Shloka 6
पार्वत्याः तपः-परीक्षा (Śiva Tests Pārvatī’s Austerity)
आगतं तं तदा दृष्ट्वा ब्राह्मणं तेजसाद्भुतम् । अपूजयच्छिवा देवी सर्वपूजोपहारकैः
āgataṃ taṃ tadā dṛṣṭvā brāhmaṇaṃ tejasādbhutam | apūjayacchivā devī sarvapūjopahārakaiḥ
Da sah die Göttin Śivā (Pārvatī) jenen Brahmanen von wunderbarer Ausstrahlung herankommen und ehrte ihn mit jeder Art von Verehrung und mit allen üblichen Opfergaben.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Bhikṣāṭana
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the scene functions as a dharma-test motif where Śiva approaches in disguised form and the devotee’s conduct (satkāra/atithi-pūjā) becomes the vehicle for grace.
Significance: Models atithi-satkāra as a Śaiva virtue: honoring the radiant ascetic is tantamount to honoring Śiva; such conduct is portrayed as a proximate cause for anugraha (Śiva’s favor).
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It highlights atithi-sevā (reverent hospitality) as a form of bhakti: honoring a luminous brāhmaṇa is treated as honoring Śiva’s presence, training the devotee in humility, purity, and dharma—supports for grace (anugraha) in the Shaiva path.
The verse models Saguna-bhakti: devotion expressed through tangible pūjā and offerings. In Shaiva practice, such external worship—whether to the Liṅga or to Śiva’s devotees/holy guests—cultivates inner devotion and readiness for Śiva’s grace.
Practice atithi-pūjā: receive holy guests with respectful words, water for washing, a seat, food, and offerings; inwardly repeat the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) while offering, seeing the guest as worthy of Śiva’s honor.