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

“देवस्य त्वा…” मंत्र का जप करते हुए कुशा-संस्कारित जल एकत्र करे। उसे एक स्थान पर, श्रेष्ठतः स्वर्ण-पात्र में रखे; अघोर-आह्वान से वह दीप्त होकर लिङ्ग-पूजा में पति-सेवा हेतु पावन बनता है।

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.