Shiva Puran – Introduction

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The Glory Of Shiva Puran

The Puran itself is the creation of Lord Shiva himself, the mystical wisdom crafted in words, molded into one hundred thousand couplets or quartets (Shlokas), divided into twelve chapters (Samhitas); and first revealed in grace to the creator Lord Brahma who relayed it to his favoured son, Narada. Then, it was relayed on in succession to Sanat Kumara and Ved Vyasa. The latter condensed the massive volume into 24,000 shlokas categorised under seven chapters namely:

Vidyeshwara Samhita, Rudra Samhita, Shatarudra Samhita, Kotirudra Samhita, Uma Samhita, Kailasha Samhita and Vayaviya Samhita.

The enlightenment with the mysticism of Shiva-Jnan was truly possible only for one Sage Ved Vyasa, a literati of the sacred texts as he as. He could abridge the original text of Shiva Puran to make it sharp and focused with distilled mysticism. By the grace of Lord Shiva, the inspiration behind his endeavour was to remove the diluting impression a voluminous text carried, out of compassion to all and to impart the enlightenment to others in digest form. A man of great literary talent he was. Later, he visualized the entire epic of Mahabharata in his mind. Upon the suggestion of Lord Brahma, Ved Vyasa dictated Mahabharata to Lord Ganesha who penned it down non-stop.

Learned Ved Vyasa, then imparted the knowledge of Shiv Puran to other scholarly sages like Soota and Shuka. Sage Soota revealed the Mysticism and glory of Shiva Puran to other holy men through a discourse. Soota was the son of Romaharshana and a favoured disciple of learned Ved Vyasa.

Revelations by Soota

A great many sages and seers had converged on the holy centre of Prayaga, situated at the confluence of Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati by the will of Lord. Sages headed by Shaunaka approached Sage Soota and requested him to reveal the glory of mysticism of Shiva Puran to them. Soota gladly accepted to oblige the holy group.

Spoke great Sage Soota:

“O accomplished sirs! You are seized by the desire to know the glory of divinely supreme Lord Shiva. Hear this, there is nothing more of value and blessing full than reciting or hearing Shiva Puran. Even hearing one Katha (Tale) contained therein, a part of it, an episode of just half of it earns one Lord’s blessings, redemption, salvation and deliverance from transmigration.”

Speaking thus, Sage Soota began the Katha’s of Shiva Puran.

" HAR HAR MAHADEV"

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