Shloka 25

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

Devanagari script

हुत्वाघोरेण देवेशं स्नात्वाघोरेण वै द्विजाः अष्टद्रोणघृतेनैव स्नाप्य पश्चाद्विशोध्य च

Transliteration

hutvāghoreṇa deveśaṃ snātvāghoreṇa vai dvijāḥ aṣṭadroṇaghṛtenaiva snāpya paścādviśodhya ca

Translation

അഘോര മന്ത്രത്തോടെ ദേവേശനു ഹോമാർപ്പണം നടത്തി, ഹേ ദ്വിജന്മാരേ, തുടർന്ന് അഘോര മന്ത്രം കൊണ്ടുതന്നെ സ്നാനം ചെയ്യിക്കണം. പിന്നെ എട്ട് ദ്രോണം ഘൃതം കൊണ്ടു അഭിഷേകം നടത്തി, അതിനുശേഷം ശോധന-ശുദ്ധിക്രമങ്ങൾ നിർവഹിക്കണം.

Word by Word

• hutvā: having offered (oblations)

• āghoreṇa: with the Aghora (mantra/rite)

• deveśam: the Lord of the gods (Shiva as Pati)

• snātvā: having bathed/after bathing

• āghoreṇa: with Aghora

• vai: indeed

• dvijāḥ: the twice-born (qualified ritualists)

• aṣṭa: eight

• droṇa: droṇa-measures (a large Vedic measure)

• ghṛtena: with ghee

• eva: only/indeed

• snāpya: having caused to be bathed (abhisheka)

• paścāt: afterwards

• viśodhya: having purified/performing purification

• ca: and

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating Shiva-puja vidhi within the Linga Purana discourse)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It prescribes a specific Shiva-puja sequence—homa with the Aghora-mantra followed by mantra-snāna and ghṛta-abhisheka—showing that Linga worship is both mantra-based and purification-oriented, aimed at removing ritual and inner impurities.

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

By calling Him Deveśa, Shiva is presented as Pati—the supreme Lord who receives mantra-infused offerings and bestows purity; the rite implies that approaching Shiva-tattva requires sanctification of both act and actor, aligning the pashu toward liberation from pasha.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Aghora-mantra homa and abhisheka with substantial ghee (aṣṭa-droṇa) followed by viśodhana (purificatory observances), reflecting the Pāśupata-leaning emphasis on cleansing impurity and preparing the practitioner for higher worship and inner discipline.