Nirguna Manasa Puja

निर्गुणमानसपूजा

Nirguṇamānasapūjā

All 5 verses

Verse by verse

Verse 1

अखण्डे सच्चिदानन्दे निर्विकल्पैकरूपिणि । स्थितेऽद्वितीयभावेऽपि कथं पूजा विधीयते ॥१॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

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अखण्डे सच्चिदानन्दे निर्विकल्पैकरूपिणि । स्थितेऽद्वितीयभावेऽपि कथं पूजा विधीयते ॥१॥: Undivided, of the nature of being-consciousness-bliss, of one form beyond all distinctions, abiding in non-dual being; how then can worship be performed?

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.

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Verse 2

पूर्णस्यावाहनं कुत्र सर्वाधारस्य चासनम् । स्वच्छस्य पाद्यमर्घ्यं च शुद्धस्याचमनं कुतः ॥२॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

पूर्णस्यावाहनं कुत्र सर्वाधारस्य चासनम् । स्वच्छस्य पाद्यमर्घ्यं च शुद्धस्याचमनं कुतः ॥२॥: For the perfect one, where is invocation? For the support of all, what seat? For the ever-pure, what water for the feet and offering? For the immaculate, whence ceremonial sipping?

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 one's own nature.

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Verse 3

निर्मलस्य कुतः स्नानं वासो विश्वोदरस्य च । अगोत्रस्य त्ववर्णस्य कुतस्तस्योपवीतकम् ॥३॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

निर्मलस्य कुतः स्नानं वासो विश्वोदरस्य च । अगोत्रस्य त्ववर्णस्य कुतस्तस्योपवीतकम् ॥३॥: For the spotless one, what bath? What garment for him whose belly is the universe? For one without lineage or caste, whence the sacred thread?

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 outer cleansing.

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Verse 4

निर्लेपस्य कुतो गन्धः पुष्पं निर्वासनस्य च । निर्विशेषस्य का भूषा कोऽलङ्कारो निराकृतेः ॥४॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

निर्लेपस्य कुतो गन्धः पुष्पं निर्वासनस्य च । निर्विशेषस्य का भूषा कोऽलङ्कारो निराकृतेः ॥४॥: For the untouched one, what fragrance? What flowers for the formless? For the attributeless, what ornament? What decoration for the formless?

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 the quiet offering of ignorance itself.

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Verse 5

निरञ्जनस्य किं धूपैर्दीपैर्वा सर्वसाक्षिणः । निजानन्दैकतृप्तस्य नैवेद्यं किं भवेदिह ॥५॥

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Editorial Advaita reflection

Word breakdown

निरञ्जनस्य किं धूपैर्दीपैर्वा सर्वसाक्षिणः । निजानन्दैकतृप्तस्य नैवेद्यं किं भवेदिह ॥५॥: For the unstained one, what incense or lamps for the witness of all? For him satisfied solely in his own bliss, what food offering could there be here?

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 that fullness in which hunger itself has ceased.

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