Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 69
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
अतो व्यतिक्रमं मे ऽद्य क्षंतुमर्हसि शंकर । इति विज्ञापितस्ताभ्यामीश्वराभ्यां महेश्वरः
ato vyatikramaṃ me 'dya kṣaṃtumarhasi śaṃkara | iti vijñāpitastābhyāmīśvarābhyāṃ maheśvaraḥ
«Darum, o Śaṅkara, ziemt es Dir, meine Übertretung heute zu vergeben.» So von jenen beiden göttlichen Herren angefleht, wurde Mahādeva (Mahēśvara) davon in Kenntnis gesetzt und zum Antworten bewegt.
Suta Goswami (narrating the dialogue to the sages; the direct plea is spoken by one of the two Īśvaras addressing Shiva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not tied to a single Jyotirliṅga; it reflects the archetypal ‘Brahmā–Viṣṇu seek/contend, then petition Śiva’ motif that underlies several liṅga-manifestation legends.
Significance: General teaching: even exalted deities approach Śiva through kṣamā-yācñā (seeking forgiveness), modeling humility for pilgrims.
Mantra: अतो व्यतिक्रमं मे ऽद्य क्षंतुमर्हसि शंकर ।
Type: stotra
FAQs
It highlights the Shaiva Siddhanta ethic of śaraṇāgati (surrender): acknowledging one’s lapse (aparādha/vyatikrama) and seeking Śiva’s kṣamā, trusting that the Pati (Lord) liberates the paśu through grace when approached with humility.
The address “Śaṅkara/Mahēśvara” frames devotion to Saguna Śiva—approaching the Lord as a compassionate person who hears petitions. In Linga-worship, this same attitude is expressed through confession, prayer, and returning to right conduct before the Linga as the living presence of Śiva.
A practical takeaway is daily kṣamā-prārthanā (prayer for forgiveness) before Śiva—mentally offering repentance, then repeating the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with a resolve to avoid further transgression.