Śivamānasapūjā (Shiva Manasa Puja) - Pure

Mental worship of Śiva - Pure translation

 Introduction

Gabriel Pradīpaka, once again. The author of this well-known scripture is Śaṅkarācārya, a highly renowned vedantic master. In this scripture a particular technique of mental worship of Śiva is described in detail. The ordinary worship which is performed by using such external objects as incense sticks, trays, etc. is not so powerful as that which is performed by using one's own mind. A practice is more powerful if the instruments used to perform it are also more powerful. As mind is much more powerful than physical body, mental adoration is accordingly much more powerful than external adoration... and cheaper too. That is why, Śaṅkarācārya took the trouble to describe it in his hymn. However, this kind of worship requires complete one-pointedness. A person with a mind too distracted cannot practice the mental worship in an appropriate way.

When you perform mental worship, the important thing is that the objects can be distinctly experienced. If your mind is not paying full attention to the practice, you will note that the entire mental scene where you are practicing "mānasapūjā" (mental adoration) becomes indistinct, foggy. Thus, when you practice mental worship, strive to form a distinct, sharp mental image. If you can do this, then you are practicing mānasapūjā really well, and the fruits of it will come soon to your hands. This hymn is generally chanted after "Śivamahimnaḥ stotram" by night.

This is a "pure translation" document, that is, there will be no original Sanskrit, but sometimes there will be a minimal quantity of transliterated Sanskrit in the translations themselves of the stanzas. Of course, there will not be any word for word translation.

Important: All that is in brackets and italicized within the translation has been added by me in order to complete the sense of a particular phrase or sentence. In turn, all that is between double hyphen (--...--) constitutes clarifying further information also added by me. Now and then, some important terms may be highlighted with color.

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 Śivamānasapūjā

-Mental worship of Śiva-

Oh God, Ocean of Mercy!, (I have) mentally formed a seat with jewels, an ablution with cold water, and divine garments adorned with various gems; sandal mixed --"aṅkita" literally means "marked, stamped, etc."-- with the fragrance of musk; an (arrangement of) flower(s) prepared with jasmine, campaka (and) leaves of bilva; and (fine) incense as well as a (brilliant) light, oh Lord of the limited beings. (May all that I have) imagined in (my) heart be accepted (by You)!||1||

I have mentally formed, with devotion, within a golden bowl made with fragments of the nine jewels, clarified butter (and) an oblation of milk, rice and sugar (along with) the five kinds of food prepared with milk and coagulated milk --not only "curds", as "dadhi" includes the whey too--; a beverage of banana(s); a myriad of vegetables, pleasant water; a piece of burning camphor; (and) a leaf of Betel. Oh Lord, make (all this) your own!||2||

A parasol; a couple of whisks --generally used as fans-- (made with) the tails of two Yaks; and a spotless mirror; the fine arts of "Gīta" --chanting-- as well as "Nṛtya" --dancing--, (which are accompanied by) "vīṇā-s" --a kind of Indian lute--, kettle-drums, "mṛdaṅga-s" --a portable drum with two heads-- (and) large drums; a prostration performed with eight limbs or members --i.e. hands, breast, forehead, knees and feet must touch the ground in this type of reverential salutation--; (and) hymns of praise of many sorts indeed. I mentally offer all this to You, oh all-pervading and powerful (God)! Accept (my) worship, oh Lord!||3||

You (are) the Self and Girijā --an epithet of Pārvatī, Śiva's wife, meaning "mountain-born"-- (is) the intelligence. The vital energies (are Your) companions. The body (is Your) house. Worship of You is prepared with the objects (known as sensual) enjoyments. Sleep (is Your) state of Samādhi --i.e. perfect concentration or absorption--. (My) wandering (is) the ceremony of circumambulation from left to right of (Your) feet --this act is generally done as a token of respect--. All (my) words (are) hymns of praise (of You). Whatever action I do, all that is adoration of You, oh Śambhu --an epithet of Śiva meaning "beneficent, benevolent"--||4||

Forgive (any) offense committed with hands and feet, or derived from speech and body, or coming from actions, or proceeding from ears (and) eyes, or from mind. (Forgive) the actions that I have done or those which I have stopped from doing. (Forgive) all this. Victory, victory, oh Ocean of Compassion, oh Venerable Great God, oh Śambhu --Benevolent, Beneficent--!||5||

Thus, Śivamānasapūjā --Mental Worship of Śiva--, written by venerable Śaṅkarācārya, (is lastly) finished.

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 Further Information

This document was conceived by Gabriel Pradīpaka, one of the two founders of this site, and spiritual guru conversant with Sanskrit language and Trika philosophy.

For further information about Sanskrit, Yoga and Indian Philosophy; or if you simply want to comment, ask a question or correct a mistake, feel free to contact us: This is our e-mail address.