Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 35
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
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लक्ष्मी सरस्वती मेना सावित्री सर्वयोषितः । विष्णुस्सर्वे च देवाश्च ब्राह्मणेभ्यो ददुर्धनम्
lakṣmī sarasvatī menā sāvitrī sarvayoṣitaḥ | viṣṇussarve ca devāśca brāhmaṇebhyo dadurdhanam
ലക്ഷ്മി, സരസ്വതി, മേന, സാവിത്രി എന്നിവരും എല്ലാ പുണ്യവതികളായ സ്ത്രീകളും—വിഷ്ണുവും എല്ലാ ദേവന്മാരും കൂടെ—ബ്രാഹ്മണർക്കു ധനം ദാനം ചെയ്തു।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; the verse depicts devas and devīs sustaining dharma through dāna to brāhmaṇas, a social-ritual support that preserves the sacrificial order in which Śiva’s anugraha later becomes accessible.
Significance: Frames dāna and honoring adhikārins (brāhmaṇas/ritviks) as dharma-sustaining merit (puṇya) that purifies the paśu and prepares it for Śiva-bhakti and later grace.
Shakti Form: Annapūrṇā
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
The verse highlights dāna (righteous giving) to brāhmaṇas as a dharmic act honored by gods and goddesses; in Shaiva thought, such dharma purifies the heart and becomes a support for bhakti that ripens into Śiva’s anugraha (grace).
Linga-worship is traditionally accompanied by dharmic supports like charity and honoring the worthy; this verse frames such giving as part of sustaining sacred order, which strengthens saguna-Śiva devotion and prepares the seeker for deeper realization.
A practical takeaway is to pair Śiva-pūjā with dāna—especially anna-dāna or dakṣiṇā to learned brāhmaṇas—offered with humility and remembrance of Śiva (e.g., japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) so the act becomes devotional rather than merely social.