Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 21
भक्तिभेदाः—ज्ञानप्रधानभक्तेः प्रशंसा
Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion
हरिभक्तो हि मां निन्देत्तथा शैवोभवे द्यदि । तयोः शापा भवेयुस्ते तत्त्वप्राप्तिर्भवेन्न हि
haribhakto hi māṃ nindettathā śaivobhave dyadi | tayoḥ śāpā bhaveyuste tattvaprāptirbhavenna hi
إنْ أقدمَ عابدُ هَري (فيشنو) على ذمّي، أو صارَ عابدُ شِيفا ممّن يذمّ هَري، فإنّ اللعناتِ التي يجلبونها على أنفسهم تقعُ أثرُها؛ حقًّا إنّ إدراكَ الحقيقةِ العُليا لا ينهضُ لمثلِ هذا الإنسان.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
FAQs
It teaches that sectarian contempt (nindā) toward Śiva or Hari is a spiritual offense that obstructs tattva-prāpti—true realization and liberation—because it violates devotion, humility, and the recognition of the one supreme reality revealed through divine forms.
Linga/Saguṇa worship is meant to mature bhakti into knowledge of the highest truth; if one worships yet disparages another divine form (especially Hari), the worship becomes tainted by aparādha, preventing the inner fruit of Linga-upāsanā—purity and realization.
Practice respectful, non-sectarian bhakti: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), apply Tripuṇḍra with reverence, and maintain restraint of speech (vāṅ-niyama) by avoiding nindā of any deity—especially Śiva and Hari.