Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 28
प्रयागे महत्समाजः — शिवदर्शनं दक्षागमनं च
The Great Assembly at Prayāga: Śiva’s Appearance and Dakṣa’s Arrival
ब्रह्मोवाच । इति शप्तास्तथा तेन दक्षेण शिवकिंकराः । तच्छ्रुत्वातिरुषाविष्टोभवन्नंदी शिवप्रियः
brahmovāca | iti śaptāstathā tena dakṣeṇa śivakiṃkarāḥ | tacchrutvātiruṣāviṣṭobhavannaṃdī śivapriyaḥ
Brahmā dit : «Ainsi les serviteurs de Śiva furent maudits par Dakṣa. À ces paroles, Nandī—cher au Seigneur Śiva—fut saisi d’une colère ardente».
Brahma
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Episode-setting for the Dakṣa-yajña rupture: Dakṣa curses Śiva’s attendants; Nandī’s wrath becomes the proximate cause for the counter-curse and the later catastrophic interruption of sacrifice.
Significance: Teaches that offenses to Śiva-bhaktas (śivakiṅkara-apacāra) rebound upon the offender; devotion to Śiva’s retinue is treated as devotion to Śiva.
FAQs
The verse highlights that harming or insulting Śiva’s devotees (śivabhaktas) creates grave spiritual demerit; Nandī’s reaction reflects the protective power of devotion and the seriousness of aparādha against the Lord’s community.
Nandī, as Śiva’s foremost attendant, embodies service to Saguna Śiva (the worshipful Lord with attributes). Respecting Nandī and Śiva’s gaṇas aligns the devotee with dharma and reverence central to Liṅga worship traditions.
A practical takeaway is to cultivate humility and avoid devotee-offense; in temple practice, devotees honor Nandī before approaching the Śiva-liṅga, often with japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and offering bhasma/flowers with a calm, non-hostile mind.