Description of the Poojamandala procedure
Sri Narayana said:
“A seat with four legs should be placed on the ground which has been clean-swept, which is devoid of impurities and then purified and made shining with different kinds of decorations.(1)
The worshipper should sit facing the east. Legs of his seat, on the four corners should have carvings of a lion. Dharma and should be invoked in the four legs. In the southeastern corner, a white coloured image of Dharma should be established; in the southwestern corner, a red coloured image of ‘Gyana’ should be established; in the northwestern corner, the yellow hued image of ‘Vairagya’ should be established and in the northeastern corner, the sky hued image of the god of wealth should be established. (2-3)
The yellow colored entity of ‘Manas’ (mind), red colored entity of ‘Dhi’ (Intellect), white colored entity of ‘Chitta’ and black colored entity of ‘Ahankama’ should be established on the body of the seat in the east, south, west and northern directions respectively. (4)
O great sage! On the roll of the seat, the ‘Satva’, ‘Rajas’ and ‘Tamas’ having red, white and blue colours should be established in that order. (5)
Vimala and other forms of Sakti, the forms of the inner self, should be established on the four faces of the body, two in each face. (6)
While-hued players on the auspicious Veena, wearing yellow coloured dress and finely decorated Shakti-s, Vimala and Utkarshini by name should be placed in the east. (7)
‘Gyana Shakti’ and Kriya Shakti, wearing yellow dresses, shining with the hue of the rising sun should be established in the South. (8)
‘Yogaa’ and ‘Prahavyaa Saktis’ should be established in the west, both of them sky-blue coloured, wearing red coloured dresses. They should be playing on the flute separately. (9)
Then, ‘Satyaa’ and ‘Ishaana Saktis’ should be established in the north, they should be of a strong yellow colour; they should wear blue-coloured clothes, and should be playing the instrument ‘Parivaadini’. (10)
A single Shakti with folded hands called ‘Anugraha’ should be established on the roll; all these should be having two arms and finely decorated. (11)
From a white cloth, the (model of) ‘Sveta Island’ has to be constructed. A beautiful lotus, having eight petals, shining brilliantly with a Karnika (its pericarp) has to be made in its centre. (12)
Outside the area of the lotus, leaving one-twelfth of its space, the centre is to be divided equally and form three circles. (13)
Of these, the first circle is the place of ‘Karnika’, the central one is the place of ‘Kesaras’, the third is the place of the petals and the outward portion should be occupied by the edges of the petal. (14)
Around this, a city with four exterior entrances has to be constructed with ‘red-colored Kumkum’ and ‘yellow-colored Kumkum’, and decorated with other suitable things. (15)
With grains of rice of different colours, the lotus and other surrounding parts are to be decorated; the ‘Karnika’ of the lotus should be decorated with golden colour. (16)
O Sage! The worshipper has to construct coloured leaves around its eight directions with golden coloured leaves. (17)
The eastern tower should be made of read colour, the southern one with blue, western one with yellow and the northern one with the colour of crystal. (18)
In between, the City and lotuses, different flowers have to be made and then Sri Krishna and to his left Radhika are to be seated. (19)
Behind the image of Radha Krishna, Lord Sankarshana, who is white-hued, dressed in blue coloured clothes, having four arms and holding an umbrella should to be established. (20)
To the right of that God, Pradhyumna, who is blue-hued like the cloud, wearing a Yellow silk cloth, having four arms, holding a hand fan, is to be established. (21)
To the left of Hari, Aniruddha, who is blue hued like the gem ‘Indraneela’ (bluish-diamond), wearing a red coloured dress and holding a hand fan should be established. (22)
These three images should be decorated with many ornaments like an incomparable gem-studded crown, and should look youthful and attractive. (23)
Afterwards, the incarnations of Lord Sri Hari have to be established in all the eight ‘Kesaras’ of the lotus, two in each. Thus, it will be sixteen incarnations in the eight petals. (24)
At the end of the eastern ‘Kesara’, Vamana and Buddha should be established. These two will be celibates, youthful and blue hued. They should wear white clothes and the sacred thread on their bodies, hold a blooming lotus in the right hand and the left hand should show the gesture of ‘Abhaya’ (fearlessness); they should have a look of serenity. (25- 26)
Then, in the southeastern corner, Kalki and Parasurama should be kept, Kalki holding a sword and Parasurama holding a battle-axe. Both of them should be white-hued, red-eyed have matted hair, wear white cloths and sacred thread, and have the gesture of having given up the great instinct of anger. They should be constructed in this manner. (27- 28)
In the south, Hayagriva and Varaha are to be established. Hayagriva, with four arms, should have a human body and the face of a horse. (29)
He should hold the conch etc. in his four hands; He should be of a golden hue and wear white clothes; Varaha should have a human body with four arms and the face of a boar. (30)
He should hold the conch, disc, mace and lotus in his four hands, wearing Pitambara (yellow robes), and be of the hue of honey; He may also have only two arms. (31)
In the southwestern corner, Matsya and Kurma are to be established; they have the body of the fish and the tortoise below the waist, and a human form above the waist. (32)
They should be constructed with a beautiful body of sky-blue hue, wearing ornaments and holding the conch in the left hand and mace in the right hand. (33)
On the west, Dhanvantari and Narasimha should be established; Dhanvantari should be adorned with white clothes, be white hued and should holds the vessel of nectar in his hands. (34)
Nrisimha should have the face of a lion with a mane and a human body. The colour of the body should resemble the blue water lily; He should holds a mace and disc in his two hands. (35)
In the northwest petal, Hamsa and Dattatreya having matted hair, the dress of a mendicant, shining white, holding the staff and water pot in their hands, have to be established. (36)
In the North, Vyasa and Ganapati are to be placed; Vyasa should be black-hued with large eyes, wearing a white dress, have two arms holding the Vedas, and have dull-yellow matted hair, Pavitra (a ring of ‘Kusha’ grass worn on the fourth finger on certain religious occasions) and sacred thread. (37-38)
Ganapati should be elephant-faced having a single tusk, redhued, wearing blood coloured clothes, having a serpent as his sacred thread, a trunk, with a huge belly, and the four arms holding shackles, hook and having the ‘varada-mudra’ (gesture) and a beautiful book and pen respectively. (39-40)
Then the worshipper has to place in the southeast, Kapila and the eternally celibate sage Sanatkumara. (41)
Kapila has to be made having a white body, wearing pleasingly white clothes, holding a lotus and Varada (gesture granting boons) in his hands and a peaceful face. (42)
The worshipper has to make sage Sanatkumara having a brilliant naked body of a person aged five years, having little matter hair. (43)
Thus, the worshipper should place the Devatas in the petals of the lotus and then place the attendants in the centres of the eight petals. (44)
First Viswaksena and Garuda should be placed in the centre of the eastern petal; then in the clockwise direction, the following have to be placed in order - Prabala, Bala, Kumuda, Kumudaksha, Sunanda, Nanda, Srutadeva, Jayanta, Vijaya, Jaya, then Prachanda, Chanda, Pushpadanta, Satvata - these to be placed in groups of two in the eight places. (45-47)
All these should have four arms, holding the conch, disc, mace and lotus, wearing blue crowns and yellow coloured clothes and decorated with ornaments. (48)
In the place below the centre of all the eight petals, the ‘Siddhidevata-s’ (representing the eight types of divine accomplishments) viz. Anima, Laghima, Praapti, Praakaamya, Mahima, Ishitva, Vashitva, Kaamaavasaayita, who are experts in playing different auspicious musical instruments should be established in order. (49-50)
These should have bodies of brilliant golden hue, decorated with all ornaments, holding flute, lute and other musical instruments in their hands and wearing clothes of different colours. Then in the edges of the eight petals, the Vedas, Shastras are to be placed; The Vedas should be placed in the principal directions of the east, south, north and west and the Shastras in the intervening directions. (51-52)
In the east the Murthy (icon) representing the Rigveda is to be placed, wearing a garland of beads, white hued, short and pot bellied with a calm face, having eyes like the lotus and dressed in white clothes. (53)
In the south, the Murthy (icon) representing the Yajur-Veda is to be placed having a medium body, lean stomach, with redeyes, thick neck, yellow hued, dressed in red clothes, holding a garland of beads in the left hand, and a diamond in the right hand. In the west, the Murthy (icon) representing the SamaVeda is to be placed having a tall countenance, shining like the sun, holding a garland of beads in the right hand and a conch in the left hand, large-eyed, wearing gold hued clothes and engaged in singing. (54-56)
In the north, the Murthy (icon) representing the Atharva-Veda is to be placed, with a white hued body, wearing blue dress, holding a garland of beads in the left hand, ‘Khatvanga’ (an instrument) in the right hand and shining red like fire, with copper hued eyes and controlling deluge. (57)
In the southeastern corner, the Murthy (icon) representing the Dharma Shastra is to be placed. It should be white hued, wearing plenty garlands made of pearls on the arms and shining. (58)
In the southwestern corner, the Murthy (icon) representing the Sankhya-Shastra is to be placed; he should be white hued, with long hair and nails, holding a garland of beads and a staff in his hands and having a big tummy. (59)
Then, in the northwestern corner, the Murthy (icon) representing the Yoga Shastra is to be placed; he should have a golden hue, with a lean stomach, keeping his hands on the thigh and fixing his sight on the tip of his nose. (60)
In the northeastern corner, the Murthy (icon) representing the Pancha-ratra Shastra is to be placed; he should be whitehued, wearing the ‘Vanamala’ (garland made of forest flowers), holding a garland of beads and plough in his hands. (61)
All these four should be made wearing thin and strong white clothes; the eyes should be wide like the lotus. (62)
Great sages with their wives, reciting the Vedas should be placed below the edges of the petals in order from the east, south-east etc. (63)
Marichi with Kala, Atri with Anasuya, Angiras with Sraddha, Pulastya with Havirbhu, Pulaha with Gati, Kratu with Kriya, Bhrigu with Khyati, Vasishta with Arundati - these sages should be placed in order. (64-65) All these should have two arms, matted locks, beards and moustache; they should be lean and holding a staff and water pot; they should be portrayed as ascetics. (66)
Outside the lotus in all the directions and intervening directions, Indra and other guardians of eight directions with their vehicles should be established in their respective directions. (67)
In the east, Indra sitting on his elephant ‘Iravata’, having four arms holding the weapon ‘Vajra’, a hook, lotus, and having the ‘Varada-mudra’, brilliant like the gold, wearing a beautiful ‘kausumbha’ dress, shining with various ornaments should be placed; the edges of his eyes should be red; he should have big eyes and have all the good bodily features. (68-69)
In the south east corner the God of fire, Agni should be placed; he should be copper hued, four armed holding the spear, Sakti, Sruk and Sruva respectively, sitting in a chariot drown by four parrots with Vayu as Charioteer, having three eyes, wearing smoke coloured clothes, having a faded red-hued beard, moustache and matted hair. (70-71)
In the south, Yama the god of death should be placed. He should have a dark blue-hue, wearing golden clothes, four arms holding a staff, sword, pickaxe, and a cord respectively, decorated with a variety of ornaments and sitting on a domineering male buffalo. (72)
In the southwest corner, Nairuta is to be established; he should have roused hair, two arms holding the sword and a cord, and wide-eyes, sitting on a human; he should have a green moustache, smoke-hue, wearing black clothes, decorated with black clothes, many gold hued flowers; Non-Vaishnavas are frightened by his sight. (73-74)
Then in the west, Varuna the god of water, should be placed. He should have a body shining like the gem ‘Indra-neela’; he should be wearing a white dress, be four-armed holding a cord in two hands and a gem-vessel and conch in the other two hands and decorated with pearl garlands. (75-76)
In the northwestern direction, Vayu should be placed. He should be of a green hue, with two arms, wearing dark blue clothes, sitting on a rock, united hair, holding a flag and openmouthed. (77)
In the north, Kubera should be placed. He should be of a golden hue, four-armed, holding a mace, ‘Sakti’ (a weapon), trident and gem vessel in his hands, wearing blue clothes, having a beard and moustache, sitting in a palanquin, with a fading red left eye, wearing several ornaments. (78-79)
Then, in the northeastern direction, Maharudra (Lord Shiva) who is Ardhanariswara (halfman and halfwoman) is to be placed. The left part of that image should be Goddess Parvati and the right part is to be Lord Sankara have to be placed. (80)
Lord Ardhanarisvara should have matted locks decorated with the moon, and the other half with Goddess Uma having ‘tilaka’ and divided hair (81)
Half the portion should be covered with ‘Bhasma’ (sacred ash), the other half with ‘Kumkum’. In one-half the sacred thread will shine forth, the other half will shine with a garland. (82)
On the left half, a round breast covered with a blouse has to be made. The waist should have a golden belt and legs with golden anklets, and is to be decorated with (ornaments) bracelets; they should be adorned with gem rings holding a ‘trisul’ (trident) and a garland of beads. (83-84)
On the right half, a serpent waist-string has to be made; the elephant skin is to be used as the dress; the two hands should have serpent bracelets and hold a mirror and the ‘Utpala’ flower (blue water lily). (85)
Thus decorated, Mahadeva has to be placed sitting on a bullock. Thus, the worshipper should establish the guardians of eight directions. (86)
Then, the worshipper should place outside the City, eight planets standing in their respective chariots. (87)
In the east, the Sun is to be established. He should be wearing a yellow dress, with a red-hued ‘Sindhura’-like body, the two arms holding a lotus and sitting in his chariot. (88)
His very bright chariot will have only one wheel with 12 spokes; on the left are yoked seven green-hued horses. (89)
In the southwestern corner, Bhrigu (Sukra) has to be placed. He is of white hue, wears white clothes, holding a staff and water-pot in his two hands; he is having tender looks, sitting in a golden chariot yoked to ten horses of various colors. (90)
In the south, the Mangala (also known as ‘Bhouma’ or Mars) is to be placed. He should be blood coloured, wearing bloodhued clothes, and four armed holding a mace, Sakti, Trisul and having a ‘Varada Mudra’. He should have a golden chariot yoked to crimson-hued eight horses. (91)
In the southwestern corner, Rahu is to be placed. He should have blue clothes, be four armed, have a terrible face, the form of Tamas (darkness), and should hold a shield, sword, Shakti and spike in his hands; Rahu should be made sitting in an iron chariot drawn by eight bee-coloured horses. (92)
In the west soul, Shanaishcara the son of Surya (also known as Saturn) is to be placed. He should have a body shining like the gem ‘Indra-neela’. Two-armed, he holds a bow and a ‘Trisul’. Thick-eyed and dressed in black clothes, he sits in a black iron chariot drawn by eight variegated coloured horses. (93)
In the northwestern corner, Chandra (moon) with a white dress, white-hued, holding a mace in his hand, two armed, sitting in a chariot has to be placed. His chariot, which is made of water, should have three wheels with hundred spokes each; they should be yoked on two sides by ten horses each that resemble the ‘Kunda’ flowers. (94-95)
In the north, Budha with two arms, sporting the gestures of Abhaya and Varada, having the hue of light red, wearing green clothes, sitting in a golden chariot yoked to turmeric-hued eight horses is to be placed. (96)
In the northeastern corner, Guru, with a golden hue, wearing a white dress, two armed, holding a staff and water vessel, having lotus-like eyes, sitting in a very fine golden chariot, yoked to slightly white-hued eight horses is to be established. Thus, the worshipper should place all the subsidiary Devatas in different places of the Lotus that represent the City. (97-98)
The images of the members of the retinue of Lord Vasudeva should be grand. If that is not possible, beetle nuts or flowers and ‘akshata’ (rice mixed with turmeric) and other things should be kept to represent them. (99)
Thus, ends the Twenty-seventh Chapter titled “Procedure of preparing the Pooja-Mandala” in Sri Vasudeva Mahatmya in the second Vaishnava Khanda