|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter – 3– The significance of Sri Shivamahapuran – The legend of Devaraja

Dhanya  Shivapuranasya  Katha  Parama Pavani | Yasya: Shravanamathrena  Papiyanapi Mukthibhak || Sadhashiva Mahasthanam Param Dhama Paramampadham | Yadhahurvadhavidhwasa:  Sarvalokopari Sthitham ||

Shaunaka speaks “  Oh! Sutha, Oh! Sutha,  Oh! Mahabhaga, you have a thorough knowledge of Supreme philosophy, you have described several glorious legends that destroy all the sins, purify the mind and intellect of the listeners and readers in the Kali era.  Kindly repeat the same for us.”

 Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunak, in the Kali era, people tend to forget their responsibilities and duties, engage in sinful deeds, remains passionate in worldly matters.  Listening or reading to the glorious legends of Shivamahapuran would purify them, it is considered as Gnana Yajja, with the merit attained they can live a comfortable and happy life on Earth, and ultimately attain salvation.  The recitation of Sri Shivamahapuran pleases Lord Shiva, and destroys all the sins of the worshiper in the Kali era.  The listening of recitation Sri Shivamahapuran benefits people with impure intellect, people who do not follow Varna Ashrama Dharma, people are swollen with pride, guilt, greed, lust, desire, etc. people who disgrace their parents, wicked and people commit grave sins like Bhramahathya and stealing the wealth of twice-born would get relieved from all the sins. I shall describe the legend of a Bhramin Devaraj who was lived in the city of Kirata, he was illiterate, did not follow any of the Bhraminic rites, and he was suffering from extreme poverty.  He was not interested in performing any Dharmic rites, or visiting shrines or learning scriptures or Veda,  he earned a livelihood by selling intoxicating drinks, performing the duty of a Vaishya, he did not do any noble deeds or sun worship, he engaged in wicked and selfish deeds. He quarreled with people of all Varna and snatched their wealth, in this way he has accumulated wealth but did not spend a penny on any religious or spiritual rite.  Once, he went to take a bath in a nearby pond, found a woman Shobhavathi who engages in an illicit relationship with men.  He looked at her lovely appearance, instantly they both fallen for each other, eventually got married to her.  They both indulged in various passionate sports and forgot the world.  Several years have passed, Devaraj’s parents advised their son to stay away from evil deeds, and he did not follow any of their words.  One night while his parents were asleep, he killed them with the assistance of his wife and took all their wealth.  Devaraj was madly in love with her, he ate the leftover a meal of her, consumed intoxicating drinks, he ate all that prohibited to a Bhramin.   Once, Devaraj had to conduct a trip, fortunately, he arrived in the city Prathishtana and found a shrine of Lord Shiva where a large number of ascetics assembled.  As soon as he entered the city, he was infected high fever could not travel further, so he decided to stay in the shrine itself, where the ascetics were listening to the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran.  In a month’s time, Devaraj’s died of severe infection.  The emissaries of Lord Yama prepared to take him to the abode of Lord Yama, soon there arrived the emissaries of Lord Shiva attired in white garments, smeared in sacred ashes all over the body, adorned in Rudraksha, holding a trident.  The emissaries of Lord Shiva had a series of an argument with the emissaries of Yama, eventually took Devaraj in a celestial vehicle to the abode of Lord Shiva.  Lord Yama saw the emissaries of Lord Shiva, greeted them reverentially.  They took Devaraja to Kailash and produced him before Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi.  Whoever listens to the legend of Devaraja would get relieved from all the sins, ultimately attain salvation.  The place where the recitation of Sri Shivamahapuran held would be considered as Sadhashiva Mahasthana /Paramapadham/ Paramdham.  Devaraja like wicked and immoral got freed from the repeated births by listening to the recitation of Sri Shivamahapuran.