Shloka 26

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

Devanagari script

अहोरात्रोषितः स्नातः पिबेत्कूर्चं शिवाग्रतः ब्राह्मं ब्रह्मजपं कुर्याद् आचम्य च यथाविधि

Transliteration

ahorātroṣitaḥ snātaḥ pibetkūrcaṃ śivāgrataḥ brāhmaṃ brahmajapaṃ kuryād ācamya ca yathāvidhi

Translation

Nachdem man Tag und Nacht in Zucht verweilt und dann gebadet hat, soll man in Śivas Gegenwart vom geheiligten kūrca-Wasser nippen; daraufhin vollziehe man das Ācamana nach Vorschrift und nehme das Brāhma-Ritual auf sich — das Japa des heiligen Brahman-Mantras — damit der paśu (die Seele) gereinigt werde, um sich Pati, Herrn Śiva, zu nähern.

Word by Word

• अहोरात्र-उषितः: having stayed/kept vigil for a full day and night (observing restraint)

• स्नातः: having bathed

• पिबेत्: should drink/sip

• कूर्चम्: kūrca (purificatory/ritual water associated with darbha/kūrca, a sanctifying sip)

• शिव-अग्रतः: in front of Śiva / in Śiva’s presence

• ब्राह्मम्: pertaining to Brahman / the Brāhma rite

• ब्रह्म-जपम्: repetition (japa) of the Brahman-mantra (Vedic sacred formula)

• कुर्यात्: should do

• आचम्य: having sipped water ritually (ācamana)

• च: and

• यथा-विधि: according to rule/proper procedure.

Speaker

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

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Brahman

FAQs

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

It sets the prerequisite purification sequence—vigil/discipline, bathing, sanctified sipping (kūrca), and proper ācamana—so the worshipper becomes fit to stand before Śiva and begin mantra-based worship.

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

Śiva is implied as Pati—the immediate divine presence before whom the paśu must be ritually and inwardly purified; nearness to Śiva-tattva is approached through śuddhi (purification) and brahman-oriented japa.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

A preparatory sādhana combining vrata-like restraint (ahorātra discipline), snāna, ācamana, and Vedic mantra-japa—an outer-and-inner purification aligned with Pāśupata-oriented Śiva-pūjā.