Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 40
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
अवज्ञानं कृतं तेषु नरैर्व्यामूढचेतनैः । आयुः श्रियं कुलं शीलं हित्वा निरयमावहेत्
avajñānaṃ kṛtaṃ teṣu narairvyāmūḍhacetanaiḥ | āyuḥ śriyaṃ kulaṃ śīlaṃ hitvā nirayamāvahet
Lorsque des hommes à l’esprit égaré les méprisent, ils perdent durée de vie, prospérité, honneur du lignage et bonne conduite, et s’attirent ainsi une chute infernale. Selon la vision śaiva, ce manque de respect devient un pāśa qui enchaîne, obstruant la grâce de Śiva et la voie de la délivrance.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Paśupatinātha
Sthala Purana: Not a sthala-focused passage; it states a general dharma/adharma consequence: contempt toward Śiva’s devotees/teachers/holy ones becomes a cause of spiritual and social downfall.
Significance: Functions as a cautionary teaching: honoring Śaiva exemplars protects merit (puṇya) and supports eligibility for Śiva’s grace (anugraha).
FAQs
It warns that contempt (avajñā) is a serious spiritual fault: it degrades virtue and creates karmic bondage (pāśa), leading the soul away from Shiva’s grace and toward suffering.
Linga worship in the Shiva Purana emphasizes reverence, purity of intention, and humility. Disrespect toward Shiva’s devotees, teachers, or sacred observances undermines Saguna worship and prevents the fruit of devotion from ripening into anugraha (divine favor).
Practice aparādha-bhaya (carefulness to avoid offenses): approach Shiva-pūjā with humility, keep speech restrained, and pair japa of the Panchākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with conscious reverence toward devotees and sacred disciplines.