The शिवमहापुराण, in true polytheist style, prescribes gifts to different demographic groups, by age & gender, equating each group with the त्रिमूर्ति-s & their पत्नी-s.
बालानां ब्रह्मबुद्ध्या हि देयं विद्यार्थिभिर्नरैः।
“Thinking of young boys as Brahmā indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking learning.”
“Thinking of young boys as Brahmā indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking learning.”
यूनां च विष्णुबुद्ध्या हि पुत्रकामार्थिभिर्नरैः॥३६॥
“Thinking of young men as Viṣṇu indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring sons.”
“Thinking of young men as Viṣṇu indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring sons.”
वृद्धानां रुद्रबुद्ध्या हि देयं ज्ञानार्थिभिर्नरैः।
“Thinking of elderly men as Rudra indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking Jñāna.”
“Thinking of elderly men as Rudra indeed, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking Jñāna.”
बालस्त्रीभारतीबुद्ध्या बुद्धिकामैर्नरोत्तमैः॥३७॥
“Thinking of young girls as Bhāratī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring intellect.”
“Thinking of young girls as Bhāratī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring intellect.”
लक्ष्मीबुद्ध्या युवस्त्रीषु भोगकामैर्नरोत्तमैः ।
“Thinking of young women (adolescents) as Lakṣmī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring [worldly] enjoyments.”
“Thinking of young women (adolescents) as Lakṣmī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons desiring [worldly] enjoyments.”
वृद्धासु पार्वतीबुद्ध्या देयमात्मार्थिभिर्जनैः॥३८॥
“Thinking of elderly women as Pārvatī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking the Ātmā.”
“Thinking of elderly women as Pārvatī, [food/gifts] should be given by persons seeking the Ātmā.”
Even age-gender states have innate, specific divinities. This is the polytheist genius. This is what seeing the Divine all around oneself actually looks like in practice.
And the शिवमहापुराण helps you see that Divine in different ways in different groups of people. Such an attitude is the truly सात्त्विक one. 🙂
Now, the शिवमहापुराण in another context: Where a person wishes to perform a होम after consecrating a शिवलिङ्ग for personal worship, how should he end it? With gifts of course.
To whom & how?
To whom & how?
दशदानं ततः कुर्याद्भूरिदानं ततः परम् ।
बालानामुपनीतानां गृहिणां वनिनां धनम् ॥ १२१ ॥
कन्यानां च सभर्तृणां विधवानां ततः परम् ।
तंत्रोपकरणं सर्वमाचार्याय निवेदयेत् ॥ १२२ ॥
दशदान refers to gifts of ten items such as cows, land, gold, silver, etc.
बालानामुपनीतानां गृहिणां वनिनां धनम् ॥ १२१ ॥
कन्यानां च सभर्तृणां विधवानां ततः परम् ।
तंत्रोपकरणं सर्वमाचार्याय निवेदयेत् ॥ १२२ ॥
दशदान refers to gifts of ten items such as cows, land, gold, silver, etc.
The recipients include Vidhavā-s (widows) as well. That they are specifically mentioned in an important context is a testimony to the inclusive warmth of शिवमहापुराणम्, which of course comes from the grace of परमशिव.
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