|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter – 11– The significance of Sri Shiva Mahapuran -4

“ Srimad Shivapuranakhya: Prakthyakshasthvam Maheshwara: | Shravanartham Sweekrithoasi Santhushto Bhava Vai Mayi || Manoratho  Madheeyoayam Karthavya: Saphalasthvaya | Nirvighnena Su Sampoornnam Katha Shravanamasthu Mey || Bhavabdhi Magnam Dheenam Mam Samudhdhara Bhavarnnavath | Karmagraha Griheethango Dasoaham Thava Shankara: ||”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “  The recitation of the Sri Shivamahapuran should be stopped for a while in the afternoon, in order to refresh the mind and body and continue to ponder over the thoughts on the supreme Lord.  The orator should have his hair cut on the previous day of the recital; daily rites like sun worship should be performed without any hindrance.  The speaker should have an assistant, who is having equal qualifications of the orator, should be able to clear the doubts of the listeners.  The recital of the Sri Shivamapuran should begin with the initial worship of Lord Ganesha and the sacred scripture of Sri Shivamahapuran.  The noble-minded should listen to the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran with intense devotion and faith so that the listener's mind and body would get purified.  The listener whose mind is engaged in various worldly matters, filled with Kama and Krodha, lust and wickedness could not achieve any of the merits of listening to the Purana.  The pious who is completely free from worries and miseries of worldly bondage, wealth, possessions, status, richness, and listens to the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran with intense faith and devotion would achieve an abundance of reward, eventually, get purified their mind and body.  The people who listen to it with no devotion and faith or without contributing anything even though well capable to do so, or without worshiping the Lord and preceptor, would not get purified, instead, they will turn pauper.  The people who roam around without any devotion or discipline in the place of recital would be born without a wife, children, and richness.  The listeners who wear a turban and listen to it would have immoral children, listeners who chew betel leaves while listening to it would be forced to eat their secrete by the emissary of Lord Yama after their death.  A person, who listens to the Shivakatha seated on a higher seat than of the Vyasapeeda, would be born as a crow or poisonous tree on their next birth, after going through hellish torture in the hell.  A person who listens to the Shivakatha without offering salutations to the orator or the scripture would be born as Arjuna tree after death.  People who listen to the Shivakatha lying on the bed even though free from an ailment, would be born as python in their next birth after going through the hellish torture after death.  People who occupy seats equivalent to the Vyasapeeda would attain the sin of humiliating one’s own preceptor.  The people who disrespect the orator, as well as the Purana, would be born as dogs on their next birth after suffering hellish torture. Whoever criticizes the Purana and the orator would be born as donkey after suffering hellish torture.  The people who create obstacles to the recitation of Sri Shiva Mahapuran would be born as a pig that eats human secretes after going through hellish torture.  The listeners, as well as the speaker, should be attentive and devoted while the recitation of Shivamahapuran takes place.  The veneration of Lord Ganesha, planets and Lord Surya, deities and the text of Shivamahapuran should be performed to avoid the obstacle in the recitation of the Puran.  The initial prayer “ Oh! Shankara, I shall adore the sacred scripture Sri Shivamahapuran as supreme Lord Mahadeva, Oh! Bhagavan, kindly bless me to listen to your sacred scripture and shower your grace on us.  Kindly fulfill our desires, and bless us to listen to the glorious myths of Sri Shivamahapuran without any obstacles,  Oh! Shankara I am completely drenched in worldly matters and bondage, I am drowning in the unfathomable ocean of worldly existence, kindly elevate our soul to cross the ocean of worldly existence.”  The veneration of Maharishi Vedavyasa should be performed with flowers, clothe, grains, fruits, earthen lamp, and incense.   The listeners should strictly follow the rules and regulations prescribed in the scripture to attain the meritorious rewards.  The listeners should offer salutation to the speaker who imparts the highest of the knowledge of Shivamahapuran which removes the darkness of ignorance, in the meantime, five Bhramins should be arranged to recite the glorious Vedic chants praising the splendor of Lord Shiva.”

Sutha Pauranika concluded “ Oh! Shaunak, Oh! Mune, I have explained the proper ground rules and regulations should be followed by the listener as well as the speaker while the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran takes place.  What else would you like to hear from me?”