Shloka 17
Śiva-Naivedya-Grāhyatā-Nirṇayaḥ
On the Proper Acceptance and Merit of Śiva’s Consecrated Food-Offering
बाणलिंगे च लौहे च सिद्धे लिंगे स्वयंभुवि । प्रतिमासु च सर्वासु न चंडोधिकृतो भवेत्
bāṇaliṃge ca lauhe ca siddhe liṃge svayaṃbhuvi | pratimāsu ca sarvāsu na caṃḍodhikṛto bhavet
Bei der Verehrung des Bāṇa-liṅga, des Eisen-Liṅga, des vollgültig eingesetzten (siddha) Liṅga, des selbstoffenbarten (svayaṃbhū) Liṅga und aller heiligen Bildgestalten (pratimās) soll niemals ein wilder, harter oder gewalttätiger Mensch als Priester oder Aufseher des Ritus bestellt werden.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
Sthala Purana: Not a jyotirliṅga myth; it enumerates liṅga categories (bāṇa, iron, siddha, svayaṃbhū) and extends the rule to all pratimās: ritual stewardship must be non-violent and non-harsh, preserving the sanctity of worship.
Significance: Establishes a governance ethic for all Śiva shrines: the fruit of worship is safeguarded by appointing qualified, sāttvika caretakers; coercive oversight is a ritual doṣa.
Role: teaching
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva-worship must be guided by sāttvika conduct—inner calm, restraint, and reverence—so the officiant’s temperament supports devotion and spiritual uplift rather than agitation.
Because the liṅga and pratimā are sacred supports for Saguna worship, the Purana emphasizes propriety: the person appointed to conduct or supervise offerings should embody gentleness and dharma, reflecting Shiva’s auspiciousness (śivattva).
It implies choosing a qualified, self-controlled pūjaka and maintaining a peaceful, non-violent atmosphere for liṅga-pūjā—ideally alongside mantra-japa such as the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) to keep the mind sattvic.