|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter – 9– The significance of Sri Shiva Mahapuran -3

Sutha! Sutha!  Mahaprajja! Vyasashishya ! Namosthuthe | Dhanyasthvam Shaivavayoasi Varnnaneeya  Mahathguna: ||

Shaunaka speaks “ Oh! Sutha, Oh! Mahaprajja, Oh! The disciple of Maharishi Veda Vyasa, you have commendable virtues. I shall repeatedly prostrate before you, Kindly narrate the method of conducting the recital of Sri Shiva Mahapuran, so that all the listeners could achieve an abundance of piousness.”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Oh! Shaunak, I shall narrate the method of conducting the recitation of Sri Shiv Mahapuran to attain the highest of the propitious reward.  The Sri Shiva Mahapuran Katha should be organized after discussing the auspicious hours for  the recitation with your family priest, receive the priest in your house with honor and offer him an abundance of Dhakshina/Charity,  discuss with all your family members and their availability, the news of the program of  recitation of Sri Shivamahapuran should be sent across the villages so that the people desirous of listening would join to obtain piousness,  women, men, Shudras, and people from all caste and creed should be informed  to attain the supreme knowledge of Lord Shiva.   Some people may stay away from listening to Harikatha would be invited to attend the same so that they may obtain the meritorious rewards of listening and reading the same.  The ardent devotees of Lord Shiva should be received with great respect; ascetics should be invited to make the recitation of Shivamahapuran auspicious and more successful.  The recitation of Shivamahapuran is nectar-like should be consumed with a pleasant and devoted heart.  If the people do not find time to attend the whole recital, at least they should be present for a while, opportunities like these are rare to obtain.  The invitation for the recitation of Shivamahapuran should be sent to all, and the people attended should be received with great honor.  A beautiful Mandap/hall should be decorated with flowers in a sacred place or one’s own house.  The place where the Shivakatha conducted should be purified, decorated with auspicious marks and Rangoli.  The Mandap should be clean without the daily household equipment; Mandap should be decorated with fruits, flowers, flags, banners of Lord and plantain tree.  A sanctified place in the Mandap where Lord Shiva’s veneration is conducted, a raised seat should be arranged for Vaktha/orator.  Oh! Mune, separate seats should be provided for listeners and ascetics.  Oh! Shaunak, it is compulsory that the listeners should be free from the discussion of worldly matters.  The orator should be seated facing north, and the listeners should be seated facing east.  The listeners should be seated their legs folded across, and there should be no speech that rouses the emotion of others.  The speaker should be seated facing the listener, while the speaker narrates the Shivamahapuran from the Vyasapeed, no one should disturb him or no one should pay salutations to him.  The speaker can be of any age of child, young man or elderly person, rich or poor, the listeners should give utmost respect to the speaker no matter his age or status.  The person who is well-versed in Purana should not be looked down, his words spoken has the effects of Kamadhenu which fulfills all the desires of the worshiper.  People are born with the piousness of their previous births are considered as preceptor, the one who is profound in Purana is considered as the best among them.  The Jiva’s born on the Earth has to undergo numerous miseries and sorrows of worldly existence after taking births in crores of Yonis, therefore the speaker showers nectar-like Purana which leads to salvation is considered as a supreme preceptor.  The orator of Sri Shivamahapuran should be compassionate and kind, he/she should be clever,  pleasant, free from jealousy and pride, should be noble-hearted, and should have thorough knowledge in Shiva Mahapuran is considered as an excellent speaker.  He/she should conduct the lecture from the morning to the end of three and a half  Praharas.  Sri Shivamahapuran should not be recited before the wicked natured, morally wrong, swollen with pride and jealous, ego, disrespecting others and finding pleasures in hurting others.  The recitation of Sri Shivamahapuran should not be performed before the wicked, thieves, and deceitful people.”

|| 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?”

|| 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.”

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter –8– The significance of Sri Shivamahapuran – The legend of Chanchula -5

Goddess Parvathi summoned to Thumburu, the celestial Gandharva and spoke “ Oh! Thumburo, Oh! Shivapreetha, you should go to Mount Vindhyachala and do an auspicious deed for the welfare of this woman’s husband who has attained the form of Pishacha, after death.  He was a Brahmin Binduka, he did not perform any spiritual or religious rites in his life.  He was wicked and consumed all prohibited meals, troubled virtuous people, he had performed various sins, he killed animals, he used weapons on helpless, he took food with the left hand, he troubled distressed people, he was cruel and had illicit relationships with other women.  He was clever in performing immoral deeds, lived in the company of deceitful people; he forced his wife to adopt unchaste ways to keep him happy, eventually, he died of various ailments.  He had gone through terrible punishments in the hell, and thrown out of the hell, he attained the form of Pishaca and living in Mount Vindhyachala.  Therefore, you go to Vindhyachala and recite the glorious Shivamahapuran that would free him from the sins and the form of Pishacha.  Once, he gets freed from his sins, brings him in a celestial vehicle and produces before Lord Shiva.”  Chanchula felt extremely fortunate one, after listening to the command of Maheshani to the celestial Gandharva Thumburu.  In the Vindhyachala Mountain, Thumburu witnessed the Pishacha that was roaming around fearlessly, crying, weeping, and laughing.  Thumburu conducted prayers of Shivanama, finally got hold of the Pishacha and fastened with a rope.  He began the recitation of Shivamahapuran with grandeur, illustrious Rishis and Sages assembled from various places.  Thus Thumburu began to tune his Veena and started recital of Sri Shivamahapuran, at end of the Seventh Samhitha Binduka got freed from the form of Pisacha.  He has attained a marvelous form, fair complexion, and divine body. He was attired in a crisp clean garment, adorned in various ornaments and crescent moon; he had three eyes, Gauravarnna, like Chandhrashekhara, was brought to the abode of Lord Shiva.  Binduka and wife Chanchula together praised supreme Lord Shiva and Ma Parvathi and eulogized the splendor of Lord in various verses with extreme devotion.  The deities were delightful and collectively sung in praise of supreme Lord Shiva with this couple, and returned to their respective abodes.  Binduka was declared one of Ganas of Lord Shiva, and Chanchula served Ma Parvathi, thus the couple started living a blissful life in the abode supreme Lord Shiva.” 

Sutha Pauranika concludes “ I have narrated the glorious legend from the Sri Shivamahapuran, capable to enhance Bhakti and happiness.   Whoever listens or read this glorious Shivamahapuran, with intense devotion and faith, or conduct recital of Sri Shivamahapuran for the welfare of all, would attain all the happiness in the world, ultimately attain the abode of supreme Lord Shiva.”

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter –7– The significance of Sri Shivamahapuran – The legend of Chanchula -4

Shaunaka speaks “ Oh! Sutha,  Oh! Mahabhaga,  Oh! Fortunate one, you have well narrated the legend that enhances Bhakti. We are thankful to you for describing the wonderful legend that increased devotion to Lord Shiva.  Oh! Mahamathe, you have mentioned Chanchula attained the abode of Lord Shiva after leaving the mortal coil.  Kindly tell us about her husband Binduka, what happened to him?”

Sutha Pauranika speaks “ Chanchula offered a wonderful prayer eulogizing Ma Parvathi, “ Oh! Girije, Oh! Skandhamatha, Oh! Bhramaswaroopini, Oh! Shubhapriye, Oh! Sarvasaukhyapradhe, you are worshiped by all.  You are worshiped by Lord Vishnu, Lord Bhrama and deities, you symbolize Nirguna and Saguna as well, You represent Prakrithi, you have subtle nature, you are Sacchidhanandaswaroopini who is eternal bliss.  You are the cause for Shrishti, Sthithi and Laya, You represent Thriguna/Sathvik, Rajasik, and Thamasik, you are the shelter place of deities in the three worlds, Oh! Parambhramaswaroopini,  you have established Bhrama, Vishnu and Mahesha.”  Oh! Sutha, Chanchula eulogized the glories of Maheshani and attained Moksha, with tears overflowing, she paused for a while.  Goddess Parvathi, who is beloved of Lord Shankara, spoke these compassionate words “ Oh! Chanchule, I am extremely pleased with your prayers, Oh! Sundhari, what would you like to have boon?”  Chanchula with folded hands repeatedly offer prostration to Ma Parvathi and said “ Oh! Matha, I am anxious about the condition of my husband.  Where is he? How is he? Oh! Mahadevi, Oh! Maheshani, I would like to unite with him once again.  Oh!  Dheenavathsale, he was into all immoral deeds and had an illicit relationship with women while he was alive. Oh! Anaghe, Oh! Kalyani,  kindly describe what happened to him.” Chanchula requested Ma Parvathi who is always compassionate to her devotees, said “ Oh! Chanchule, Oh! Daughter, your husband has committed several sins, wicked, lived with several women, is in hell.  He had gone through several tortures in the hell, after that he has achieved the body of Pishacha and living in the Mount Vindhyachala, leading a miserable life living in the air.” Chanchula felt extremely sorry for her husband and shed tears.  Chanchula speaks “ Oh! Maheshwari, Oh! Mahadevi,  Kindly liberate my husband from the miseries and grief, kindly shower your compassionate grace upon us. I shall repeatedly prostrate before you kindly advise me how can I liberate my husband from the miserable condition.”  Goddess Parvathi was delighted to hear the kind words of Chanchula for the goodness of her husband, speaks “ Oh! Chanchule, listen to me carefully, whoever listens to the legends of  auspicious Sri Shivamahapuran would get an abundance of piousness, would get  liberated from the severest sins in their lives.”  Chanchula repeatedly prostrated before Ma Parvathi, and decided to bring solace to her husband who is roaming in the form of Pishacha in the Vindhyachala Mountain, she heartily wished her husband should get an opportunity to listen the highly auspicious Shivakatha. Chanchula attained an abundance of piousness with her constant devotion and service to  Maheshi who is Bhakthavathsala. 

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter –6– The significance of Sri Shivamahapuran – The legend of Chanchula -3

 Gathva  Thathra Mahadevam Sa Dhadharsha  Thrilochanam | Vishnu Bhramadhibhirdevai: Sevyamanam Sanathanam || Ganesha Bhringhi Nandhisha Veerabhadhresharadhibhi: | Upasyamanam Sadhbhakthya Kotisurya Samaprabham || Neelaghreevam Panchavakthram Thrayambakam Chandrashekharam | Vamange Bhibhratham Gaurim Vidhyuth PUcchaSamaprabham|| Karpoora Gauram Gaurisham Sarvalankara Dharinam | Sitha Bhasmalasathdheham Sithavasthram Mahojjwalam ||

Sutha Pauranika continues “Thus, the Bhramin scholar continued recitation of Sri Sivamahapuran in the shrine, in this way he showered grace upon her.  Chanchula was pleased and listened to the glorious myths of supreme Lord Shiva with tears overflowing.  Chanchula said “ Oh! Mahashaiva ! Oh! Dhvija, who is selfless, imparts the knowledge of supreme Bhramam, your kind words are capable to invoke Vairagya in me.  Kindly, protect me from heaving into hell. I have already started feeling detached from worldly matters, and devotion raptures in my heart.” In this way, Chanchula prayed to the scholarly Bhramin and revealed her desire to the stories of Sri Shivamahapuran, she also informed her willingness to serve him.  The Bhramin who is an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva began to give lectures on Sri Shivamahapuran in the shrine, eventually Chanchula transported to a world of the bliss of  Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya.  Chanchula with the help of the preceptor elevated her soul contemplating upon the supreme Lord Shiva, she blissfully engaged in meditation for several hours.  She took daily bath in the sacred river of Gokarna, gradually she has developed matted hair locks, attired in simple black garment, smeared in sacred ashes, adorned in Rudraksha, recited several thousands of Panchakshara, observed vow of silence, and consumed little meal, in this way Chanchula sincerely followed the advises of her preceptor and pleased supreme Lord Shiva.  Oh! Shaunak, she has continued the austerities for several years, enriched with Bhakti, Gnana, and Vairagya, eventually left her mortal coil.  She was carried in a decorated celestial vehicle by the emissary of Lord Shiva who had the resemblance of Rudra, they have taken her to Shivapuri, in the assembly of  Chandhrashekhara and Ma Gauri.  On her way, Chanchula achieved a divine body; she had supreme brilliance, adorned in various precious ornaments, attired in magnificent clothes. As soon as she arrived in the supreme abode of Lord Mahadeva who is Thrilochana and Sanathana, she could witness Lord Bhrama, Lord Vishnu and deities are serving him.  Lord Mahadeva who has the brilliance of crores of Surya was surrounded by Lord Ganesha, Bhringi, Nandikeshwara, and Veerabhadhra.  Chanchula saw the supreme Lord Mahadeva who has a bluish throat, he has five faces, three eyes on each face, adorned in a crescent moon, was seated with Ma Gauri seated on his left and she has the brilliance of lightning.  Chanchula witnessed the supreme Lord Shiva who is the Lord of Ma Gauri adorned in various precious ornaments, his body has the complexion of camphor, he has supreme brilliance, attired in a white crisp garment, and he was smeared in sacred ashes on the body.  Chanchula repeatedly prostrated before the supreme Lord Mahadeva along with Ma Parvathi, she felt extremely fortunate, with tears overflowing and folded hands continuously prostrated before the divine couple.  Lord Mahadeva and Ma Parvati affectionately called her and asked her to sit before them.  Ma Parvati heartily announced Chanchula as one of her attendants, in this way Chanchula started living happily in the abode of supreme Lord Shiva.

|| Om Nama: Shivaya ||

Chapter –5– The significance of Sri Shivamahapuran – The legend of Chanchula -2

Sutha Pauranika continued “ Oh! Shaunak, Chanchula who was fallen at his feet of Bhramin, the intelligent Bhramin pacified and said “ Oh! Dhvija Pathni,  it was your fortune you could listen to the glorious Sri Shivamahapuran,  it was Lord Shiva’s compassionate grace on you made regret your previous sins and sprouted  Vairagya, you have changed your mind from the sinful deeds.  This glorious Purana is capable to bring salvation to the listeners and readers as well.  Therefore don’t be afraid, take complete surrender to supreme Lord Shiva, you will be relieved from all the sins with the grace of Lord Shiva.  I shall describe the life of supreme Yogi Lord Shiva that would provide comfort to you, with this legend you would remain free from all the sins, listening to the legend itself would purify your intellect and repent for the sins committed in life. You will get relieved from all the sins with a sense of regret, even though there are several austerities to perform as atonement for the sins.  Oh! Dhvija Pathni, listening to the legends of Sri Shivamahapuran is the supreme penance to get rid of the sins committed, with the constant listening to the glories of supreme Lord Shiva, the mind becomes spotless like a mirror.  Whoever listens to the glorious myths of Sri Shivapuran would attain the eternal presence of Supreme Lord Shiva along with Ma Parvathi in their hearts, eventually, their presence would make the listener freed from sins, ultimately attain the abode of Lord Shiva.  Therefore everyone should listen to the myths of Lord Mahadeva, it could cultivate intense devotion at the lotus feet of Mahadeva who is the Lord of Ma Parvathi, with the constant practice of meditation, one could attain the supreme knowledge of oneness-in-all, and the presence of the Supreme Lord as soul, definitely, it will lead them to Moksha.  The listening to the glorious Shivamahapuran and meditation upon supreme Lord would bring salvation, with the constant practice of listening to this scripture would bring the mind and intellect wedged on the feet of Lord Shiva, eventually, it would get purified.  This was practiced by the sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Karthikeya of supreme Lord Shiva and Ma Parvathi, with the constant contemplation upon supreme Lord Mahadeva, they have cultivated intense devotion.  Therefore, Oh! Dhvijapathi, listen to the legends of supreme Lord Shiva on a daily basis, it would free your mind from impurities, and worldly matters, eventually purify your sins.  Hence, listen to me carefully, whoever meditates upon supreme Lord Shiva and take shelter upon his lotus feet would be liberated in this birth itself.”