The Garuda Purana

by Manmatha Nath Dutt | 1908 | 245,256 words | ISBN-13: 9788183150736

The English translation of the Garuda Purana: contents include a creation theory, description of vratas (religious observances), sacred holidays, sacred places dedicated to the sun, but also prayers from the Tantrika ritual, addressed to the sun, to Shiva, and to Vishnu. The Garuda Purana also contains treatises on astrology, palmistry, and preci...

Chapter VIII - Description of the mode of worshipping Vishnu

Hari said:—Having bathed in the Mandapa (temple) built on earth one should adore Vishnu in Mandala (circular figure).

With powders of five colours, this circular figure, Vajranabha, should be drawn. O Rudra, sixteen rooms should be drawn there. In the fourth and fifth corners strings should be placed. The strings in the corner should be extended to both the other corners. A man, well versed in all these rites, should thus place strings in all the corners. Similarly he should deal with interior corners. The first should be placed in the centre and then at the junction of the lines in the middle. In all the interior parts there are eight centres. The centres of the eastern and central figures should be connected with a string. O Hara, the foremost of the twice-born should draw the base in the interior parts. O Shiva, connected with it the pericarps of the central string should be drawn. On two sides of the pericarps an expert should draw the filaments. A learned man should draw petals on their heads. O thou of firm vows, a worshipper, conversant with the knowledge of the true object, should draw figures of lotuses in all the centres.

With the division of the first string one should draw the doors. With the half he should make decorations for the same. The pericarp should be drawn with yellow colour, the filaments with dark blue, the inside with violet and the petals with crimson. The four parts should be filled up with black powder, the doors with white powder and the five lines of the Mandala in order with crimson, yellow and dark-blue. Having performed Nyasa (assignment of the limbs) he should adore Hari in the five mandalas. He should assign his heart to Vishnu, the middle part to Sankarshana, the head to Pradyumna and the tuft of hair on the head to Aniruddha. His entire body should be assigned to Brahma and the fingers to Shridhara. Meditating “I am Vishnu” he should perform the Nyasa of Hari in the pericarps.

He should perform the Nyasa of Shangkarshana in the east, that of Pradyumna in the south, that of Aniruddha in the west, that of Brahma in the north that of Shridhara, Indra and other deities in Rudra and other corners. Having adored them with scents and other articles a worshipper attains to the great station.[1]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

In this chapter occurs the drawing of a figure with various colours. Such a figure is necessary for the celebration of a religious rite. Even in a Hindu marriage such figures are drawn fer the solemnization of religious rites.

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