Shloka 29

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मस्वहा तथा गोघ्नो मातृहा पितृहा तथा देवप्रच्यावकश्चैव लिङ्गप्रध्वंसकस् तथा

Transliteration

brahmasvahā tathā goghno mātṛhā pitṛhā tathā devapracyāvakaścaiva liṅgapradhvaṃsakas tathā

Translation

Likewise, one who steals what belongs to a brāhmaṇa, one who kills a cow, one who slays one’s mother, and one who slays one’s father; also one who causes the fall of the gods from their divine station, and one who destroys the Liṅga—such acts are counted among the gravest offenses, bringing severe bondage (pāśa) upon the paśu through contempt of Pati.

Word by Word

• ब्रह्मस्वहा: stealer of a Brāhmaṇa’s property / sacrilegious thief

• तथा: and/likewise

• गोघ्नः: cow-killer

• मातृहा: mother-slayer

• पितृहा: father-slayer

• देवप्रच्यावकः: one who makes the gods fall from their position / disrupts divine order

• च: and

• एव: indeed

• लिङ्गप्रध्वंसकः: destroyer of the Liṅga / one who demolishes Shiva’s emblem

• तथा: and/also

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It ranks the destruction of the Liṅga among the most severe transgressions, warning that Liṅga-ninda (disrespect toward Shiva’s emblem) intensifies bondage (pāśa) and obstructs the soul’s return to Pati through right worship.

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

By treating harm to the Liṅga as a supreme offense, the verse implies the Liṅga is not a mere object but a sacred manifestation (liṅga as sign of the formless Pati), and contempt toward it is contempt toward Shiva-tattva itself.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

It highlights the foundational discipline of avoiding Shiva-apacāra—purity of conduct and reverence toward the Liṅga—without which Pāśupata-oriented sādhana and Liṅga-pūjā do not yield liberation.