Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 19
गणेशाभिषेक-वरदान-विधानम् | Gaṇeśa’s Consecration, Boons, and Prescribed Worship
नारादाद्यानृषीन्सर्वान्सत्वास्थाय पुरोऽब्रवीत् । क्षंतव्यश्चापराधो मे मानश्चैवेदृशो नृणाम्
nārādādyānṛṣīnsarvānsatvāsthāya puro'bravīt | kṣaṃtavyaścāparādho me mānaścaivedṛśo nṛṇām
அப்போது மனத்தை அமைதியாக்கி, நாரதர் முதலிய எல்லா முனிவர்களையும் நோக்கி முன் நின்று கூறினார்— “என் குற்றத்தை மன்னியுங்கள்; மனிதர்க்கு இத்தகைய அகந்தை எழுவது இயல்பு.”
Kartikeya (Skanda/Kumara)
Tattva Level: pashu
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual authority is safeguarded by humility: even a great divine leader acknowledges fault, returns to sattva (clarity), and seeks forgiveness—an essential Shaiva discipline for dissolving ego (ahaṅkāra/māna) that obstructs grace.
Linga-worship in the Shiva Purana is not only outer ritual but inner alignment—approaching Saguna Shiva with a softened ego. The verse models the devotee’s stance before Shiva: repentance, humility, and readiness to be corrected, which makes worship fruitful.
A practical takeaway is a brief prāyaścitta-bhāva: sit calmly (sattva), confess one’s fault mentally before Shiva, repeat the Panchākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” with humility, and resolve to abandon pride; optionally conclude with vibhūti (Tripuṇḍra) and a forgiveness prayer.