Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 22
दक्षयज्ञे मुनिदेवसमागमः / The Gathering of Sages and Gods at Dakṣa’s Sacrifice
तस्मिन् यज्ञे वृतश्शंभुर्न दक्षेण दुरात्मना । कपालीति विनिश्चित्य तस्य यज्ञार्हता न हि
tasmin yajñe vṛtaśśaṃbhurna dakṣeṇa durātmanā | kapālīti viniścitya tasya yajñārhatā na hi
Sa paghahandog na iyon, ang masamang-loob na Dakṣa ay hindi nag-anyaya kay Śambhu (Śiva). Sa paghatol niyang, “Siya ay Kapālī, ang tagapagdala ng bungo,” ipinahayag niyang hindi karapat-dapat si Śiva sa bahagi ng handog.
Sūta Gosvāmin
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Kaṅkālamūrti
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; this is the Dakṣa-yajña narrative where Dakṣa denies Śiva a yajña-bhāga by branding him ‘Kapālī’.
Significance: Teaches that Vedic ritual without recognition of Pati (Śiva) becomes spiritually sterile; humility and right discernment (samyag-darśana) are prerequisites for grace.
Shakti Form: Satī
Role: nurturing
Offering: naivedya
FAQs
It exposes how ritual without humility becomes barren: Dakṣa’s ego judges Śiva by external marks (“Kapālī”) and denies Him a share, showing that rejecting Pati (Śiva) through pride blocks the true fruit of yajña—purification and grace.
Dakṣa’s refusal reflects contempt for Śiva’s ascetic, saguna form and symbols. In Shaiva understanding, the Liṅga and Śiva’s forms are sacred supports for devotion; dismissing them as ‘inauspicious’ is a failure to recognize the Divine presence that sanctifies all worship.
A practical takeaway is to purify intention before ritual—worship Śiva with the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and cultivate humility; avoid judging sacred signs like bhasma, rudrākṣa, or ascetic emblems, and instead honor them as aids to devotion.