Matrika-nyasa

Matrika-nyasa

Matrika-nyasa is a rite, nyasa, in which sadhaka places 50 letters of the Sanskrit alphabet (matrikas) in various parts of his or her physical body and performs various mudras while simultaneously singing the appropriate sound. The letters are preceded by oṁ, and namah completes them. Matrika-nyasa can be performed both as part of puja and as a separate rite.

When a matrika-nyasa is applied to a body, different forces of the universe are involved in the practice of the mantra. In the rite of the matrika-nyasa there is an identification of the body with the Universe, Cosmic Purusha - first-person. Performing this practice requires the knowledge of the Devanagari alphabet, the mystical meaning of letters, the practice of visualizations and the qualified guidance of Guru. In this ritual, the combinations of letters correspond to the aspects of the physical universe (macrocosm) embodied in the subtle body of man (microcosm). The standard matrix begins with the vowels of Sanskrit, symbolizing Shiva, and the consonants that symbolize Shakti.

Bahirmatrika-nyasa (external matrika-nyasa) is produced by different carpal mudras, representing a combination of different fingers.

Depending on the tradition or sadhana of a certain Devata, one puts the corresponding bijas in the beginning. So, for example, sadhana of Shrividya can be performed in a following way:

ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं ऐं क्लीं सौः अं नमः – oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ aiṁ klīṁ sauḥ aṁ namaḥ
ॐ ऐं ह्रीं श्रीं ऐं क्लीं सौः आं नमः – oṁ aiṁ hrīṁ śrīṁ aiṁ klīṁ sauḥ āṁ namaḥ
...

Thus, bahir matriaka-nyasa (external matrika-nyasa):

1.	अं	aṁ	Head	touched with the middle and ring fingers.
2.	आं	āṁ	Mouth	touched with index, middle and ring fingers.
3.	इं	iṁ	Right eye	thumb and ring finger.
4.	ईं	īṁ	Left eye	thumb and ring finger.
5.	उं	uṁ	Right ear	thumb and ring finger.
6.	ऊं	ūṁ	Left ear	thumb and ring finger.
7.	ऋं	Ṛṁ	Right nostril	thumb and little finger.
8.	ॠं	R̥̄ṁ	Left nostril	thumb and little finger.
9.	ऌं	lriṁ	Right cheek	index, middle and ring fingers.
10.	ॡं	lrīṁ	Left cheek	index, middle and ring fingers.
11.	एं	eṁ	Upper lip	middle finger.
12.	ऐं	aiṁ	Lower lip	middle finger.
13.	ओं	oṁ	Upper row of teeth	index finger.
14.	औं	auṁ	Lower row of teeth	index finger.
15.	अं	aṁ	Crown of the head	middle finger.
16.	अः	aḥ	Tip of the tongue	middle and ring fingers.
17.	कं	kaṁ	Right shoulder	middle, ring and little fingers (here and on performed with left hand)
18.	खं	khaṁ	Right elbow	middle, ring and little fingers.
19.	गं	gaṁ	Right wrist	middle, ring and little fingers.
20.	घं	ghaṁ	Base of the fingers of the right palm	middle, ring and little fingers.
21.	ङं	ṅaṁ	Fingertips of the right hand	middle, ring and little fingers.
22.	चं	caṁ	Left shoulder	middle, ring and little fingers (here and on performed with right hand)
23.	छं	chaṁ	Left elbow	middle, ring and little fingers.
24.	जं	jaṁ	Left wrist	middle, ring and little fingers.
25.	झं	jhaṁ	Base of the fingers of the left hand	middle, ring and little fingers.
26.	ञं	ñaṁ	Tips of the fingers of the left hand	middle, ring and little fingers.
27.	टं	ṭaṁ	Right hip (base)	middle, ring and little fingers.
28.	ठं	ṭhaṁ	Right knee	middle, ring and little fingers.
29.	डं	ḍaṁ	Right ankle	middle, ring and little fingers.
30.	ढं	ḍhaṁ	Base of the fingers of the right foot	middle, ring and little fingers.
31.	णं	ṇaṁ	Tips of the fingers of the right foot	middle, ring and little fingers.
32.	तं	taṁ	Left hip (base)	middle, ring and little fingers.
33.	थं	thaṁ	Left knee	middle, ring and little fingers.
34.	दं	daṁ	Left ankle	middle, ring and little fingers.
35.	धं	dhaṁ	Base of the fingers of the left foot	middle, ring and little fingers.
36.	नं	naṁ	Tips of the fingers of the left foot	middle, ring and little fingers.
37.	पं	paṁ	Right side	middle, ring and little fingers.
38.	फं	phaṁ	Left side	middle, ring and little fingers.
39.	बं	baṁ	Lower back	middle, ring and little fingers.
40.	भं	bhaṁ	Navel	bring together thumb, middle, ring and little fingers .
41.	मं	maṁ	Abdomen	bring together thumb, middle, ring and little fingers
42.	यं	yaṁ	Heart	all fingers.
43.	रं	raṁ	Right armpit	all fingers.
44.	लं	laṁ	Back of the head	bring together all fingers.
45.	वं	vaṁ	Left armpit	all fingers.
46.	शं	śaṁ	Move the left palm along the whole right hand from the heart and to the fingertips of right hand.
47.	षं	ṣaṁ	Move the right palm along the entire left hand from the heart and to the fingertips of left hand.
48.	सं	saṁ	Move left palm along the whole right side from the heart and to the tips of the fingers of the right foot.
49.	हं	haṁ	Move right palm along the whole left side of the heart and to the tips of the fingers of the left leg.
50.	ळं	ḻaṁ	Move right palm from the chest to the stomach.
51.	क्षं	kṣaṁ	Move right palm from the chest to the head.

«Matrika-nyasa gives the achievement of the four goals of life, the fulfillment of all desires,
Satisfaction and prosperity. (45)

Creatures of four types constantly fear the one who performs matrika-nyasa
even without worshiping of the gods. (46)

He, who is the great power endowed, even the gods are eager to see.
He subordinates everything to his power and does not go to perdition. (47)» (Kalika-Purana)

«Nyasa should be performed with great concentration.
... Nyasas and matrika-nyasa are favorable in Kali-yuga. With the proper fulfillment of the matrika-nyasa one becomes the master of all perfections. By practicing matrika-nyasa many times, the result of pranayama is achieved.» (Sri Kalivilasa tantra)

«The intelligent person (sadhaka) mentally places all the Deities in all the corresponding parts of the body (matrika-nyasa), pronounces the mantra for achieving any kind of siddhas (achievements), and this is called mantra-yoga.» (Yoga-shastra)