Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

हुत्वाघोरेण देवेशं स्नात्वाघोरेण वै द्विजाः अष्टद्रोणघृतेनैव स्नाप्य पश्चाद्विशोध्य च

Transliteration

hutvāghoreṇa deveśaṃ snātvāghoreṇa vai dvijāḥ aṣṭadroṇaghṛtenaiva snāpya paścādviśodhya ca

Translation

Nachdem man dem Herrn der Götter mit dem Aghora-Mantra Opfergaben dargebracht hat, sollen die Dvija (die Zweimalgeborenen) die Gottheit auch mit dem Aghora-Mantra baden. Danach soll man Ihn mit acht Droṇa Ghee als Abhiṣeka-Überguss salben und anschließend die Reinigungsriten vollziehen.

Word by Word

• hutvā: having offered (oblations)

• āghoreṇa: with the Aghora (mantra/rite)

• deveśam: the Lord of the gods (Shiva as Pati)

• snātvā: having bathed/after bathing

• āghoreṇa: with Aghora

• vai: indeed

• dvijāḥ: the twice-born (qualified ritualists)

• aṣṭa: eight

• droṇa: droṇa-measures (a large Vedic measure)

• ghṛtena: with ghee

• eva: only/indeed

• snāpya: having caused to be bathed (abhisheka)

• paścāt: afterwards

• viśodhya: having purified/performing purification

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific Shiva-puja sequence—homa with the Aghora-mantra followed by mantra-snāna and ghṛta-abhisheka—showing that Linga worship is both mantra-based and purification-oriented, aimed at removing ritual and inner impurities.

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

By calling Him Deveśa, Shiva is presented as Pati—the supreme Lord who receives mantra-infused offerings and bestows purity; the rite implies that approaching Shiva-tattva requires sanctification of both act and actor, aligning the pashu toward liberation from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Aghora-mantra homa and abhisheka with substantial ghee (aṣṭa-droṇa) followed by viśodhana (purificatory observances), reflecting the Pāśupata-leaning emphasis on cleansing impurity and preparing the practitioner for higher worship and inner discipline.