Ketaki Curse
Every question on the site tagged Ketaki Curse, each answered from a timestamped source rather than a summary written from memory.
The reason Ketaki (Kewra) flowers are prohibited in Shiva worship — the flower bore false witness for Brahma, claiming he had reached the top of the Agni Stambha, and was cursed for it alongside him.
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Origin of Kaal Bhairav and the curse on Brahma: the agni stambha story
The speaker tells the story from the Shiv Puran. Brahma as a swan went up and Vishnu as a boar went down to find the ends of the agni-stambha, the first to return with an end to be the greater. After many kalpas Brahma found no end, but saw a falling ketaki flower and made it promise false witness in return for boons; Vishnu came back empty-handed and told the truth. When Vishnu then worshipped Brahma with sixteen upacharas on the strength of that lie, Shiva emerged in anger from the pillar, and from between his brows a terrible being appeared, Kaal Bhairava, who cut off the lying Brahma's fifth head with his nails. Carrying the brahma-kapal, Bhairav incurred the dosh of Brahmahatya. Brahma and Vishnu begged forgiveness; Shiva calmed, but cursed Brahma that he would not be worshipped in mrityu loka, while granting that he would be worshipped everywhere in yajna and in the form of Vishwakarma.
The Brahma-Vishnu quarrel, the jyotirlinga, the Ketaki testimony and the boons
The speaker recounts from the Shiv Puran that Brahma and Vishnu fought over which of them was superior, and Bhagavan Sadashiva appeared between them as a Jyotirlinga; to find its beginning and end, Brahma went upward and Vishnu downward. Brahma had the Ketaki flower give false witness, for which he was punished while Vishnu received a boon. Brahma was later given many boons again: he would have no murti or mandir anywhere in the world, but no yajna or similar rite would ever be complete without him and his worship, and he was established in the form of Vishwakarma.
Which things must not be offered to Bhagwan Shiva?
To Bhagwan Shiva, he says, you cannot offer only the ketaki flower. Apart from that you can certainly offer durva, you can certainly offer bilva patra, you can offer fruit, flowers and sweets.
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