Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 39
दक्षस्य यज्ञप्रवृत्तिः तथा ईश्वरवर्जितदेवसमागमः
Dakṣa’s Sacrificial Undertaking and the Devas’ Assembly without Īśvara
देवदेव उवाच । प्राचेतसस्य दक्षस्य यज्ञं सद्यो विनाशय । भद्रकाल्या सहासि त्वमेतत्कृत्यं गणेश्वर
devadeva uvāca | prācetasasya dakṣasya yajñaṃ sadyo vināśaya | bhadrakālyā sahāsi tvametatkṛtyaṃ gaṇeśvara
The Lord of gods said: “Destroy at once the sacrifice of Dakṣa, the son of Prācetas. Together with Bhadrakālī, you—O lord of the Gaṇas—must carry out this task.”
Lord Shiva (Devadeva)
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Vīrabhadra
Sthala Purana: This is the canonical Dakṣa-yajña rupture: Śiva orders the destruction of a sacrifice performed in ego and exclusion, reasserting that yajña without Śiva is spiritually void.
Significance: Teaches that ritual (karma-kāṇḍa) must be subordinated to devotion and right recognition of Pati; otherwise it becomes pāśa (bondage).
Shakti Form: Kālī
Role: destructive
FAQs
It shows that ritual power (yajña) is not supreme by itself; when driven by pride and disrespect toward Śiva (Pati), it becomes bondage (pāśa). Śiva’s command represents divine correction—restoring dharma and humility so devotion and right understanding can prevail.
The Dakṣa-yajña theme underscores that Saguna Śiva is not subordinate to external rites; He is the inner Lord who sanctifies worship. Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes reverence, surrender, and recognition of Śiva as the indwelling reality behind all sacred acts.
The takeaway is to purify intention before any ritual: perform worship with humility and Śiva-bhakti, supported by japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and contemplative remembrance that Śiva is the true recipient and witness of all offerings.
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