Chapter 324 - Appeasing rite for lord Śiva (rudraśānti or śivaśānti)

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The Lord said:

1-3. I shall describe the appreasing rite for Śiva [i.e., śivaśānti] which is preceded by the collection of formulae of Aghora. It is the lord of seven crores (of formulae). It is fierce. It is capable of destroying sins such as killing a brahmin etc. It is the abode of both excellent as well as ordinary achievements. It destroys portents pertaining to the celestial region, sky and earth. It devours poisons, spirits and goblins. It confers all the desires. It is an expiation destroying a host of sins. It destroys misfortune and difficulties.

4-7. After having located Ekavīra, the five faces should always be contemplated. (The face should be contemplated as) white in (the rites of) appeasement and nourishment, red in (the rites of) subjugation, yellow in (the rites of) paralysing, smoky in (the rites of) uccāṭana (a kind of charm for expulsion) and black in (the rites of) attracting (a person). One should worship the thirty-two letters for confounding (an enemy). The formula should be repeated thirty lakh times and the oblation should be done one-tenth (of that number). Gum resin mixed with amṛtā would accomplish all things. There is no other formula superior to the Aghora formula that would give enjoyment and emancipation. (By this repetition) one who is not a religious student would become a religious student and one who has not had his ablution after completing studies would have that.

8. The weapon of Aghora and Aghora are the two excellent formulae. One who repeats (the formulae) or does oblation (with them) or worships would rout the army of the enemy in the battle.

9-13. I shall describe (the rite of) appeasement of Rudra which is beneficial and which accomplishes all the desires. For the sake of progeny, for removing the malignant influences of the planets, for removing poison and curing diseases, for controlling famine and epidemics, for removing (the effect of) bad dreams, for gaining army and kingdom, for the destruction of enemies (it should be performed). When trees bear flowers untimely and for controlling all spirits (the formula should be used). (The word) obeisance should be used for worship, ending with oblation for making the oblation, the syllable vaṣaṭ for strengthening and vauṣaṭ for nourishment. In the place of ‘ca’, letter two times, the union of that class (of names) is made.

Oṃ! Obeisance to Rudra and to you and to the bull. (Obeisance) to one who does not leave, to unborn one, to the prime entity, to the worshipful, to Īśāna and to one possessing valour. (The following) five (are worshipped) in the north. (Obeisance) to the omnipresent, to the dreadful one, to one having distorted features, one who does not have any change in the form.

(Worship is made) for the sake of removal in (the principle of) kāla and water in the south-western direction.

Obeisance to Ekapiṅgala, to Śvetapiṅgala (and) to Kṛṣṇapiṅgala. Obeisance to Madhupiṅgala. (Obeisance) to Madhupiṅgala in self-restraint. (Obeisance) to Ananta, to Ārdra, to Śuṣka (dry) and to Payogaṇa in the principle of kāla (time). To the dreadful one, to the most dreadful one in the two principles of māyā (illusion). To the thousand-headed one, to the thousand-mouthed one, to the thousand-handed and footed one and to the thousand liṅga in the principle of learning. One should locate on the right petal from thousand-eyed. To Ekajaṭā, Dvijaṭā, Vyaṭā, to the form of Svāhā, to the form of Svadhā, to the form of vaṣaṭ, to the six Rudras. O Guha! these are situated in the leaf of fire in the principle of Īśa. To the lord of goblins, to the lord of beings, to the lord of Umā and to the lord of time. The six are to be worshipped in the eastern petals in the principle called Sadāśiva. To Uma, bearing a dreadful form, Oṃ! do (2), Ruhiṇi (2)! You are Rudra, God of the celestials, Viśākha! Kill (2), burn (2), cook (2), churn (2), turu (2), aru (2), and suru (2). Remember the appeasement of Rudra. O Kṛṣṇapiṅgala! Obeisance to the lord of the universe, the lord of the untimely goblins. (Goddess) Umā and (god) Maheśvara should be worshipped in the pericarp in the principle of Śiva. Oṃ to one pervading the sky, to the form of the sky, to omnipresent Śiva, to the endless, to one without anyone to govern, one who is not resorted, to Śiva. These nine terms are said to pervade the sky in the principle of Śiva. Obeisance to the eternal one! to the one seated on the yogic altar! to the eternal yogin! to the person having contemplation as food! Oṃ obeisance to Śiva! Lord of all (beings)! One having Īśāna as the head! One having Tatpuruṣa and others as the five faces! O Guha! The five chambers on the eastern petal in the principle of sat should be worhipped! To one having Aghora as the heart! To one having Vāmadeva as the secret organ! To one embodied as Sadyojāta! Oṃ obeisance! To one extremely secret! To one who conceals! To one who does not have death! To one who presides over death! To one of the form of radiance! in the leaf (presided over) by Fire, in the principle of oblation! in the principle of knowledge! in the south! To the supreme lord! To the sentient and insentient! To the sky-pervading one! The splendour of the prime splendour! in the principle of illusion in the south-west! in the principle of time in the west! Oṃ, dhṛ, dhṛ, nānā, vāṃ, vaṃ! Deathless one! Born of death! Benevolent one! The supreme soul! Great god! Master of good feelings! Great splendour! Presiding deity of yoga! Release, release, churn, churn! Oṃ! O Sarva (everything) (2)! Oṃ Bhava (The source) (2)! One who bestows happiness on all beings! In the son of Wind (god) and in the man of restraint in the north! One who is manifest in the presence of all! One who is above Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Rudra! One who is not worshipped! One who is not worshipped! One who is not extolled! The witness (2)! Come! Come! O Sun! O Fire (2)! O Knowledge (2)! Sound! Subtle one (2)! Benevolent one (2)! Giver of all things (2)! Oṃ! Obeisance to Śiva. Oṃ obeisance to Śiva. Oṃ! Obeisance. One should worship, offer oblation and repeat (the above formula) in the prākṛta principle in the north-east. It would remedy all afflictions due to planets, diseases and incantations and accomplish all things.