शिवस्य आसनम्)

• महामूर्ति: the great form/image
• महामूर्ति: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय (महती मूर्तिः)

• मूर्ति: of the image/form
• मूर्ति: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध) वा सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण) एकवचन; पाठानुसार अनिश्चित (मूर्तिमध्ये इति अपेक्षया षष्ठी)

• मध्ये: in the middle
• मध्ये: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मध्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

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

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

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in dialogue to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Manonmanī (mind-transcending absorption) is supported by layered worship culminating in recognition of the indwelling Śiva within the very form contemplated.

Vedantic Theme: From saguṇa-upāsanā to inner realization: the contemplated form becomes a doorway to the formless ground; antaryāmin-bhāva (indweller) is emphasized.

Application: Meditate in stages: (1) visualize Śiva before you, (2) establish a stable seat/altar in the mind, (3) hold a single ‘great form’ steadily, (4) shift to feeling Śiva as present within that form and within awareness itself.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: shanta

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: inner yogic locus/mandala-axis

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.23.16–19 (preparatory placements and mantra leading into Manonmanī worship)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the importance of Manonmanī in the Garuda Purana?

This verse treats Manonmanī as a contemplative mode in which worship is performed through focused placement/visualization—externally before Śiva and internally within the very form.

How does this verse explain the method of worship?

It indicates a layered worship: arranging/visualizing Śiva’s seat and great icon in a designated central place, then directing devotion to Śiva both ‘in front’ and ‘within’ the icon (inner presence).

Practical application of this wisdom today?

During pūjā or meditation, keep a stable focal point (liṅga/mūrti) and pair outer reverence with inner recollection—treating the deity as present both in the image and in awareness.