Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 1
ऋषय ऊचुः । ब्रह्मा विष्णुश्च रुद्रश्च सगुणाः कीर्तितास्त्वया । लिंगरूपी तथैवेशो निर्गुणोऽसौ कथं वद
ṛṣaya ūcuḥ | brahmā viṣṇuśca rudraśca saguṇāḥ kīrtitāstvayā | liṃgarūpī tathaiveśo nirguṇo'sau kathaṃ vada
Die Weisen sprachen: Du hast Brahmā, Viṣṇu und Rudra als mit Eigenschaften (saguṇa) beschrieben. Doch derselbe Herr, obgleich in der Gestalt des Liṅga, wird als eigenschaftslos (nirguṇa) bezeichnet — erkläre, wie dies sein kann.
Ṛṣis (sages) addressing Sūta
Tirtha: Kedāra
Type: kshetra
Scene: A council of sages with raised hands in inquiry before a liṅga; the air is charged with philosophical wonder as the question of nirguṇa within form is posed.
FAQs
It frames a key doctrine: the Supreme can be worshipped through form (liṅga) while remaining ultimately beyond attributes (nirguṇa).
Kedāra is the narrative setting, presenting liṅga worship as a gateway to understanding Śiva’s transcendence.
No direct prescription; it introduces a theological inquiry that supports liṅga worship while affirming nirguṇa reality.