Chapter XXXV - The mode of worshipping the Hayagriva manifestation of Vishnu

Hari said:—I will now describe the nyasa and the metre of Gayatri. Vishvamitra is the Rishi thereof and Savita (the Sun) is the god. She has Brahman for her head, Rudra for the flame and is stationed in the heart of Vishnu. She has application for her one eye and is born in the race of Katyana. She is known as having the three worlds for her feet and is placed in the belly of the earth. It consists of three words and eight letters and again of four words and six letters. The one of three words should be used for the purposes of recitation and that of four words for the purposes of adoration. In the rites of Nyasa, recitation, meditation, adoration and fire a worshipper should daily use Gayatri destructive of all sins. One should assign it to the toes of the feet, insteps, knee-joints, organ of excretion, scrotum, tubes, navel, belly, breast, heart, throat, mouth, palate, eyes, eye-brows, forehead, in the east, south, north, west and head. The color of sappire, the color of fire, yellow, dark-blue, twany-colour, that of white, that of lightning, dark, crimson, that of conch* shell, grey, that of wine, and sun [constitute it]. All articles which he touches with his hands or sees with his eyes become purified. There is nothing superior to Gayatri.