Aghamarshana Suktam

Aghamarshana Suktam

The Aghamarshana Suktam is a powerful hymn from the Rigveda (Mandala 10, Hymn 190) and is considered highly purificatory. It is primarily recited for the removal of sins (pāpa), purification of the mind and body, and spiritual upliftment. The word Aghamarshana means “one who cleanses sins” (Agha = sin, Marshana = washing away).

This suktam is often chanted during snāna (bathing rituals), prāyaścitta (atonement ceremonies), and other Vedic rituals to cleanse impurities and seek divine blessings.

Structure and Composition

The Aghamarshana Suktam consists of a few key verses, usually three main mantras. These mantras invoke cosmic elements and the divine forces responsible for purification. The hymn is attributed to Sage Aghamarshana Rishi.

The suktam primarily appears in the Rigveda but is also found in the Taittiriya Aranyaka of the Krishna Yajurveda.

Significance and Benefits

1. Purification of Sins (Pāpa-Śuddhi)
   • The primary purpose of the Aghamarshana Suktam is to cleanse sins and negative karma.
   • It is believed that chanting this suktam with devotion helps in atoning past misdeeds.
2. Spiritual and Mental Cleansing
   • Reciting this suktam purifies the mind, removing negativity and bringing clarity.
   • It helps practitioners align themselves with ṛta (cosmic order) and satya (truth).
3. Enhancing the Power of Rituals
   • It is chanted during snāna (ritualistic bath) to purify both body and soul.
   • Many Vedic ceremonies and Yajñas incorporate its recitation for sanctification.
4. Connection to the Five Elements (Pancha Mahabhutas)
   • The hymn acknowledges Agni (fire), Apah (water), and Soma (nectar), showing the connection between nature and purification.

Chanting Procedure

• Traditionally, this suktam is chanted while taking a bath or performing purification rituals.
• It should be recited with sincerity and understanding of its meaning.
• Best times for chanting include:
• During morning and evening baths (Sandhyavandana).
• Before engaging in any major religious activity.
• During Prāyaścitta (atonement) rituals.

Aghamarshana Suktam In English

hira̍ṇyaśṛṅga̠ṃ varu̍ṇa̠-mprapa̍dyē tī̠rtha-mmē̍ dēhi̠ yāchi̍taḥ ।
ya̠nmayā̍ bhu̠ktama̠sādhū̍nā-mpā̠pēbhya̍ścha pra̠tigra̍haḥ ।
yanmē̠ mana̍sā vā̠chā̠ ka̠rma̠ṇā vā du̍ṣkṛta̠-ṅkṛtam ।
tanna̠ indrō̠ varu̍ṇō̠ bṛha̠spati̍-ssavi̠tā cha̍ punantu̠ puna̍ḥ punaḥ ।
namō̠-‘gnayē̎-‘psu̠matē̠ nama̠ indrā̍ya̠ namō̠ varu̍ṇāya̠ namō vāruṇyai̍ namō̠-‘dbhyaḥ ॥

yada̠pā-ṅkrū̠raṃ yada̍mē̠dhyaṃ yada̍śā̠nta-ntadapa̍gachChatāt ।
a̠tyā̠śa̠nāda̍tī-pā̠nā̠-dya̠chcha u̠grātpra̍ti̠grahā̎t ।
tannō̠ varu̍ṇō rā̠jā̠ pā̠ṇinā̎ hyava̠mar​śatu ।
sō̍-‘hama̍pā̠pō vi̠rajō̠ nirmu̠ktō mu̍ktaki̠lbiṣa̍ḥ ।
nāka̍sya pṛ̠ṣṭha-māru̍hya̠ gachChē̠d brahma̍salō̠katām ।
yaśchā̠psu varu̍ṇa̠ssa pu̠nātva̍ghamar​ṣa̠ṇaḥ ।
i̠ma-mmē̍ gaṅgē yamunē sarasvati̠ śutu̍dri̠-stōmag̍ṃ sachatā̠ paru̠ṣṇiyā ।
a̠si̠kni̠yā ma̍rudvṛdhē vi̠tasta̠yā-”rjī̍kīyē śṛṇu̠hyā su̠ṣōma̍yā ।
ṛ̠ta-ñcha̍ sa̠tya-ñchā̠bhī̎ddhā̠-ttapa̠sō-‘dhya̍jāyata ।
tatō̠ rātri̍rajāyata̠ tata̍-ssamu̠drō a̍rṇa̠vaḥ ॥

sa̠mu̠drāda̍rṇa̠vā dadhi̍ saṃvathsa̠rō a̍jāyata ।
a̠hō̠rā̠trāṇi̍ vi̠dadha̠dviśva̍sya miṣa̠tō va̠śī ।
sū̠ryā̠cha̠ndra̠masau̍ dhā̠tā ya̍thā pū̠rvama̍kalpayat ।
diva̍-ñcha pṛthi̠vī-ñchā̠ntari̍kṣa̠-mathō̠ suva̍ḥ ।
yatpṛ̍thi̠vyāgṃ raja̍-ssva̠māntari̍kṣē vi̠rōda̍sī ।
i̠māggṃ stadā̠pō va̍ruṇaḥ pu̠nātva̍ghamar​ṣa̠ṇaḥ ।
pu̠nantu̠ vasa̍vaḥ pu̠nātu̠ varu̍ṇaḥ pu̠nātva̍ghamar​ṣa̠ṇaḥ ।
ē̠ṣa bhū̠tasya̍ ma̠dhyē bhuva̍nasya gō̠ptā ।
ē̠ṣa pu̠ṇyakṛ̍tāṃ lō̠kā̠nē̠ṣa mṛ̠tyōr hi̍ra̠ṇmayam̎ ।
dyāvā̍pṛthi̠vyōr hi̍ra̠ṇmaya̠g̠ṃ saggṃ śri̍ta̠g̠ṃ suva̍ḥ ॥

sana̠-ssuva̠-ssagṃśi̍śādhi ।
ārdra̠-ñjvala̍ti̠ jyōti̍ra̠hama̍smi ।
jyōti̠rjvala̍ti̠ brahmā̠hama̍smi ।
yō̍-‘hama̍smi̠ brahmā̠hama̍smi ।
a̠hama̍smi̠ brahmā̠hama̍smi ।
a̠hamē̠vāha-mmā-ñju̍hōmi̠ svāhā̎ ।
a̠kā̠rya̠kā̠rya̍vakī̠rṇīstē̠nō bhrū̍ṇa̠hā gu̍ruta̠lpagaḥ ।
varu̍ṇō̠-‘pāma̍ghamar​ṣa̠ṇa-stasmā̎-tpā̠pā-tpramu̍chyatē ।
ra̠jōbhūmi̍-stva̠māgṃ rōda̍yasva̠ prava̍danti̠ dhīrā̎ḥ ।
ākrā̎n​thsamu̠draḥ pra̍tha̠mē vidha̍rmañja̠naya̍-npra̠jā bhuva̍nasya̠ rājā̎ ।
vṛṣā̍ pa̠vitrē̠ adhi̠sānō̠ avyē̍ bṛ̠hatsōmō̍ vāvṛdhē suvā̠na indu̍ḥ ॥

The Aghamarshana Suktam is a deeply meaningful Vedic hymn that highlights the importance of truth, purification, and cosmic harmony. By reciting it with faith, one can cleanse the mind, body, and soul, align with divine forces, and move toward spiritual enlightenment. It remains a vital chant for seekers who wish to purify themselves and progress on the path of righteousness (Dharma).