Shloka 24
मेना-हिमालयसंवादः
Menā’s Counsel to Himālaya; Response to Slander of Śiva
शिव उवाच । ऋषयश्च सदा पूज्या भवन्तश्च विशेषतः । युष्माकं कारणाद्विप्राः स्मरणं च मया कृतम्
śiva uvāca | ṛṣayaśca sadā pūjyā bhavantaśca viśeṣataḥ | yuṣmākaṃ kāraṇādviprāḥ smaraṇaṃ ca mayā kṛtam
ശിവൻ പറഞ്ഞു: ഋഷിമാർ എപ്പോഴും പൂജ്യരാണ്; നിങ്ങളോ, ഹേ വിപ്രന്മാരേ, പ്രത്യേകിച്ച് പൂജ്യർ. ഹേ ദ്വിജന്മാരേ, നിങ്ങളുടെ കാരണത്താലാണ് ഞാൻ ഈ കാര്യം സ്മരിച്ചത്.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Dakṣiṇāmūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga passage; Śiva’s statement elevates ṛṣis/brāhmaṇas as pūjya, aligning with dharma and the transmission of śiva-jñāna through seers.
Significance: Encourages honoring sages and learned brāhmaṇas as conduits of śāstra and mantra; such reverence supports eligibility (adhikāra) for Śaiva practice.
Role: teaching
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that reverence for ṛṣis and realized brāhmaṇas is a sacred duty; honoring those who preserve and transmit śāstra supports right knowledge (jñāna) and devotion (bhakti) toward Pati (Śiva), aiding liberation.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is sustained by proper guidance and scriptural remembrance; Śiva here affirms the authority of sages whose teachings establish correct saguna-upāsanā and the inner intent behind external worship.
Practice respectful service and offerings to gurus/ṛṣis (satkāra), listen to śāstric recitation, and perform daily Shiva worship with right intention—supporting mantra-japa (e.g., pañcākṣarī) under learned guidance.