Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 13
कार्त्तिकेयान्वेषण-नन्दिसंवाद-वर्णनम्
Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue
ब्रह्मोवाच । त्वद्वीर्यं निह्नुतं येन पुण्यक्षेत्रे च भारते । स नाऽन्वितो भवेत्तत्र सेवने पूजने तव
brahmovāca | tvadvīryaṃ nihnutaṃ yena puṇyakṣetre ca bhārate | sa nā'nvito bhavettatra sevane pūjane tava
พรหมาตรัสว่า “ในแผ่นดินภารตะอันเป็นแดนศักดิ์สิทธิ์ ผู้ใดปกปิดพลังอานุภาพของท่าน ณ สถานที่บุญ ผู้นั้นย่อมไม่สมควรแก่การรับใช้และบูชาท่าน ณ ที่นั้น”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Īśāna
FAQs
It teaches that spiritual eligibility (adhikāra) for Śiva-sevā and pūjā depends on reverence for Śiva’s manifest potency; suppressing or denying it in a sacred place becomes an obstacle to grace and merit.
In Śaiva practice, the Liṅga and other saguna forms are honored as real channels of Śiva’s presence and power; one who “conceals” or dismisses that divine potency is considered unfit for authentic Liṅga-pūjā and temple service.
The takeaway is to approach tīrthas and Śiva-pūjā with humility and acknowledgment of Śiva’s śakti—performing sincere seva, offering water/bilva, and steady japa (e.g., Om Namaḥ Śivāya) without skepticism or disrespect.