Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra
देव्युवाच । ब्रह्मादयः पिशाचांता यस्याज्ञावशवर्तिनः । स देवस्सांप्रतं तात विधिना नार्चितः किल
devyuvāca | brahmādayaḥ piśācāṃtā yasyājñāvaśavartinaḥ | sa devassāṃprataṃ tāta vidhinā nārcitaḥ kila
Die Göttin sprach: „O Geliebter, von Brahmā und den übrigen Göttern bis hin zu den Piśācas stehen alle unter der Herrschaft Seines Gebotes. Und doch wird eben dieser Herr, wie es scheint, gegenwärtig nicht nach rechter Vorschrift und Ritus verehrt.“
Parvati (Devi)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: The verse frames Śiva as the universal sovereign whose ājñā governs all beings, yet whose worship is neglected; this is a general Purāṇic critique of ritualism that omits Śiva rather than a specific sthala-origin narrative.
Significance: Establishes the doctrinal basis for Śiva-pūjā as the highest corrective act: honoring the Lord whose command sustains all hierarchies (deva to piśāca) yields restoration of dharma and right orientation (śiva-bhakti).
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights Shiva as Pati—the supreme Lord whose command governs all beings—while stressing that true benefit arises when devotion is aligned with proper dharmic/śaiva injunction (vidhi), not merely social custom.
By implying neglect of ‘proper worship,’ the verse points toward regulated Saguna upāsanā—classically expressed through Śiva-liṅga worship with prescribed offerings, purity, and mantra—so devotion becomes a disciplined path to grace.
The takeaway is vidhi-yukta Śiva-pūjā: worship with mantra and rule—such as japa of the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and simple liṅga-arcana with reverence—rather than casual or irregular veneration.