Why is Shivling Prasad Not Consumed? Unveiling Ancient Beliefs and Scriptures

• Unlike offerings to other deities, prasad directly placed on a Shivling is traditionally not consumed by devotees.
• One belief is that the Shivling, a symbol of Shiva's immense power, imbues offerings with energy too intense for ordinary people.
• Chandishwara, an attendant of Shiva, is believed to have authority over all offerings (Nirmalya) made to Shiva, making it sacrilege for humans to consume them.
• Offerings to a Shivling are seen as a complete sacrifice, signifying detachment and surrender, with no claim remaining for the devotee.
• The story of Shiva swallowing the Halahala poison during Samudra Manthan suggests that some residual effect of the poison remains, making prasad from the Shivling potentially harmful.