|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter –10 – The significance of Sri Shiva Mahapuran - 5

Shaunaka speaks “  Oh! Sutha who is a prominent one, you are the foremost among the devotees of Lord Shiva, whatever you have described are quite surprising as well as propitious as well. Oh! Mune, kindly narrate the rules for the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran conducted for the welfare of the Universe and its living beings and the performance of austerities.”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “  Oh! Shaunak, listening to the glorious Shiva Mahapuran following strict austerities would bring an abundance of piousness; it is advisable to receive Manthra Deeksha from the preceptor before listening to the recital of Shiva Mahapuran.  The listener should observe strict austerities like celibacy, should sleep on the floor, and consume a single meal in a day, and fruits on the leaf.  If the listener is healthy, he/she could follow fast for the entire day, can consume ghee or milk and listen to the recital of Shivamahapuran with intense devotion and faith.  The Vaktha should follow the same austerities, consuming a single meal and fruits in a day.  If it is impossible to fast, the listener can have a light meal.  The heavy meal made of pulses, boiled food, kidney beans; stale food should not be consumed.  The vegetables like Brinjal, watermelon, snake guard, radish, pumpkin, coconut, onion, garlic, intoxicating drinks, etc. should be avoided by the listener.  The listener should not perform sins, should not be under the influence of passion, greed, anger, wickedness, lust, desire, etc.., and should not disrespect women, Bhramin, and noble people.  The listener should avoid contact with a woman who is having menstruation, wicked and jealous people, Bhramin who are not entitled to recite Vedas.  The listener should follow truthfulness, compassion, kindness, nobility, simplicity, and purity and keep silence of vow.  The listener is a Kamarththi who desires to fulfill wishes would get all the wishes fulfilled if the listener is a Mokshartthi who desires to attain liberation from worldly existence would attain the same.  The destitute, helpless, sinful, unfortunate and orphan should compulsorily listen to the recital of Shiva Mahapuran.  The woman who consequently undergoes abortion should listen to it.  Oh! Mune, all the men, and women should listen to the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran with intense devotion and faith to attain propitious reward.  The day of the recital of Sri Shivamahapuran is considered as highly auspicious, equivalent to the performance of crores of Yagnas.  Listening to the recital of Shivamahapuran even with little devotion would bring an abundance of reward if the austerities followed after performing daily rites and listens to the Shivakatha would bring commendable rewards.  Listening to the Shivakatha with no desires would be considered as the highly pious deed.  The scripture of Shivamahapuran should be adorned in silk clothes and venerates with intense devotion, it is considered as ‘Swayam Hi Paramathma/Maheshwara’, and the orator should be honored with great respect.  Whoever provides charity of silk clothes for the scripture of Shiva Mahapuran would enjoy all the pleasures in many lives and obtain wisdom as well, the orator should be honored with an abundance of charities, clothes, valuables, and ornaments.  People whoever performs charities like blankets, deerskin, silk clothes, and wooden crest to adorn the book of Shivamahapuran, would enjoy all the pleasures of heaven, and achieve Bhramapadha for a Kalpa, ultimately attain the abode of Lord Shiva.  The person who assists the orator should be honored with respect while offering Dhakshina, he/she should be awarded  lesser than the orator.”