Shloka 15
भैरवोत्पत्तिः ब्रह्मदर्पनिग्रहश्च
Origin of Bhairava and the Subduing of Brahmā’s Pride
रे रे केतक दुष्टस्त्वं शठ दूरमितो व्रज । ममापि प्रेम ते पुष्पे मा भूत्पूजास्वितः परम्
re re ketaka duṣṭastvaṃ śaṭha dūramito vraja | mamāpi prema te puṣpe mā bhūtpūjāsvitaḥ param
ഹേ കേതകാ! നീ ദുഷ്ടനും കപടനും—ഇവിടെ നിന്ന് ദൂരെയ്ക്ക് പോകുക. നിന്റെ പുഷ്പത്തോടു എനിക്കും ഒരിക്കൽ സ്നേഹം ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു; എന്നാൽ ഇനി പൂജയിൽ നീ ഒരിക്കലും പ്രഥമനാകരുത്।
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Bhairava
Sthala Purana: This is a regulatory (niyama) moment within the Liṅgodbhava cycle: Ketakī is barred from being ‘foremost in worship’ due to deceit, establishing purity/ सत्य (satya) as prerequisite for offerings.
Significance: Didactic for pilgrims: worship materials are not merely aesthetic; ethical truthfulness conditions ritual acceptability. The episode is often cited to explain why ketakī is avoided in Śiva-pūjā in many traditions.
Offering: pushpa
FAQs
It teaches that Shiva, as Pati and the upholder of dharma, rejects deceit in sacred matters; devotion must be grounded in truth (satya) and integrity, not in false claims or outward display.
In the Linga narrative, offerings are not merely symbolic—they must be offered with purity and honesty. Shiva’s refusal to accept Ketaki as “foremost in worship” shows that Saguna worship of the Linga is governed by ethical discipline as well as devotion.
Practice truthful, rule-following Shiva-puja: offer approved substances with a sincere mind, and support worship with japa of the Panchakshara (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), keeping intention and conduct aligned.