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

ബ്രാഹ്മണസ്വം അപഹരിക്കുന്നവൻ, ഗോഹന്താവ്, മാതൃഹന്താവ്, പിതൃഹന്താവ്; ദേവന്മാരെ അവരുടെ സ്ഥാനത്തിൽ നിന്ന് ച്യുതപ്പെടുത്തുന്നവൻ, ലിംഗം ധ്വംസിക്കുന്നവൻ—ഇവയും മഹാപാപങ്ങൾ; പതി-അവമാനത്താൽ ജീവനിൽ ഭീകര പാശബന്ധം വരുത്തുന്നു।

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.