Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 10

Aghora-Mantra Japa: Graded Expiations, Pañcagavya Purification, and Homa for Mahāpātaka-Nivṛtti

Devanagari script

अयुताघोरमभ्यस्य मुच्यते नात्र संशयः सुरापो लक्षमात्रेण बुद्ध्याबुद्ध्यापि वै प्रभो

Transliteration

ayutāghoramabhyasya mucyate nātra saṃśayaḥ surāpo lakṣamātreṇa buddhyābuddhyāpi vai prabho

Translation

反复修持“阿伽罗（Aghora）”真言一万遍，即得解脱——此无疑。即便饮酒醉迷者，若修至十万遍，亦得解脱，不论是明知而行或无知而行，噢主宰！

Word by Word

• अयुत (ayuta): ten thousand

• अघोरम् (aghoram): the Aghora-mantra / the Aghora-form of Shiva

• अभ्यस्य (abhyasya): by practising, repeating (japa)

• मुच्यते (mucyate): is released, is liberated

• न (na): not

• अत्र (atra): here, in this matter

• संशयः (saṃśayaḥ): doubt

• सुरापः (surāpaḥ): a drinker of surā (intoxicant)

• लक्षमात्रेण (lakṣa-mātreṇa): by the measure of one lakh (100,000)

• बुद्ध्या (buddhyā): with conscious intent/understanding

• अबुद्ध्या (abuddhyā): without conscious intent/understanding

• अपि (api): even

• वै (vai): indeed

• प्रभो (prabho): O Lord

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional Shaiva expiations and mantra-power to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva (Aghora)

FAQs

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

It asserts that Shiva-mantra japa—specifically the Aghora aspect of Mahadeva—functions as a powerful prayashchitta that cuts pasha (bondage) and leads the pashu (soul) toward mukti, supporting Linga-centered worship as a direct liberating discipline.

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

Shiva is implied as Pati whose grace operates through mantra: even grave impurity is purified by contact with Aghora, indicating Shiva-tattva as transcendent purity that can dissolve mala and karmic entanglement when invoked.

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Aghora-mantra japa with prescribed counts (10,000 and 100,000) is highlighted as a Pashupata-oriented sadhana/prayashchitta, emphasizing disciplined repetition rather than mere external rites.