1) SHIVA MAHAPURANA: INTRODUCTION

SHIVA MAHAPURANA: INTRODUCTION First of all, Sage Shaunak expressed his desire to Suta about knowing the means, which could help a man in this era of Kali to attainment lord Shiva, by cleansing all the impurities of his mind and rectifying his inherent demonic tendencies. Suta then described about Shiva…

Continue reading

THE ORIGIN OF ELEVEN RUDRAS

Once, the deities went to sage Kashyapa after being tormented by the demons. They complained to him about the misdeeds of the demons, who also happened to be their step brothers. Sage Kashyapa became extremely furious, when he heard about the misdeeds of his sons – the demons. To protect…

Continue reading

KARTIKEYA

Sage Vishwamitra arrived at the spot where the child had manifested. On the repeated insistence of the child, Vishwamitra performed his purification rites and named him ‘Guha’. The divine child blessed Vishwamitra and bestowed divine knowledge to him. He also blessed him to become famous as ‘Brahmarshi’. Agnideva arrived there…

Continue reading

WORSHIPPING THE IDOL OF SHIVA

WORSHIPPING THE IDOL OF SHIVA It has been mentioned in the sixteenth chapter of Viddyeshwar Samhita that all the desires of a man are completely fulfilled, if he worship even in earthen idol of Shiva. For making an idol of Shiva, clay should be acquired from the base of river,…

Continue reading

LORD SHIVA’S INCARNTION AS YAKSHESHWAR

During the time when ocean was being churned first of all poison appeared from it. The deities were very terrified to see the tremendous heat it generated. They went to lord Shiva and requested to protect them from the heat of that poison. Lord Shiva drank all the poison but…

Continue reading

VISHWANAR RECEIVES BOON FROM SHIVA

Once upon a time, there used to live a brahmin named Vishwanar who was a great devotee of lord Shiva. Shuchismati was his wife who was a devout wife. Being pleased by her sense of dutifulness, Vishwanar tried to reward his wife. Shuchismati expressed her desire of having a son…

Continue reading

BHAIRAV GETS LIBERATED FROM HIS SIN

Bhairav who was created by lord Shiva from his third eye, had severed one of the five heads of Lord Brahma on the instruction of lord Shiva. Now Brahma was left with only four heads. Carrying the skull of Brahma in his hand, Bhairava started wandering in all the three…

Continue reading

GANESH

Once Narada had a desire to listen to the tales of Ganesha. Brahma replied- “There were various Ganeshas in different Kalpas. During the period of ‘Shweta-Kalpa’, Ganesha was born to Shiva and Parvati, when they went to Kailash mountain shortly after their marriage. “Once while going to take her bath,…

Continue reading

DAKSHA REVIVED AND YAGYA COMPLETED

The deities after being defeated by Veerdbharda went to Brahmaloka and narrated everything about the destruction of Daksha’s yagya and also how his head was severed by Veerbharda. Brahma became very sad. To bring Daksha back to life and to accomplish the still unfinished yagya, he went to lord Vishnu…

Continue reading

DAKSHA’S ANIMOSITY TOWARDS SHIVA— PERFORMS YAGYA

Once, the sages organised a yagya at Prayaga, which was attended by all the deities. Lord Shiva too had come, accompanies by Sati. He was eulogized and worshipped by all the deities and the sages. Daksha arrived there and after making salutations to lord Brahma sat down without showing any…

Continue reading

EIGHT IDOLS OF SHIVA

After describing about the five chief incarnations of lord Shiva, Suta explained about the eight famous idols of lord Shiva- Sharva, Bhava, Rudra, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishan and Mahadeva. These eight idols of Shiva symbolizes the eight natural elements which help in the process of creation, nurturement and annihilation. These…

Continue reading

FIVE SHIVA INCARNATIONS

1) SADHOJAT:-Lord Shiva took his first incarnation from the physique incarnation from the physique of Lord Brahma, who was engrossed in his deep state of meditation, during the nineteenth Kalpa named Shweta Lohit. Lord Brahma gave him the name Sadhojat and eulogized him. Later on, from the physique of Sadhojat…

Continue reading

KILLING OF VIDAL AND UTPAL

Long long ago there used to live two demons by the names of Vidul and Utpal. Both of them did a tremendous penance to please lord Brahma. After being blessed by lord Brahma, they became very arrogant and started tormenting the deities and the brahmins. The deities went to lord…

Continue reading

KSHUVA–DADHICHI FIGHT AND VISHNU–DADHICHI FIGHT

Narada, who was listening to the divine tales of Shiva with rapt attention, was very curious to know about the reasons why lord Vishnu attended a yagya where Shiva was not invited and why did he fight a battle against Veerbhadra despite knowing about his invincibility. Lord Brahma told him…

Continue reading

ANARANYA – THE KING

There was a king named Anaranya, who belonged to the lineage of fourteenth Manu- Indrasavarni. He was a great devotee of lord Shiva. He had five queens from whom one hundred sons and a very beautiful daughter named Padma were born. When Padma grew up, the king started looking for…

Continue reading

KILLING OF NIRHADDAITYA

Diti was filled with grief when she came to known about her son’s (Hiranyaksha) death, who was killed by lord Vishnu. Nirhaddaitya, who was the maternal uncle of Prahlada consoled her an promised to avenge the death of Hiranyaksha. He thought to destroy the vedic religion. According to him the…

Continue reading

DURGA BORN AS DAKSHA’S DAUGHTER SATI

After Lord Vishnu went away, Lord Brahma started meditating on the form of goddess Durga. She appeared before him. Lord Brahma said- “I need your help in binding Shiva with your maya.” Goddess Durga told Brahma that Lord Shiva in his incarnation of Rudra was beyond the reached of any…

Continue reading

KILLING OF HIRANYAKSHIPU

Hiranyakashipu was filled with grief when he heard the news of his brothers’ death. To avenge Hiranyaksha’s death, he started to torment the deities. Becoming homeless, the deities started wandering here and there. Hiranyakashipu was still unsatisfied. He wanted to acquire more power and authority. He went to the Mandarachal…

Continue reading

KILLING OF HIRANYAKSHA

While narrating the tale of Hiranyaksha’s killing, Sutli said- “Once, Shiva and Parvati were living at the Mandarachal mountain. Parvati, playfully covered both the eyes of Shiva with her palms. This made lord Shiva to perspire from his forehead. From this perspiration manifested a ferocious creature. Parvati asked Lord Shiva…

Continue reading

SHANKHACHUDA BECOMES THE RULER OF ALL THE THREE WORLDS

When Shankhachuda reached his capital after marrying Tulsi, he was crowned as the king of the demons by Shukracharya. After his coronation, Shankhachuda attacked Indrapuri supported by his huge army and defeated the deities. In a very short time all the three worlds were under his control. After being defeated…

Continue reading

BIRTH OF SHANKHACHUDA AND HIS MARRIAGE

Suta narrated the tale of the birth of Shankhachuda and how Shiva killed him with his Trishula. He told the sages that Shankhachuda was born to the demon king ‘Dambha’. Shankhachuda was in fact, Sudama, in his previous life. He was born in the family of demons due to the…

Continue reading

KILLING OF JALANDHAR

On the other side, after the departure of Parvati from Kailash Mountain and after the illusionary powers created by Jalandhar had ended all the apsaras and gandharvas vanished. Shiva realized that whatever he was watching, was nothing more than illusion. Lord Shiva recommenced his battle. The demons-Shumbh and Nishumbh, came…

Continue reading

BATTLE BETWEEN JALANDHAR AND THE DEITIES

One day Sage Bhrigu came to meet Jalandhar. After receiving him with due respect Jalandhar asked him as to who severed the head of Rahu. Sage Bhrigu then told him about Hiranyakashipu who was the maternal uncle of Rahu. Sage Bhrigu also told him about Virochana – the son of…

Continue reading

MANIFESTATION OF JALANDHAR

The effulgence, which had been divided by lord Shiva into the Ocean resulted into the manifestation of a small child. This incident happened at the place where river Ganges submerged into the ocean and which is also known as Gangasagar now a days. The child was crying so ferociously that…

Continue reading

LORD SHIVA SPARES THE LIFE OF INDRA

Suta narrates the following story to the sages- “Once upon a time, Indra was going towards Kailash mountain to have a ‘darshan’ of lord Shiva. Sage Brihaspati was accompanying him. Lord Shiva came to know about his arrival. He wanted to test his devotion towards him. While both Indra and…

Continue reading

KILLINGS OF TRIPURASURS

When Shiva agreed to kill the demon – brothers Tripurasur the deities became extremely joyous. They gave their respective weapons to Shiva, so that he did not have any difficulty in killing the demons. Vishwakarma gave his beautiful chariot to him. Lord Shiva proceeded towards the forts of Tripurasur followed…

Continue reading

SHIVA SEVERS GANESHA’S HEAD –LATER GIVEN ELEPHANT HEAD

A fierce battle was fought between Shiva and Ganesha. When Lord Shiva realized that Ganesha was dominating the fight, he severed his head with his trishul. Parvati became extremely furious at the death of Ganesha. Her anger resulted into the manifestation of innumerable goddesses, who started creating havoc on the…

Continue reading

PADMA AND PIPPALAD

On the request of Himalayas, Sage Vashishtha who was one of the Saptarishis narrated the story of Padma the princess and sage Pippalad- “At the time of his marriage sage Pippalad was old and weak, but still Padma devotely performed the duties of a faithful wife. To test her faithfulness…

Continue reading

SHIVA’S DEPARTURE WITH PARVATI TO KAILASH

Shiva remained at his in-laws house for many days. One day he sought the permission of Himalaya to go back. Everybody became sad at the prospect of Shiva’s departure. Especially Maina who was very saddened by this news. At last it was time for Shiva to depart for Kailash, accompanied…

Continue reading

LORD SHIVA’S MARRIAGE PROCESSION—DIVINE PLAYS

Lord Shiva invited all of his Ganas to the marriage ceremony. He also instructed sage Narada to intimate all the deities, sages and the celestial entities. After getting the invitation from Shiva everybody started making preparations to be a part of Shiva’s marriage-procession. The seven mothers- Brahmi, Maheshwari, Kaumari, Vaishnavi,…

Continue reading

SHIVA DEMAND PARVATI AS HIS CONSORT

Parvati, after successfully accomplishing her penance came back to her home. Everybody was happy at her arrival. After sometime Himalaya went out to take his bath in the river Ganges. Meanwhile lord Shiva arrived in his appearance of Nataraj and started dancing in front of Parvati’s mother Maina. She was…

Continue reading

PARVATI’S LOVE FOR SHIVA TESTED BY SAPTARISHIS AND SHIVA

After the deities went back, lord Shiva summoned the Saptarishis (Vashishtha etc) and instructed them to test Parvati’s love for him. The Saptarishis went to Parvati and tested her resolve to marry lord Shiva. They tried to deter her by all means, but Parvati was firm in her resolve. They…

Continue reading

NARADA PREACHES PARVATI DOES PENANCE

When Parvati reached her home, she became very sad as she was unable to bear the sorrow of Shiva’s separation. Sage Narada arrived there. Her father Himalaya narrated the whole story to him Sage Narada then gave the five lettered mantra – “OM NAMAH SHIVAY’ to her and he also…

Continue reading

KAMADEVA REDUCED TO ASHES BY SHIVA

Lord Brahma told Narada that the deities decided to send Kamadeva to influence lord Shiva so that the marriage between him and Parvati is felicitated. Indra called Kamadeva and told him that the demon king Tarakasur could be killed only by such a person who was the son of Shiva…

Continue reading

BIRTH OF TARAKASUR AND HIS PENANCE

Varangi gave birth to Tarakasur, the valiant and brave demon. During the time of his birth, the world was affected by inauspicious events like earthquakes, cyclones etc. His name Tarakasur was given by Kashyapa. After he grew up, Tarakasur went to Madhuvan to do penance. His tremendous penance scarred the…

Continue reading

SHIVA ARRIVES AT HIMALAYA AND CONVERSATION WITH PARVATI

One day lord Shiva accompanied by his ganas like Bhringi, Nandi, etc, arrived at Himalaya, with the purpose of doing penance. When Parvati father Himalaya came to know about his arrival, he went to receive him. After he had made his salutations to Shiva, he was instructed by Shiva to…

Continue reading

THE BIRTH OF ‘BHAUM’- MARS

Once, when the ganas of Shiva praised the glory of mother Sati, lord Shiva became overjoyed just like an ordinary human being. In his joy, he travelled all around the three world without any clothes on his body. He returned back to Kailash and went into meditation. While he was…

Continue reading

BIRTH OF PARVATI

Himalaya and Maina commenced their penance with the objective of getting Uma as their daughter. Maina did a tremendous penance which lasted for twenty-seven years. Goddess Uma became very pleased by her penance. She appeared before her and asked her to demand anything she wished for. Maina expressed her desire…

Continue reading

HIMALAYA MARRIED MAINA

Narada requests lord Brahma to shed light on the birth of Maina and also too she was married with Himalaya. Brahma said- “After relinquishing her body, Sati, the daughter of Daksha attained to the abode of Shiva. In her next birth she was born to Maina, the wife of Himalaya…

Continue reading

VEERBHARDA CUTS OFF DAKSHA’S HEAD

When Nandi informed Shiva about Sati’s death, he became very furious. He angrily pulled out a lock of hair and dashed it against the mountain, which got divided into two parts. From one part manifested the valiant Veerbharda and from the other part Mahakali. Veerbhadra and Mahakali were instructed by…

Continue reading

SATI’S DISHONOR—GIVES UP LIFE

When Sati reached, where Daksha was performing his yagya, she met her mother and sisters. They met her with all the respect and honor. But Daksha did not even caste a glance at her. Imitating him many other people did the same. But Sati not bothering about the disrespect shown…

Continue reading

SATI’S DOUBT ABOUT SRI RAMA

Devarshi Narada who was listening to the divine tales of Shiva, narrated by lord Brahma with rapt attention, requested him to describe about other characteristics of Shiva. Brahma said- “Once, lord Shiva accompanies by Sati, arrived at Dandak aranya, where Sri Rama was wandering in search of Sita, who had…

Continue reading

LORD BRAHMA FACES THE WRATH OF SHIVA

Daksha presented invaluable things to his daughter- Sati as dowry. Similarly the brahmins were presented with large quantities of wealth. Lord Brahma was enchanted by the divine beauty of Sati. With a desire to see her face, he put logs of wood which were wet, into the yagni kunda and…

Continue reading

SATI DOES PENANCE—SHIVA MARRIES SATI

When Sati attained marriageable age, Daksha started worrying. Sati understood the reason behind her father’s worried. She went to her Mother Virani and expressed her desire of marrying lord Shiva. Her mother made all the arrangements so that Sati could worship Shiva without any problem. Sati commenced her austerity named…

Continue reading

CREATION OF MARGANAS AND KAMA’S FUTILE ATTEMPTS

Kama tried his best to bring lord Shiva under his influence. All the living creatures were spell bound by his powers except lord Shiva and Ganesha. Kama returned back to Brahma ad told him about his unsuccessful attempts. Brahma sighed heavily. From his sighes were created the ferocious ganas. These…

Continue reading

SANDHYA DOES PENANCE AND GETS BOON FROM SHIVA

Sandhya was very ashamed of herself. For the atonement of her sin she decided to do penance. She went to Chandrabhaga mountain and commenced her tremendous penance. Lord Brahma then instructed Vashishtha to go to her in disguise and help in getting her initiated. He went to Chandrabhaga mountain in…

Continue reading

MANIFESTATION OF ‘KAMA’ WHO IS CURSED BY BRAHMA

“When I became infatuated by the divine beauty of Sandhya, my infatuation resulted into the manifestation of my another Manas-putra named Kamadeva. His beauty and qualities were incomparable. His manifestation not only inflicted me with lust, but also my other Manasputras became filled up with lust. Kamadeva made salutations to…

Continue reading