Shiva Manas Puja: A Journey of Inner Worship and Devotion
- Dr.Madhavi Srivastava
- Sep 7
- 5 min read
Updated: Oct 20
"Grant me forgiveness and sanctify my being with Your eternal grace."
Dear seekers, welcome as we immerse ourselves in devotion to Lord Shiva, who is the embodiment of liberation and supreme consciousness. He is the essence of the almighty, omnipresent Brahman and the soul of the Vedas.
Lord Shiva, as the infinite and formless supreme consciousness, teaches us that true devotion lies beyond physical rituals and external offerings. His essence invites us to look inward, to connect with the divine that resides within us. It is in this context that Adi Shankaracharya introduces the transformative practice of Manas Puja, a method of worship that transcends the material and focuses on the purity of thought and intention.
Manas Puja, or mental worship, is a profound spiritual practice beautifully described by Adi Shankaracharya in one of his stotras dedicated to Lord Shiva. Unlike traditional worship, which relies on external items such as incense sticks, flowers, or lamps.
Manas Puja is performed entirely within the mind. Through the power of imagination and focused intent, the devotee mentally offers precious and valuable items to Lord Shiva, making it a deeply internalised and personal form of adoration.
This practice emphasises the essence of devotion over the need for physical materials.
In this context, Lord Shiva represents Chaitanya, or pure Consciousness, symbolising the eternal divinity within every individual. By engaging in mental worship, one not only connects with this inner consciousness but also transcends the limitations of the external world. Adi Shankaracharya, in his stotra, illuminates this path of internal worship, guiding seekers to invoke and honour the divine essence within themselves.
A key teaching of this hymn is the superiority of mental worship over physical rituals. The mind, being subtler and more powerful than the body, amplifies the potency of offerings made through focused thought. Mental adoration allows one to worship at any time and place, unhindered by the availability of material resources. This universality and accessibility make it an invaluable spiritual tool, particularly for those seeking a more profound, uninterrupted connection with the divine.
Shiva Manas Puja: A Journey of Inner Worship and Devotion
Shiva Manas Puja: A Journey of Inner Worship and Devotion. Experience the profound practice of Shiva Manas Puja, a mental worship described by Adi Shankaracharya. Connect with Lord Shiva through imagination, devotion, and inner reflection on this spiritual journey.
Adi Shankaracharya’s composition highlights the transformative power of this practice. By turning inward and engaging the mind in acts of devotion, one purifies not only their actions but also their inner being. This stotra serves as a timeless guide, reminding us that true devotion resides not in external rituals but in the intensity of our internal connection and the purity of our thoughts. Through Manas Puja, Adi Shankaracharya reveals a path to experience divinity in its most subtle and profound form.
रत्नैः कल्पितमासनं हिमजलैः स्नानं च दिव्यांबरं नानारत्न विभूषितं मृगमदा मोदांकितं चंदनम् ।
जाती चंपक बिल्वपत्र रचितं पुष्पं च धूपं तथा दीपं देव दयानिधे पशुपते हृत्कल्पितं गृह्यताम् ॥ 1 ॥
O Lord Pashupati, the compassionate Lord of all creatures, I have envisioned a majestic throne adorned with precious gemstones for You. I have prepared cool and pure water for Your holy bath and offered the finest garments to clothe You in splendor.
Jewellery embellished with radiant gems, fragrances derived from musk, and sandalwood paste to anoint your sacred form are all offered in my devotion. I present flowers like jasmine and champaka (magnolia), along with holy bilva leaves, accompanied by the soothing aroma of fine incense.
I have lit the deepam, a sacred lamp symbolising my unwavering faith, and humbly pray that You, the boundless ocean of mercy, graciously accept these offerings, created with love and devotion in the temple of my heart.
सौवर्णे नवरत्नखंड रचिते पात्रे घृतं पायसं भक्ष्यं पंचविधं पयोदधियुतं रंभाफलं पानकम् । शाकानामयुतं जलं रुचिकरं कर्पूर खंडोज्ज्चलं तांबूलं मनसा मया विरचितं भक्त्या प्रभो स्वीकुरु ॥ 2 ॥
In a golden bowl, beautifully adorned with Navaratnas, the nine precious gems, I humbly offer you clarified butter (ghee) and a sweet porridge prepared with milk, rice, and jaggery (payasam). Alongside, I present five delectable foods made with milk, curd, and banana, accompanied by the refreshing paanakam drink.
I envision water infused with the essence of fine vegetables, flavorful and pure, and light a piece of fragrant camphor to illuminate the offering. Along with these, I offer the tambulam, a token of respect and devotion. All these sacred offerings, crafted lovingly within the sanctuary of my mind, I dedicate to You, O Lord Shiva. Please accept these with your boundless grace and compassion.
छत्रं चामरयोर्युगं व्यजनकं चादर्शकं निर्मलं वीणा भेरि मृदंग काहलकला गीतं च नृत्यं तथा ।
साष्टांगं प्रणतिः स्तुति-र्बहुविधा-ह्येतत्-समस्तं मया संकल्पेन समर्पितं तव विभो पूजां गृहाण प्रभो ॥ 3 ॥
For all the sacred offerings, I present to You an elegant umbrella (छत्रम्), a pair of ceremonial hand fans made from yak tails (चामरम्), and a spotless mirror. These are accompanied by the melodious sounds of musical instruments, such as the veena, bheri, mridang, and other drums, blending harmoniously with songs of praise and graceful dances performed in your honour.
I bow before You in the साष्टांग नमस्कार posture, humbly prostrating with devotion, and sing Your glories in countless ways. All these offerings, born from the deepest desires of my mind and crafted with unwavering faith, I humbly dedicate to You, the Supreme Ruler of all. O Lord Shiva, please accept my heartfelt worship and grant me Your blessings.
आत्मा त्वं गिरिजा मतिः सहचराः प्राणाः शरीरं गृहं पूजा ते विषयोपभोग-रचना निद्रा समाधिस्थितिः । संचारः पदयोः प्रदक्षिणविधिः स्तोत्राणि सर्वा गिरो यद्यत्कर्म करोमि तत्तदखिलं शंभो तवाराधनम् ॥ 4 ॥
You are my very soul, O Lord, and my thoughts are none other than Girija, the daughter of Himavanta and the embodiment of Goddess Parvati. The vital energies within me are your companions, and this body is your sacred abode.
The enjoyment of sensory experiences becomes an offering to You, and my sleep transforms into the state of samadhi, a meditative union with You. Every step I take is an act of circumambulation—प्रदक्षिण—around Your divine presence, and every word I speak becomes a hymn of Your praise.
All the work I do, every action and effort, is worship (आराधन) dedicated solely to You, O Lord Shambhu. May You accept these humble acts of devotion and sanctify my being with Your boundless grace.
कर चरण कृतं वाक्कायजं कर्मजं वा श्रवण नयनजं वा मानसं वापराधम् ।
विहितमविहितं वा सर्वमेतत्-क्षमस्व जय जय करुणाब्धे श्री महादेव शंभो ॥ 5 ॥
O Lord, I lay before You all the sins I have committed, whether through the deeds of my hands and feet, the utterances of my speech, or the actions of my mortal body. The transgressions born of what my ears have heard, my eyes have seen, or my mind has conceived—be they intentional or unintentional—I surrender them all at Your feet. With the deepest humility, I implore Your boundless mercy to forgive my faults and cleanse my soul of its impurities.
O ocean of compassion, O Great God, Shambhu—the bestower of auspiciousness—victory to You, victory to You! "Grant me forgiveness and sanctify my being with Your eternal grace.
In conclusion, Shiva Manas Puja is a profound practice that reminds us of the immense power of the mind and the purity of devotion. By offering mental worship, we connect deeply with the divine essence of Lord Shiva, transcending the need for physical objects or rituals. This timeless hymn by Adi Shankaracharya inspires us to turn inward, honour the sacred within, and experience the ultimate union with the Supreme.
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