‘Paashupata-s’ as Shiva Bhakta Vaidika-s – Kurma Puranam

‘Paashupata-s’ as Shiva Bhakta Vaidika-s – Kurma Puranam

https://sanskritdocuments.org/doc_giitaa/vyAsagItAkUrmapurANa.html?lang=sa

In this section of the Kurmapurana,a number of ‘Tirtha sthalam-s’ have been specified along with the phalam of performing rituals in those holy places. In the following selection, where ‘Mahalaya’, a ksehtra of Mahadeva, ‘Paashupatha-s’, who are benign, shaantaaH, adept in Vedadhyayana, adorned with Bhasma, meditate upon Mahadeva, This description goes against the bigoted view of some ‘Vaishnavas’ who hold that ‘Rudra is a taamasic deity worshiped only by avaidika-s. [Even Govindaraja has said this in the Ramayana commentary.] The practice of vaidika-s worshiping/meditating on Rudra was introduced by force by Vidyaranya and Appayya Dikshita and the Sringeri and Kanchi Acharyas down the line.’

The ‘Paashupata vratam’ is in the Atharva shira Upanishad and in many other Upanishads where the mantras (also from the Atharva shira ‘agniriti bhasma…and the Mahanarayana Upanishad ‘sadyojaatam..’) to be chanted while donning the bhasma, the method of preparing bhasma, etc. are ordained.

कूर्मपुराणए उत्तरभागे सप्तत्रिंशत्तमोऽध्यायः

सूत उवाच ।
इदमन्यत् परं स्थानं गुह्याद् गुह्यतमं महत् ।
महादेवस्य देवस्य महालयमिति श्रुतम् ॥ ३७.१॥

तत्र देवादिदेवेन रुद्रेण त्रिपुरारिणा ।
शिलातले पदं न्यस्तं नास्तिकानां निदर्शनम् ॥ ३७.२॥

तत्र पाशुपताः शान्ता भस्मोद्धूलितविग्रहाः ।
उपासते महादेवं वेदाध्ययनतत्पराः ॥ ३७.३॥

Om Tat Sat