Shloka 90

Adhyaya 17: लिङ्गोद्भव—ब्रह्मविष्ण्वहङ्कार-शमनं, ओंकार-प्रादुर्भावः, मन्त्र-तत्त्वं च

Devanagari script

अघोरहृदयं हृद्यं वामगुह्यं सदाशिवम् सद्यः पादं महादेवं महाभोगीन्द्रभूषणम्

Transliteration

aghorahṛdayaṃ hṛdyaṃ vāmaguhyaṃ sadāśivam sadyaḥ pādaṃ mahādevaṃ mahābhogīndrabhūṣaṇam

Translation

Aghora ialah hati-Nya—sentiasa suci, membawa keberkatan dan dikasihi; Vāma ialah rahsia batin-Nya—Sadāśiva sendiri; dan Sadyojāta ialah kaki-Nya—Mahādeva, berhias dengan para raja ular agung sebagai perhiasan-Nya.

Word by Word

• अघोर-हृदयम्: the heart-aspect called Aghora

• हृद्यम्: pleasing, dear, auspicious to the heart

• वाम-गुह्यम्: Vāma as the secret/hidden inner principle

• सदाशिवम्: Sadāśiva, the ever-auspicious Lord (Pati)

• सद्यः-पादम्: the feet-aspect called Sadyojāta

• महादेवम्: Mahādeva, the Great God

• महा-भोगि-इन्द्र-भूषणम्: adorned with mighty serpent-kings (Nāga-lords) as ornaments

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating the Linga Purana to the sages of Naimisharanya, describing Shiva’s mantra-body/tattva)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Mahadeva/Sadashiva)
• Aghora
• Vama
• Sadyojata
• Naga-lords (Bhogindra)

FAQs

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

It gives a contemplative map for Linga-upasana: worship is not only external (dravya-puja) but also internal (nyasa/dhyana), recognizing Shiva as the very heart, the hidden mystery, and the grounding feet—so the Pashu turns inward toward Pati.

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

Shiva is presented as Sadāśiva—the ever-auspicious supreme Pati—whose aspects (Aghora, Vāma, Sadyojāta) structure the devotee’s realization: the heart as grace-filled auspiciousness, the secret as transcendent depth, and the feet as the stable refuge that dissolves Pāśa (bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-nyāsa and dhyāna aligned to Shiva’s aspects—placing Aghora in the heart, contemplating Vāma as the inner secret, and taking refuge in Sadyojāta as the feet—supporting Pāśupata-style inward worship alongside Linga-puja.