Chapter 63 - Mode of installation of other Gods and Goddesses

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

[Full title: Mode of installation of other gods and goddesses, the Sudarśana disc (sudarśanacakra) and the writing of books (pustaka) and their installations (pratiṣṭhā)]

The god said:

I. The installation [i.e., pratiṣṭhā] of the (images of) Garuḍa (vehicle of Viṣṇu) Brahman, Nṛhari (man-lion form of Viṣṇu) and of the (sudarśana) disc should be done in the same way as that of Viṣṇu with their respective mantras. Listen to me.

2. O Sudarśana! The great disc that is tranquil! Dreadful to the wicked! Kill kill, pierce pierce, cut through and cut through.

3. Devour devour the incantations of others. Eat up, eat up the evil spirits. Frighten frighten, huṃ phaṭ, salutation to sudarśana. Having worshipped the disc with this mantra one destroys the enemies in the battle.

Oṃ kṣauṃ Narasiṃha (man-lion)! of fierce form! burn, burn, blaze up, blaze up, svāhā. Oṃ kṣauṃ salutations to lord Narasiṃha! Effulgent like crores of radiant suns! One armed with mace, claws and teeth! One who manifests with a sound similar to the trumpet while the dreadful and dishevelled manes wildly dance in the storm and one who has agitated the ocean! One who rescues from all incantations! O Lord Narasiṃha (you) come! Manifest with the divine truth as the universal subjective and objective! Open thy mouth! Attack! Roar and release your lion-like voice! Cut through! Drive away! Pierce into all sorts of incantations! Kill, cut, heap together, dislodge, cut open, break up, cause to be burst! A multitude of cluster of flames! Destroy all nether regions with your disc (showering) flames and thunderbolts in all directions! Besiege the nether regions with your arrows of thunderbolt discharging endless fire! Pull out the hearts of all demons residing in the nether worlds! Burn quickly! Cook! Destroy! Dry up! Hack them to pieces till they have not been subject to my control! Phaṭ to the nether worlds! Phaṭ to the demons! Phaṭ to all kinds of incantations! O Lord of the form of Narasiṃha! Protect me from all doubts! Protect me from all calamities and all incantations! O Viṣṇu! Hum Phaṭ! Salutations to you! This is the spell of Narasiṃha representing Hari (Viṣṇu) which grants all desires.

4. The captivator of the three worlds (trailokyamohana) (the image of the lord) should be installed with the mantras known as trailokyamohana (captivating the three worlds) (described above). (The image) should be made to have two or four arms, holding the mace in the right hand and conferring benediction.

5. The disc should be placed in the upper left arm and the (conch-shell) pāñcajanya on the lower (arm). (The two right hands) should be provided with śrī (riches) and puṣṭi (nourishment) along with strength and welfare.

6. The images of Viṣṇu, Vāmana (dwarf form of Viṣṇu), Vaikuṇṭha, Hayāsya (horse-faced form of Viṣṇu) and Aniruddha should be installed in a shed or house or edifice.

7-9. (The images of) manifestations (of Viṣṇu) (such as) the fish etc. should be installed in waters. (The images of) Saṅkarṣaṇa, Viśvarūpa, liṅga, the form of Rudra, hermaphrodite form (of Śiva) (Ardhanārīśvara), Hari (Viṣṇu), Śaṅkara, Śiva, the divine mothers, Bhairava, Sūrya, the planets, Vināyaka, Gaurī (consort of Śiva) worshipped by Indra and others, Bala and Abala (should also be installed similarly). I shall describe the (mode of) consecration of books [i.e., pustaka-pratiṣṭhā—pustakānāṃ pratiṣṭhāṃ] and the mode of writing them.

10. Having worshipped the manuscript and the written book on a seat made of kuśa grass placed on a svastika figure, the preceptor should worship the spell and Lord Hari (Viṣṇu).

11-12. The yajamāna (the person at whose instance a rite is performed) should face the east and contemplate the spiritual guide, the spell, lord Hari, the copyist and (the goddess) Padminī after having written five verses on a silver plate with golden pen and devanāgarī letters. The brahmins should be fed according to one’s capacity and fees should be paid as much as one could give.

13. After having worshipped the preceptor, the spell and Lord Hari, one should write the purāṇas etc. as before in a figure in an auspicious seat in the north-east.

14. Having seen the book [i.e., pustaka] in the mirror in the pitcher it should be consecrated as (described) earlier. After opening up the eyes one should place it in the bed.

15. The puruṣasūkta^[1] and the Vedas etc. should be (mentally) located in the book. After having infused life to it, it should be worshipped and the porridge offered.

16. Having fed the preceptor and given the fees, the twice-borns should be fed. The book [i.e., pustaka] should be carried by men in a car, or on the elephant.

17. The book [i.e., pustaka] should be established and worshipped (on its return) in a house or temple. That which is wrapped up in a cloth should be worshipped at the commencement and end of reading.

18. Having resolved to have universal peace a chapter of the book should be read out. The yajamāna and others should be sprinkled with water from the pitcher.

19. The merit of presenting a book to the twice-born is. unlimited. Three things (are said to be) gifts par excellence. (They are) cows, land and knowledge.

20-21. O sinless one! the merits of imparting knowledge (is great). One who presents a bundle of written leaves, remains. and enjoys in the region of Viṣṇu for so many years as the number of leaves and letters (in the manuscript). One who gives away pañcarātra^[2], purāṇas, bhārata (as gift) elevates twenty-one generations of his family and gets merged in the supreme being.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

ṚV.10.90.

[2]:

The religious code book of the Vaiṣṇavas.