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

“ദേവസ്യ ത്വാ…” മന്ത്രം ജപിച്ച് കുശാ-സംസ്കൃത ജലം ശേഖരിക്കണം. അത് ഒരിടത്ത്, ശ്രേഷ്ഠമായി സ്വർണ്ണപാത്രത്തിൽ വെച്ചാൽ അഘോര ആഹ്വാനശക്തിയാൽ ദീപ്തമായി ലിംഗപൂജയിൽ പതി-സേവയ്ക്ക് ശുദ്ധികരമാകും.

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.