Aghamarshaṇa (Ṛshi)

Aghamarshaṇa · agha-marshaṇa, “he who wipes away wrongdoing”

Aghamarshaṇa is a ṛshi. The Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa names him three times among great gatherings of ṛshis: in the sabhā of King Suyajña, at the Puṇyaka vrata of Pārvatī on Kailāsa, and at the yajña of Kaṃsa in Mathurā. He is not the aghamarshaṇa rite.

In Suyajña’s sabhā

Bhagavān Śiva tells Pārvatī, and Nārāyaṇa, the ṛshi, tells Nārada, the account of King Suyajña. When the king had finished a great yajña, he sat on his jewelled throne among the devas and munis. A brāhmaṇa in soiled clothes, his throat parched, came and blessed him; the king bowed but did not rise from his throne, and the members of the sabhā smiled. The brāhmaṇa pronounced a śāpa on the king that he lose his kingdom, to suffer from kushṭha (leprosy), to lose his mind and to meet calamities. Then he too left the sabhā. The ṛshis who were there followed him in fear, Aghamarshaṇa among them, with the Pitṛs, Agni, the Vaishṇavas, the Dikpālas and the devas. Saying “Stop, stop,” and teaching him nīti (right conduct), they made him halt.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapter 50

At Pārvatī’s Puṇyaka vrata

When Pārvatī Devī performed the Puṇyaka vrata on Kailāsa, Brahmā, Śiva and Śrī Mahāvishṇu came, and a great host of ṛshis and munis came with their disciples, Sanaka, Sananda, Sanātana and Kapila first among them. Aghamarshaṇa was one of them. Śaṅkara seated all the guests on high thrones and honoured them.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Gaṇeśa Khaṇḍa, Chapter 6

At Kaṃsa’s yajña

When Kaṃsa sent messengers in every direction to call guests to his yajña, all the munis came, and the kings with their retinues. Among the munis were Kaṇāda, Kauśika, Pāṇini, Kautsa, Aghamarshaṇa, Vālmīki and Lomaharshaṇa. Kaṃsa greeted them all in fitting manner.

Source: Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 64

Sources

• Brahma Vaivarta Purāṇa, Prakṛti Khaṇḍa, Chapter 50; Gaṇeśa Khaṇḍa, Chapter 6; Śrī Kṛshṇa Janma Khaṇḍa, Chapter 64