Jaya Shiv Omkara Swami Bhaja Shiva Omkara Brahma Vishnu Sadashiva Ardhangi Goura Hari om Hara Hara Kara Mahadev || Ekanana Chaturanana Panchanana Raje Shiva Panchanana Raje Hamsasana Garudasana Vrishavahana Saje Hari om Hara Hara Hara Mahadev || Dobhuj Charu Chaturbhuj Dashabhuj Tuma Shobhe Shiva Dashabhuj Tuma Shobhe Teeno Lokanirakata Shivajit…
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,…
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…
The sage Kashyapa had two wives Kadru and Vinata. Kadru had one thousand children who were Nagas servents. Garuda and Aruna were the two sons of Vinata. The two sisters were one day wondering on the mountain Meru when at some deistance they happened to see horse of Indra (Uchaishravas)….
Rudra bhoomi: Quite displeased with Brahma’s creation. Rudra became very angry, and originated Pramatha Ganas for destroying Brahma’s creation. Vishnu learnt this and approaching Rudra said in appearing words. “Oh! Rudra, please, forgive Brahma now, and destroy his creation only at the time of pralaya (final destruction) and may this…
Kharasura Demon of the race of Hiranya Kashyapu being desirous of obtaining Parvati, began to perform Tapas for a long time. Shiva pleased with his penance presented himself before him and asked what he desired. Vishnu learning all about the matter assumed the form of very beautiful woman with a…
Due to Pranalinga being established in the month of Karteeka all the Gods go and stay at Gokarn in that month. So Vishnu also once went there and worshipped Shri Shankara with sincere devotion and remained in center of the Kshetra to protect the devotees. He is known as Venkatesh or Venkataraman.
As soon as Prahlada began to pray the Lord, his Nagpash broke and the mountains that the demons had thrown into the sea also lightened up causing great relief for Prahlada. Lord Vishnu appeared before him and said- “O Prahlada! I am pleased with your devotion. You may seek any…
The sages asked Suta— Lord Shiva is formless then how come Shivalinga is worshipped? What is the significance of Shivalinga? What is the proper method of worshipping a Shivalinga? Suta replied— Once, Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu developed serious different on the matter of superiority. A tremendous duel broke out…
Among the may sumits of the Himalayas. Shata-Shringa was once the abode of Brahma. Just as Kailasa and Indraneela were the abodes of Ishwara and Vishnu re- sportively. Once it so happened that Garuda was flying high up in the skyes holding in his beak a serpent named Durmukha and…
Rudra learnt from Vayu that his Pranalinga was founded in Gokama. He came there, and marked that the Pranalinga had received a wound from Ravana’s nails. He repeated however that this was due to his mistake of having given over the Pranalinga to Ravana. He bond to the Linga with…
Ravana the king of Lanka, heard the immense power and great ness of this Paneling and wishing to possess it set out for Kailasa. he was performing there severe penance with prayers in Samagana, Narada, who had been to Kailasa from Gokarn, while taking Ishwaras, leave saw Ravana there, and learnt his intention. He at once came to…
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…
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…
Ikshvaku was born from the nostril of Manu as a result of sudden sneezing. Ikshvaku had hundred sons among whom Vikukshi, Nimi and Danda were prominent. Once Ikshvaku organised a Shradha. For the purpose of feeding Brahmins, he ordered his son Vikukshi to bring fresh meat of wild animals. Taking…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
“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…
In the Sati Khand of Rudra-Samhita, Narada enquires lord Brahma about the reason, why lord Shiva married Sati, inspite of being a ‘yogi’. He also requested Brahma to tell, how Sati became the daughter of Daksha Prajapati and in her next birth as Uma the daughter of Himalaya. How did…
When Rudra – the Ansha of the Almighty Brahma, heard about the tremendous penance, Kubera was doing he started to play his ‘damaru’ (drum), the sound of which reached all the three worlds. Rudra then reached the place where Kubera was doing penance.” “Hearing the sound of his damaru, all…
Brahma revealed to Narada how the process of creation commenced- “After Lord Shiva vanished from our sight, I transformed myself into the appearance of a swan and Vishnu transformed his appearance into that of a boar with the purpose of commencing the process of creation. First of all, I created…
On Narada’s request Brahma said- “During the period of MahaPralaya (Final annihilation) nothing exist, except Shiva. The power which Shiva manifested from his own self came to be known as Ambika. This Ambika is understood to be the cause of the whole world as well as the Nature. Lord Shiva…
King Sagar had two queens, Sumati, the daughter of Kashyapa and Keshini, the daughter of Vidarbha’s king. Keshini had a son Asmanjas whereas Sumati had sixty thousand sons. Anshuman was the son of Asmanjas. Asmanjas was very whimsical since his childhood. Even in his youth, he did not change his…
Once upon a time Gandharvas of collective name Mauneya defeated the Nagas and snatched all their wealth and powers. The Nagas prayed Lord Vishnu to rescue them. Lord Vishnu told them that he would appear in Mandhata’s son Purukutsa and kill the Gandharvas. Afterwards Narmada brought Purukutsa to Rasatal where…
SHIVA GOES TO KAILASH When Rudra – the Ansha of the Almighty Brahma, heard about the tremendous penance, Kubera was doing he started to play his ‘damaru’ (drum), the sound of which reached all the three worlds. Rudra then reached the place where Kubera was doing penance.” “Hearing the sound…
Mayamoha was produced in a naked form. It reached the bank of Narmada and saw the demons observing penance there. The naked Mayamoha then approached them and said in a sweet voice- ” O demons! What is the purpose of your penance?” The demons said- “We are observing penance to achieve…
Rig, Sama and Yajurveda are like the clothes of Hindu society. Those who give them up are in fact naked. This statement is endorsed by the following tale. Once upon a time, a battle occurred between the demons and the gods. It lasted for one hundred years at the end…
Describing about the methods of installing a Shivalinga Suta says– A devotee should install a Shivalinga made of either gold, silver or copper. The shivalinga should be installed along with the altar. The altar of the Shivalinga symbolizes goddess Uma. Lord Brahma is said to manifest at the base of…
The sages were curious to know why Lord Shiva was also known as Pashupati (lord of animals). Suta retold the same tale which sage Shiladi had once narrated to Sanatkumar — Once, Sanatkumar went to the hermitage of Sage Shiladi and asked him as to why was Lord Shankar also…
On being asked by the sages about the sacred mantra– the chanting of which enabled a man to attain salvation Suta replied — Lord Vishnu gives salvation to those people who endeavour to seek Brahm– the Almighty God. A man whose mind is preoccupied with the thought of Lord Vishnu…
The sages were curious to know how Lord Shiva had bestowed the designation of Ganpatya and an ocean of milk to Upamanyu. They requested Suta to shed light on the two incidents. Suta narrated the following tale — Upamanyu was a brilliant child. There is an interesting story how he…
The Sages were curious to know how Lord Vishnu in his incarnation of Varaha (Boar), had liberated the earth from the captivity of Hiranyaksha. They also wanted to know why Lord Shiva adorned himself with the horn of that boar. Suta narrated the following tale— Hiranyaksha–Andhak’s father was a tyrant….
The Sages asked Suta as to how did Maya–The demon acquire three well fortified forts from Lord Brahma and how was lord Shiva finally successful in destroying them. Suta replied– After Tarakasur’s death his three sons, Vidyunmali, Kamlaksha and Tarakaksha did tremendous penance to please Lord Brahma. When Lord Brahma…
The Sages asked Suta how Shakti had been devoured by a demon named Rudhir. Sutiji replied— Once, Sage Vashishtha was presiding over a grand Yagya being organized by a king named Kalmashpad. Vashishtha had a rivalry with Vishwamitra. On seeing Vashishtha busy in that Yagya, Vishwamitra instigated Rudhir– a demon,…
The Sages asked Suta as to how Dhruva became successful in attaining immortality and supreme status among all the stars. Suta narrated the following tale— There lived a king named Uttanpad, who had two queens–Suniti and Suruchi. The eldest queen Suniti had a son named Dhruva. One day while Dhruva…
The Sages requested Suta to describe how Lord Brahma assigned Lordships to all the deities and the demons. Suta replied— The Sun was made the lord of all the planets. Soma was made the lord of all the constellations and medicinal herbs. Similarly, Vaun was made the Lord of…
Meru mountain is situated in the heart of Jambudweepa. The Meru range is spread in the area of 16 thousand yojan. Its towering peak is 84 thousand in height from the ground level and had even penetrated the depth of earth to the measurement of 16 thousand yojan. Meru mountain…
Once, Lord Brahma did an austere penance to please Lord Shiva. Shiva manifestated as Ardhnarishwar (partly male partly female) from his forehead and said–‘I am your son’. But, the unberabale heat emanating from the effulgence of Ardhanarishwar burnt the whole world including Lord Brahma. Lord Shiva then separated the feminine…
Once, Shilad did an austere penance to please Indra. He was desirous of begetting a son. When Indra appeared he requested him to bless him with a son who was self-born as well as deathless. Indra expressed his helplessness in fulfilling impossible demand. Even Lord Brahma meets his end after…
When Lord Vishnu appeared before Kshoopa, he sought his help in defeating Dadhichi. Lord Vishnu expressed his inability by saying— I don’t punish a Brahmin, especially if he is a devotee of Rudra. Dadhichi is both, so forget about defeating him. Anyhow, I will try me best to make Dadhichi…
The Moon rides a chariot with three wheels. This chariot is hauled by ten horses. During its entire journey, the Moon passes through all the twenty-seven Nakshatras. These horses haul the Moon’s chariot for a complete Kalpa. With his rays, the Sun nourishes the Moon, which loses its strength because of…
At last, Lord Vishnu was successful in convincing Brahma of Shiva’s supreme status. Both of them eulogized and sang hymns in the praise of Lord Shiva.Lord Shiva became very pleased by their devotion. He requested Lord Vishnu wanted nothing else but undiluted devotion in him. Lord Shiva agreed and said…
The Sages requested Suta to elucidate how Lord Brahma emerged from the navel of Vishnu seated on a lotus flower. Suta replied— At the time of deluge Lord Vishnu went in his yoganidra lying on the back of Sheshnag. As the result of his divine play, a huge lotus flower…
At the time, when this incident of mystical Shivalinga had occurred and after which Lord Brahmand Vishnu had stopped quarelling, Lord Shiva appeared before them and said— “I am very pleased with both of you, Both of – “O Vishnu! You are the creator, Lord Shiva. This made Lord Shiva…
In the initial phase of his creation, Lord Brahma created immovable natural things like trees, mountains etc-then birds and animals. In the process of creation, he created various things and human being was his seventh creation. First of all Lord Brahma created his Manasputras- Sanak, Sanandan etc, who had…
PART ONE SUTA NARRATES THE DIVINE TALES OF LINGA PURANA Once, sage, Narada arrived at Naimisharanya where he found many sages engaged in austerities. All the sages were delighted to see him. They eulogized him in reverence and offered him seat. Sage Narada narrated some amazing tales describing about…