Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra
तदानीमेव दक्षो ऽपि गतस्तत्र सहामरैः । जामातरं हरं द्रष्टुं द्रष्टुं चात्मसुतां सतीम्
tadānīmeva dakṣo 'pi gatastatra sahāmaraiḥ | jāmātaraṃ haraṃ draṣṭuṃ draṣṭuṃ cātmasutāṃ satīm
Eben da begab sich auch Dakṣa dorthin, begleitet von den Göttern, um seinen Schwiegersohn Hara (Śiva) zu sehen und ebenso seine eigene Tochter Satī zu erblicken.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This verse initiates the Dakṣa–Satī narrative cycle rather than a Jyotirliṅga account; it sets up the karmic conflict that culminates in Satī’s self-immolation and Śiva’s fierce response.
Significance: Serves as a cautionary paradigm: social pride and ritualism without recognition of Śiva-Śakti leads to bondage (pāśa) and suffering.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It marks the karmic turning-point where Dakṣa approaches Śiva outwardly, yet the narrative warns that mere social or ritual proximity to Pati (Śiva) is fruitless without inner reverence; true auspiciousness arises from bhakti and right understanding.
By naming Śiva as “Hara,” the verse points to the gracious Saguna Lord who removes bondage (pāśa). In Śaiva practice, approaching Hara through Liṅga-worship is approaching the living presence of the Lord with humility, not pride like Dakṣa’s later stance.
Adopt a reverential approach before worship: begin with mental surrender to Hara, then perform simple Liṅga-pūjā with Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya") and, if aligned with tradition, Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrākṣa as supports for steady devotion.