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

అఘోరుడు ఆయన హృదయం—నిత్య శుభమూ ప్రియమూ. వాముడు ఆయన గూఢ రహస్యం—స్వయంగా సదాశివుడు. సద్యోజాతుడు ఆయన పాదాలు—మహాదేవుడు, మహా నాగేంద్రులను ఆభరణాలుగా ధరించినవాడు.

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.