Puruṣottama-kṣetra Māhātmya: Śveta-Mādhava & Matsya-Mādhava; Mārkaṇḍeya-tīrtha Mārjana and Bath Liturgy
पश्चिमे श्रीधरो देवः केशवस्तु तथोत्तरे । पातु विष्णुस्तथाग्नेये नैर्ऋते माधवोऽव्ययः ॥ ४९ ॥
paścime śrīdharo devaḥ keśavastu tathottare | pātu viṣṇustathāgneye nairṛte mādhavo'vyayaḥ || 49 ||
在西方,愿神圣的室利陀罗(Śrīdhara)护我;在北方,亦愿计舍婆(Keśava)护我。在东南方,愿毗湿奴(Viṣṇu)护我;在西南方,愿不坏的摩达婆(Mādhava)护我。
Suta (narrating the Narada Purana dialogue tradition)
Vrata: none
Primary Rasa: bhakti
Secondary Rasa: shanta
It teaches dik-rakṣā (directional safeguarding) by invoking specific names of Viṣṇu in particular quarters, affirming that the Lord’s presence pervades space and protects the devotee everywhere.
Bhakti here is practiced as remembrance (smaraṇa) and verbal praise (stuti): the devotee calls the Lord by intimate, theologically loaded names (Śrīdhara, Keśava, Mādhava), turning protection into continuous God-consciousness.
It reflects ritual directionality (dik-viniyoga) used in prayoga—placing mantras in specific directions (SE/Agni, SW/Nirṛti, etc.), a practical component of kalpa-style ritual procedure rather than grammar or astrology.