Complete · ~3 min chant
Nirguna Manasa Puja
निर्गुणमानसपूजा
Nirguṇamānasapūjā
Five opening verses of the disciple's questions on how to worship the attributeless, non-dual Lord.
5 verses · About 3 min · Nirguna
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Nirguna Manasa Puja is a profound dialogue hymn attributed to Sri Adi Shankaracharya. A disciple asks how worship is possible when the Lord is undivided bliss, without qualities, and non-dual. The Guru's answers unfold in the verses that follow.
More about this stotra
This edition presents the first five verses: the disciple's questions alone. They prepare the ground for the Guru's teaching on worshipping the Self through inner offering.
At a glance
- Deity
- Nirguna
- Verses
- 5 verses
- Chant time
- About 3 minutes
- Attribution
- Traditionally attributed to Adi Shankaracharya
- Sanskrit source
- sanskritdocuments.org · All sources
Verse overview
- 1
The question itself dismantles ritual performed as if God were an object apart. True worship begins when the seeker recognizes that the worshipper, the act,…
- 2
The perfect needs no invitation because it is never absent. Every ritual element presupposes a duality that dissolves when the all-supporting Self is known as…
- 3
He whose belly contains the universe is not contained by any form. Bath and garment symbolize purification of mind, yet the Self was never stained and needs no…
- 4
Fragrance and flowers offered to the formless are the virtues of a mind turned inward. When attributes are seen as superimpositions on Brahman, worship becomes…
- 5
The witness illumines incense and lamp yet is not touched by them. Satisfied in its own bliss, the Self needs no offering; the highest worship is resting as…
All verses
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Common questions
- When do people recite Nirguna Manasa Puja?
- Nirguna hymns suit quiet morning contemplation and Advaita study rather than festival-only use. This edition presents 5 verses and takes about 3 minutes to chant.
- What is the opening focus of Nirguna Manasa Puja?
- The question itself dismantles ritual performed as if God were an object apart. True worship begins when the seeker recognizes that the worshipper, the act, and the worshipped are one undivided awareness. Read verse 1 in Study mode for the full editorial note beside the Sanskrit.
- Which hymns pair well with Nirguna Manasa Puja?
- On this site, related reading includes Nirvana Shatakam, and Bhagavan Manasa Puja. Open those hubs for their own Sanskrit, English meaning, and study notes.