Linga Purana — Purva Bhaga, Shloka 16

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

Devanagari script

उपांशु यच्चतुर्धा वै वाचिकं चाष्टधा जपेत् पातकादर्धमेव स्याद् उपपातकिनां स्मृतम्

Transliteration

upāṃśu yaccaturdhā vai vācikaṃ cāṣṭadhā japet pātakādardhameva syād upapātakināṃ smṛtam

Translation

应以低声（upāṁśu）诵念真言四遍，又以高声（vācika）诵念八遍。经中教示：背负次罪（upapātaka）者，其所得功德仅为重罪（pātaka）之情形的一半。

Word by Word

• उपांशु (upāṁśu): in a low voice/whispered

• यत् (yat): which/that

• चतुर्धा (caturdhā): fourfold/in four measures

• वै (vai): indeed

• वाचिकम् (vācikam): spoken aloud/verbal

• च (ca): and

• अष्टधा (aṣṭadhā): eightfold/in eight measures

• जपेत् (japet): one should recite (japa)

• पातकात् (pātakāt): than/with respect to grave sin

• अर्धम् (ardham): half

• एव (eva): only/indeed

• स्यात् (syāt): would be/is

• उपपातकिनाम् (upapātakinām): of those with secondary sins

• स्मृतम् (smṛtam): is remembered/declared in tradition

Speaker

Suta Goswami (narrating traditional injunctions within the Linga Purana discourse to the sages of Naimisharanya)

Characters & Entities

• Shiva

FAQs

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

It gives a practical rule for mantra-japa used in Shiva-puja, distinguishing low-voiced and aloud recitation as measurable disciplines supporting purification before (and during) Linga worship.

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

By framing japa as a means to lessen sin and bondage, it implies Shiva as Pati—the liberating Lord—approached through mantra, which refines the pashu (soul) and loosens pasha (impurity/bondage).

What ritualistic or Yogic practice is highlighted here?

Mantra-japa discipline: upāṁśu-japa (low-voiced) and vācika-japa (aloud), prescribed in specific multiples as part of Shaiva purification and preparatory practice aligned with Pashupata-oriented sadhana.