Shloka 61
भैरवावतारलीलावर्णनम् (Bhairava-avatāra-līlā-varṇanam) — “Narration of the Divine Play of Bhairava’s Descent”
आगत्य तीर्थप्रवरे स्नानं कृत्वा विधानतः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवान्मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया
āgatya tīrthapravare snānaṃ kṛtvā vidhānataḥ | tarpayitvā pitṝndevānmucyate brahmahatyayā
आगत्य तीर्थप्रवरे स्नानं कृत्वा विधानतः । तर्पयित्वा पितॄन्देवान् मुच्यते ब्रह्महत्यया ॥
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: At Kapālamocana/Kāśī, prescribed snāna and tarpaṇa are said to free one from brahmahatyā. The narrative frames ritual action as effective because the kṣetra is saturated with Śiva’s saving presence.
Significance: Pilgrimage plus proper rite (snāna, tarpaṇa) is presented as a powerful prāyaścitta for grave sins; reinforces Kāśī as a foremost tīrtha for purification and liberation-oriented living.
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It teaches that sincere, scripture-guided purification—tīrtha-snāna combined with honoring devas and pitṛs—can dissolve even severe karmic impurity, preparing the soul (paśu) to turn toward Shiva’s grace and liberation.
In Shaiva practice, tīrtha and temple worship converge: bathing by rule and performing tarpaṇa are supportive purificatory acts (prāyaścitta) that make one fit for Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-pūjā—through which Shiva’s anugraha (grace) is sought.
Perform tīrtha-snāna as per vidhi, then do pitṛ-tarpaṇa and deva-tarpaṇa with water; as a Shaiva completion, one may follow with japa of the Panchakshara ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") to internalize the purification.