Shloka 21

Aghora-Mantra Japa: Graded Expiations, Pañcagavya Purification, and Homa for Mahāpātaka-Nivṛtti

Devanagari script

देवस्य त्वेति मन्त्रेण संग्रहेद्वै कुशोदकम् एकस्थं हेमपात्रे वा कृत्वाघोरेण राजते

Transliteration

devasya tveti mantreṇa saṃgrahedvai kuśodakam ekasthaṃ hemapātre vā kṛtvāghoreṇa rājate

Translation

Indem man das Mantra rezitiert, das mit „devasya tva…“ beginnt, soll man das durch Kuśa geweihte Wasser sammeln und an einem Ort zusammenhalten—am besten in einem goldenen Gefäß. So bereitet, erglänzt es durch die Kraft der Aghora-Anrufung und ist geeignet zum reinigenden Dienst am Herrn (Pati) in der Liṅga-Verehrung.

Word by Word

• देवस्य (devasya): of the Deva, of the Lord

• त्वा-इति (tvā-iti): ‘tvā’—thus (as the mantra-word)

• मन्त्रेण (mantreṇa): by/with the mantra

• संग्रहेत् (saṃgrahet): one should collect, gather

• वै (vai): indeed

• कुश-उदकम् (kuśa-udakam): water sanctified/filtered with kuśa grass

• एकस्थम् (ekastham): placed together in one spot, kept as a single collected portion

• हेम-पात्रे (hema-pātre): in a golden vessel

• वा (vā): or

• कृत्वा (kṛtvā): having done/placed/prepared

• अघोरेण (aghoreṇa): with (the mantra/power of) Aghora—Shiva’s non-terrifying, purifying aspect

• राजते (rājate): shines, becomes resplendent/effective.

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-Puja procedure to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Aghora aspect)

FAQs

What is the importance of this verse in the context of Linga worship?

It prescribes a specific preparatory act for Liṅga-pūjā—collecting and setting aside kuśa-sanctified water with a mantra—so the abhiṣeka and purification offerings become ritually empowered and Shiva-oriented.

How does this verse describe the nature of Shiva (Shiva-tattva)?

By invoking “Aghora,” it points to Shiva as Pati who is essentially non-terrifying and purifying—removing pāśa (bondage/impurity) from the paśu (soul) through sanctified means and right intention.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A mantra-governed purification step used in Shaiva pūjā: preparing kuśodaka and empowering it through the Aghora invocation, aligning outer ritual purity with inner discipline emphasized in Pāśupata-oriented worship.