Skanda Purana — Mahesvara Khanda, Shloka 76
तेषु स्थिता मुनींद्रा मे रक्षंतु शिवपूजनम् । भिक्षमाणाः पुनः शैवा भक्ताः पाशुपता अपि
teṣu sthitā munīṃdrā me rakṣaṃtu śivapūjanam | bhikṣamāṇāḥ punaḥ śaivā bhaktāḥ pāśupatā api
Que les grands sages demeurant en ces lieux protègent mon culte de Śiva ; et que, de même, les dévots śaivas—les Pāśupatas aussi—vivant d’aumônes, le préservent.
Lomaharṣaṇa (Sūta) narrating to the sages (deduced from Māheśvarakhaṇḍa context)
Tirtha: Aruṇācala-kṣetra
Type: kshetra
Scene: At the four maṭhas, venerable munīndras stand watch over the temple’s worship: some meditate, some supervise pūjā preparations; Pāśupata ascetics with staffs and ash markings receive simple alms from householders, then return to guard the sanctum’s routine.
FAQs
The sanctity of a Śiva-sthala is preserved by vigilant ascetics and disciplined devotees who live simply and guard worship.
Aruṇācala, envisioned as protected by resident munis and Pāśupata Śaivas.
Assigning spiritual guardianship of Śiva pūjā to resident sages and Śaiva/Pāśupata mendicants.