Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 7
भक्ताधिकारि-द्विजधर्म-योगिलक्षणवर्णनम् / Duties of Qualified Devotees and Marks of Yogins
सर्वक्रियान्न सन्त्यागः श्रद्धान्नस्य च वर्जनम् । तथा पर्युषितान्नस्य यावकस्य विशेषतः
sarvakriyānna santyāgaḥ śraddhānnasya ca varjanam | tathā paryuṣitānnasya yāvakasya viśeṣataḥ
On ne doit pas délaisser la nourriture qui soutient toutes les œuvres sacrées; ni rejeter celle qui est offerte avec foi. De même, il faut éviter la nourriture éventée et rassise, surtout celle faite de yāvaka (préparation d’orge grossière, bouillie d’orge).
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Dietary and dharma-supporting guidance: do not renounce sustaining food for rites, do not reject śraddhā-given food, and avoid stale food (esp. yāvaka).
Significance: Supports vrata sustainability and ritual fitness (adhikāra) through sāttvika, timely food—seen as enabling steady practice rather than extreme deprivation.
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It frames āhāra (food) as a support for dharma and sādhana: nourishment should uphold worship and right conduct, while stale or unsuitable food is discouraged because it weakens clarity, discipline, and ritual purity on the Shaiva path.
Linga-worship emphasizes inner and outer śauca (purity). Accepting food offered with śraddhā supports devotion and community dharma, while avoiding stale foods preserves the steadiness and sattva needed for daily pūjā, mantra-japa, and temple observances.
Maintain disciplined, fresh, faith-offered meals on worship days; this supports steady japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and clean observances alongside Shaiva marks like bhasma/tripuṇḍra where prescribed.