Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 12

शुक्रोत्पत्तिः तथा महेश्वरदर्शनम् (Śukra’s Emergence and the Vision of Maheśvara)

Devanagari script

अघोरं घोरदैत्यघ्नं घोरघोषं वनस्पतिम् । भस्मांगं जटिलं शुद्धं भेरुंडशतसेवितम्

Transliteration

aghoraṃ ghoradaityaghnaṃ ghoraghoṣaṃ vanaspatim | bhasmāṃgaṃ jaṭilaṃ śuddhaṃ bheruṃḍaśatasevitam

Translation

ನಾನು ಶಿವನಿಗೆ ನಮಸ್ಕರಿಸುತ್ತೇನೆ—ಅಘೋರನಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ ಘೋರ ದೈತ್ಯಗಣಗಳನ್ನು ಸಂಹರಿಸುವವನು; ಭಯಾನಕ ಘೋಷವಿರುವವನು; ಅರಣ್ಯದ ಅಧಿಪತಿ ವೃಕ್ಷದಂತೆ ಸ್ಥಿರನು; ಭಸ್ಮದಿಂದ ಪವಿತ್ರವಾದ ಅಂಗಗಳಿರುವವನು; ಜಟಾಧಾರಿ, ಪರಮಶುದ್ಧನು; ಮತ್ತು ನೂರಾರು ಭೇರುಂಡ-ಸಮಾನ ಶಕ್ತಿವಂತರಿಂದ ಸೇವಿತನು।

Word by Word

• अघोरम्: non-terrible / benign (Aghora)
• अघोरम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• घोर-दैत्य-घ्नम्: terrible slayer of demons
• घोर-दैत्य-घ्नम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (√हन् धातु; घ्न-प्रत्ययान्त प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (दैत्यान् घ्नाति इति; घोरः (भयानकः) दैत्यघ्नः); पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• घोर-घोषम्: of dreadful roar/sound
• घोर-घोषम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: घोर (प्रातिपदिक) + घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (घोरः घोषः यस्य/घोरः घोषः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• वनस्पतिम्: lord of the forest / tree
• वनस्पतिम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वनस्पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भस्म-अङ्गम्: whose body is (smeared with) ash
• भस्म-अङ्गम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भस्म (प्रातिपदिक) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भस्मना अङ्गं यस्य/भस्माङ्गः); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• जटिलम्: matted-haired
• जटिलम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जटिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

• शुद्धम्: pure
• शुद्धम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शुद्ध (√शुध्/√शुच् धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; विशेषण

• भेरुण्ड-शत-सेवितम्: served by hundreds of Bhēruṇḍas
• भेरुण्ड-शत-सेवितम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भेरुण्ड (प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक) + सेवित (√सेव् धातु; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (भेरुण्डशतैः सेवितम्); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण

Speaker

Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Rudra Saṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Āghoramūrti

Mantra Metadata

Mantra: अघोरं घोरदैत्यघ्नं घोरघोषं वनस्पतिम् । भस्मांगं जटिलं शुद्धं भेरुंडशतसेवितम्

Type: stotra

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse holds together two truths: Śiva is Aghora (the ultimately benign, liberating Lord) while also Ghora in function—destroying demonic forces that bind the soul. In Shaiva Siddhānta terms, Pati (Śiva) removes pāśa (bondage) by subduing inner and outer adharmic powers, revealing His intrinsic śuddhatva (purity).

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

These epithets describe Saguna Śiva—approachable through form, names, and attributes—commonly worshipped as the Liṅga. The Liṅga signifies the transcendent Aghora reality, while the praise of His bhasma, jaṭā, and protective power supports devotional worship that leads the devotee toward the formless (nirguṇa) truth.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

The mention of bhasmāṅga points to Tripuṇḍra (sacred ash) as a purifier and reminder of impermanence, paired with Śiva-nāma japa such as the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya.” Meditatively, contemplate Aghora—fearlessness born from Śiva’s purity—while offering stuti to dissolve inner “daityas” (anger, pride, delusion).