Shloka 16

उत्तरदिग्देशस्थ-शिवलीङ्गमाहात्म्य

Māhātmya of Northern-Region Śiva-liṅgas

Devanagari script

हत्याहरणतीर्थे तु शिवलिंगमघापहम् । पूजनीयं विशेषेण हत्याकोटिविनाशनम्

Transliteration

hatyāharaṇatīrthe tu śivaliṃgamaghāpaham | pūjanīyaṃ viśeṣeṇa hatyākoṭivināśanam

Translation

हत्याहरण तीर्थात पापहर शिवलिंग आहे. त्याची विशेष श्रद्धेने पूजा करावी, कारण ते हत्यादि घोर पापांचे कोटी दोषही नष्ट करते।

Word by Word

• हत्याहरणतीर्थे: at the pilgrimage-place that removes sin of killing
• हत्याहरणतीर्थे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हत्या + हरण + तीर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हत्यायाः हरणम्; हरणस्य तीर्थम्)

• तु: indeed, and
• तु: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/अन्वयार्थक-अव्यय (particle)

• शिवलिङ्गम्: Śiva-liṅga
• शिवलिङ्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: शिवस्य लिङ्गम्)

• अघापहम्: sin-removing
• अघापहम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अघ + अपह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/उपपद-तत्पुरुषभावः: अघं अपहन्ति इति)

• पूजनीयम्: worthy to be worshipped
• पूजनीयम्: Karma (कर्म/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पूज् (धातु) + अनीयर् (कृदन्त)
• Form: अनीयर्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/कर्तव्यता), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘to be worshipped’

• विशेषेण: especially
• विशेषेण: Karana (करण/प्रकार)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विशेष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणार्थे (instrumental of manner)

• हत्याकोटिविनाशनम्: destroyer of crores of (sins of) killing
• हत्याकोटिविनाशनम्: Karma (कर्म/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत्या + कोटि + विनाशन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: हत्यायाः कोटयः; तासां विनाशनम्)

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pati

Shiva Form: Mahādeva

Jyotirlinga Context

Sthala Purana: A tīrtha explicitly named “Hatyāharaṇa” is praised as a sin-removing ford where a Śiva-liṅga is especially efficacious in destroying even mahāpātaka-taints (e.g., hatyā). The verse functions as a māhātmya-style injunction to worship there for expiation and purification.

Significance: Prāyaścitta-oriented pilgrimage: darśana/pūjā here is framed as capable of dissolving even extreme karmic bondage (mahāpātaka), restoring ritual purity and eligibility for dharma.

Shakti Dimension

Role: liberating

Ritual Elements

Offering: pushpa

Characters & Entities

• Shiva
• Shiva-linga
• Hatyaharana Tirtha

FAQs

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

It proclaims a tīrtha-centered grace of Pati (Śiva): sincere worship of the Śiva-liṅga at Hatyāharaṇa purifies even the heaviest karmic stains, emphasizing Śiva’s role as the supreme remover of pāpa and giver of inner cleansing leading toward liberation.

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

The liṅga is Saguna Śiva’s accessible form for devotees; by honoring the liṅga with devotion, one approaches the transcendent Nirguṇa reality through a concrete sacred symbol, receiving Śiva’s anugraha (grace) that burns sin and refines consciousness.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

It directly recommends viśeṣa-pūjā (special worship) of the liṅga—classically including abhiṣeka, bilva-offering, and japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” performed with repentance, purity, and steady bhakti.