Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 71
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
युवां प्रभुत्वे ऽहंकृत्य बुद्धवैरो परस्परम् । विवादं युद्धपर्यंतं कृत्वा नोपरतौ किल
yuvāṃ prabhutve 'haṃkṛtya buddhavairo parasparam | vivādaṃ yuddhaparyaṃtaṃ kṛtvā noparatau kila
Por ego quanto ao senhorio, vós dois vos tornastes mutuamente hostis na mente; levando a contenda até à beira da guerra, ainda assim não desististes, de fato.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Vāyavīya discourse to the sages at Naimisharanya)
Tattva Level: pashu
Sthala Purana: General mythic backdrop: rivalry of Brahmā and Viṣṇu due to ahaṃkāra; often resolved by Śiva’s self-manifestation (liṅga/tejas) to end dispute.
Significance: Admonition for pilgrims: pride over ‘prabhutva’ (authority) is a bondage (pāśa) that leads to conflict; worship cultivates humility and harmony.
FAQs
It warns that ahankāra (ego) turns even great beings toward mental enmity and conflict; in Shaiva Siddhanta this is a form of pāśa (bondage) that must be dissolved by turning to Pati (Shiva) and cultivating humility and discernment.
The narrative context commonly contrasts ego-driven claims to supremacy with the Linga as Shiva’s transcendent sign—teaching that true sovereignty belongs to Shiva (Pati), and devotion to Saguna Shiva/Linga-worship subdues rivalry and restores right understanding.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Panchakshara mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) with a vow of humility, along with Tripuṇḍra (bhasma) and Rudrāksha as reminders to restrain ego and avoid hostile speech and thought.