|| 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.

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter – 2– The significance of Sri Shiva Mahapuran -2

Shaivam Puranam Amalam Shaiva  Sarvavamadharath |Sevaneeyam  Prayathnena Parathrehasukhepsuna|| Chathurvargapradham Shaivam Puranam Amalam  Paramam | Shrothavyam Sarvadha  Preethya  Padithavyam Visheshatha: ||

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Munishardhoola, You have shown great interest to listen to the myths of the supreme Lord, therefore I shall narrate the legends from the sacred scripture Sri Shivamahapuran.  The legend from this sacred scripture would enhance devotion, it would please the supreme Lord Shiva, eventually attain an abundance of meritorious rewards, Oh! Vathsa, listen to me carefully, these legends are like nectar to ears.  It would remove the venomous serpent-like fear of death, it is superior among the Puranas which was described, Lord Shiva to Maharishi Vedavyasa.  Later, it was retold by Maharishi Vedavyasa to Sanathkumara for the welfare of the people in the Kali era.  This sacred scripture is one of the remedies to cure the evilness of Kali, it would remove impurities of the mind of the people.  Oh! Mune, only fortunate ones would get the opportunity to read or listen to this sacred scripture, with the piousness earned from the abundance of righteous deeds performed in their previous births. This sacred scripture describes the splendor of living Lord on Earth Lord Shiva, therefore it should be recited or listened and contemplate upon it.  Whoever reads or listens to it with intense devotion and faith would attain the supreme abode of Lord Shiva.  The worshiper would live a contented and pleasant life on Earth, it would fulfill all the desires of the worshiper.  Listening to this sacred Purana would remove all the sins of the worshiper, it would provide immense happiness and pleasures of the world, ultimately the worshiper would achieve the supreme abode of Lord Shiva.  The merits of listening to this Purana provides the merit of the performance of  Rajasooya Yajja and Agnishtoma.  Oh! Mune, whoever listens to the glorious Purana praising the glories of Lord Shiva would be considered as Rudras, therefore the dust particles from the feet of the persons who listens or reads the glorious Purana would be considered as sacred as equal to holy places.  People who are desirous of visiting sacred places on the Earth should listen to it with devotion and contemplate on it.  Oh! Munisaththama, if a person could not listen or read the entire scriptures, he could listen or read to it for two Muhurththa with utmost dedication or he could listen to it on auspicious months or a Muhurtha or half Muhurtha or for a moment, so that they need not face any misfortune in his life.  Oh! Munisaththama, whoever listens to this Purana would burn dense wood-like their sins, eventually, they would cross the ocean of worldly existence at ease.  Listening or reading to the Shiva Purana would provide the merits of the performance of abundance of charity and fire sacrifices.  The reading and listening to the glory of supreme Lord Shiva is the highest of the righteous deed/Dharma which could provide Moksha in the Kali era, it is Kalpavriksha that fulfills all the desires of the worshiper.  This sacred scripture was composed by Lord Shiva, bearing in mind of the people of the Kali era, for the welfare of the people who tend to stay away from the religious and spiritual rites.  The nectar could make the people immortal who consumed it, but listening to this glorious Purana would make the people and their entire families immortal.   It is divine nectar should be recited daily, that could purify listeners as well as their families, eventually, Lord Shiva resides in the hearts of people who recites or listen to it.”

Sutha Pauranika continues “ Oh! Mune, the sacred Shiva Mahapuran has twenty-four thousands of verses comprise seven Samhithas, it imparts the knowledge of Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya.  The Seven Samhitas are Vindhyeshwara Samhitha, Rudra Samhitha, Shatharudra Samhitha, Koti Rudra Samhitha, Uma Samhitha,  Kailasa Samhitha and Vayavya Samhitha.   This sacred describes the splendor of supreme Lord Shiva who is the absolute Bhramam and provider of Moksha.  Whoever reads or listens to it would be relieved from worldly bondage.  The houses where the recitation of Shiva Mahapuran held would become sacred Theertha, and the people living in the homes would be freed from sins.  The recitation of this sacred scripture would bring an abundance of meritorious rewards that excels hundreds of Vajapeya Yagnas, and thousands of  Ashwamedha Yaga.  Oh! Munisaththama, whoever reads or listens to it would earn piousness that excels, the holy dip in the  sacred rivers Ganga, Godavari, Yamuna, Saraswathi, Narmada, Sindhu and Kaveri, and piousness of living in holy cities like  Ayodhya, Mathura, Mayapuri, Haridwar, Kashi, Kanchi, Avanthika and Dwaraka.  Whoever desires for Moksha would read the verses and its meanings, he/she would become a noble soul.  Whoever listens to the Shiva Mahapuran at the time leaving the Earth would attain the abode of supreme Lord Shiva.  Whoever worship and venerate the sacred scripture Shiva Mahapuran covered in silk clothe would enjoy the pleasures on the Earth and attain the abode of Lord Shiva after death.  Listening and reading this sacred scripture with devotion and faith would bring the purity of intellect, removes lethargy, it removes all the sins of the worshiper, it provides Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha.  This sacred scripture is considered as the essence of Veda and Vedantha, it removes all the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence,  It provides an abundance of welfare, hence it is beloved of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, Lord Shiva and all the deities.  I shall adore the sacred scripture Sri Shiva Mahapuran, with intense faith and devotion, I shall earnestly pray to supreme Lord Shiva to shower his grace and bestow intense devotion at his lotus feet.”

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter – 1 – The significance of Sri Shiva Mahapuran

The sacred scripture Sri Shiva Mahapuran was written by Maharishi Vedavyasa, it is considered as the jewel of all the scriptures, it is the essence of Veda and Vedanta.  Whoever reads or listens to it with intense devotion and faith would attain nearness of Lord Shambhu, eventually attain Paramamgathi.  It was initiated from the face of Lord Mahadeva, considered as the essence of Veda. It provides Bhakti, Gnana and Vairagya.  It has seven cantos such as Vindhyeshwara Samhitha, Rudrasamhitha, Shatha Koti Rudrasamhitha, Koti Rudrasamhitha, Uma Samhitha, Kailasha Samhitha, and  Vayavya Samhitha. 

Hey Hey  Sutha !  Mahaprajja !  Sarvasidhdhanthavith Prabho | Akhyahi Mey Kathayasaram Purananam Visheshatha: ||

Rishi Shaunaka speaks “ Oh! Sutha, Oh! Mahaprajja, who is profound in all scriptures and Shasthras, philosophies, kindly narrate the splendor of greatest among the scriptures.  Kindly describe 1) How did people who are in the Grihasthashrama, immersed in worldly matters, performs various righteous deeds, meticulously follow the rules and regulations prescribed in scriptures would enhance their devotion? How do they overcome the miseries and sorrows of worldly existence? 2) How did people can get rid of the influence of the evil effects of the Kali era?  People have turned out with demonic nature in the Kaliyuga, how could they get rid of the evilness? 3) Which is the highly righteous deed/Paramam Shreyasam that could purify the people? 4) How did people get rid of their sins and attain the grace of supreme Lord Shiva?”