Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 38
दक्षस्य रुद्रनिन्दा-निमित्तकथनम् / The Cause of Dakṣa’s Censure of Rudra
तां दृष्ट्वा कुपितो दक्षश्चात्मनः क्षयकारणात् । तस्या यवीयसीभ्यो ऽपि चक्रे पूजाम सत्कृताम्
tāṃ dṛṣṭvā kupito dakṣaścātmanaḥ kṣayakāraṇāt | tasyā yavīyasībhyo 'pi cakre pūjāma satkṛtām
तिला पाहून दक्ष क्रोधित झाला, कारण तो तिलाच आपल्या क्षयाचे कारण मानत होता। तरीही त्याने तिच्या धाकट्या बहिणींनाही सन्मानयुक्त विधिपूर्वक पूजा केली।
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: This verse sits within the Dakṣa-yajña narrative stream that later underlies several Śiva temple origin cycles (conflict, insult, destruction, restoration), but no single Jyotirliṅga is specified here.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: teaching
FAQs
It highlights how ego and resentment distort dharma: Dakṣa’s inner “kṣaya” (decline) arises from pride, leading him to outwardly perform honor while inwardly rejecting the divine order centered on Śiva.
The verse sets the background for Dakṣa’s refusal to honor Śiva—who is worshiped as Saguna (with form) and as the Liṅga (symbol of the Supreme). His selective honoring shows ritual without true recognition of Pati (Śiva) as the highest.
The takeaway is sincerity in worship: perform pūjā with inner humility while repeating the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) and cultivating devotion that removes pride—the real cause of spiritual decline.