Stories from the Shiva Purana - 1 (Introduction)
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S Jayanarayanan
Feb 9, 2025, 1:08:56 PM2/9/25
to Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta, Advaitin Google-Groups
The Shiva Purana (SP) is a highly revered Maha-Purana that contains sacred stories pertaining to Lord Shiva.
This series will present a few of these great tales that highlight the Glory of Shiva as the
Supreme Being of the Vedas. Although they may be perceived as Shaivite in nature, these stories teach
the Highest Truths of Vedanta in a simple form for everyone to understand and appreciate.
The accounts in the SP include many commonly known events regarding Shiva - His manifestation as a never-ending
pillar of fire sought by Brahma and Vishnu, the Sacrifice of Daksha, Shiva visiting Parvati and
their wedding, etc. But it also contains a few other gems that are less known - The Story of Gunanidhi's Salvation,
Parvati's (or Sati's) test of Rama's apparent grief, The importance of Rudraksha and Vibhuti, Passages teaching
Advaita Vedanta, etc. This series will hopefully shed light on all these wonderful aspects of Shiva, His worship
and His Teachings for the well-being of all Devotees.
In cases where there is a similar story appearing in a source other than the SP, that may also be included
in part or whole to contrast these kindred tales. It is especially surprising that the SP actually shares
some parrallel narratives with the Srimad Bhagavatam and/or the Vishnu Purana, which will be noted as and when the
stories are retold here.
The source material used will mostly be the English Translation of the Shiva Purana by J. L. Shastri published by
Motilal Banarsidass (1950), which can be found online at:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english
(To be Continued)
This series will present a few of these great tales that highlight the Glory of Shiva as the
Supreme Being of the Vedas. Although they may be perceived as Shaivite in nature, these stories teach
the Highest Truths of Vedanta in a simple form for everyone to understand and appreciate.
The accounts in the SP include many commonly known events regarding Shiva - His manifestation as a never-ending
pillar of fire sought by Brahma and Vishnu, the Sacrifice of Daksha, Shiva visiting Parvati and
their wedding, etc. But it also contains a few other gems that are less known - The Story of Gunanidhi's Salvation,
Parvati's (or Sati's) test of Rama's apparent grief, The importance of Rudraksha and Vibhuti, Passages teaching
Advaita Vedanta, etc. This series will hopefully shed light on all these wonderful aspects of Shiva, His worship
and His Teachings for the well-being of all Devotees.
In cases where there is a similar story appearing in a source other than the SP, that may also be included
in part or whole to contrast these kindred tales. It is especially surprising that the SP actually shares
some parrallel narratives with the Srimad Bhagavatam and/or the Vishnu Purana, which will be noted as and when the
stories are retold here.
The source material used will mostly be the English Translation of the Shiva Purana by J. L. Shastri published by
Motilal Banarsidass (1950), which can be found online at:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english
(To be Continued)
V Subrahmanian
Feb 9, 2025, 11:27:13 PM2/9/25
to adva...@googlegroups.com, Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta
Thanks for starting this series. This is a much awaited one. Indeed there are many Vedanta friendly aspects in the Shiva Purana.
warm regards
subbu
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S Jayanarayanan
Feb 12, 2025, 7:11:47 PM2/12/25
to Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta, Advaitin Google-Groups
Sangeerth P psangeerthgenius at gmail.com wrote:
>
> Namaste sir
> I have a small doubt.
> The following is a very famous sloka to remember 18 puranas. This list does
> not contain Siva purana.
>
> [image: image.png]
>
> - Madwayam: 1. Maarkendya, 2. Matsya
> - Bhadwayam: 3. Bhavishya, 4. Bhaagavat
> - Bratrayam: 5. Brahma, 6. Brahmaanda, 7. Brahmavaivarta
> - Vachatusthayam: 8. Vaamana, 9. Vishnu, 10. Varaaha, 11. *Vaayu**
> - ANaPaLinGa KuSkani: 12. Agni, 13. Naarada, 14. Padma, 15. Linga, 16.
> Garuda, 17. Kurma, 18. Skanda
>
>
> So is Shiva purana a upapurana? How do we understand this?
Can you please provide the reference for your shloka? Because the list you have contradicts a very important source, the Srimad Bhagavatam,
which considers the Shiva Purana to be a Maha-Purana:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana/d/doc1129018.html
(Book 12, Chapter 13)
Sūta said:
3. Now you learn from me the number of verses in each Purāṇa and their total number and the main theme and the object of the Purāṇa concerned.
Hear from me the procedure to be followed in gifts (of the copy of the Bhāgavata), the importance of giving it and also of reading or reciting it, etc.
4. The Brahma Purāṇa consists of ten thousand verses (Ślokas), the Padma Purāṇa, fifty thousand, Viṣṇu Purāṇa twenty-three thousand
and Śaiva i.e, Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousands.
> Regards
> Sangeerth P
> 8608658009
>
Regards,
Kartik
>
> On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > The Shiva Purana (SP) is a highly revered Maha-Purana that contains sacred
> > stories pertaining to Lord Shiva.
[..]
>
> Namaste sir
> I have a small doubt.
> The following is a very famous sloka to remember 18 puranas. This list does
> not contain Siva purana.
>
> [image: image.png]
>
> - Madwayam: 1. Maarkendya, 2. Matsya
> - Bhadwayam: 3. Bhavishya, 4. Bhaagavat
> - Bratrayam: 5. Brahma, 6. Brahmaanda, 7. Brahmavaivarta
> - Vachatusthayam: 8. Vaamana, 9. Vishnu, 10. Varaaha, 11. *Vaayu**
> - ANaPaLinGa KuSkani: 12. Agni, 13. Naarada, 14. Padma, 15. Linga, 16.
> Garuda, 17. Kurma, 18. Skanda
>
>
> So is Shiva purana a upapurana? How do we understand this?
Can you please provide the reference for your shloka? Because the list you have contradicts a very important source, the Srimad Bhagavatam,
which considers the Shiva Purana to be a Maha-Purana:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/the-bhagavata-purana/d/doc1129018.html
(Book 12, Chapter 13)
Sūta said:
3. Now you learn from me the number of verses in each Purāṇa and their total number and the main theme and the object of the Purāṇa concerned.
Hear from me the procedure to be followed in gifts (of the copy of the Bhāgavata), the importance of giving it and also of reading or reciting it, etc.
4. The Brahma Purāṇa consists of ten thousand verses (Ślokas), the Padma Purāṇa, fifty thousand, Viṣṇu Purāṇa twenty-three thousand
and Śaiva i.e, Śiva Purāṇa, twenty-four thousands.
> Regards
> Sangeerth P
> 8608658009
>
Regards,
Kartik
>
> On Sun, Feb 9, 2025 at 11:39 PM S Jayanarayanan via Advaita-l <advaita-l at lists.advaita-vedanta.org> wrote:
>
> > The Shiva Purana (SP) is a highly revered Maha-Purana that contains sacred
> > stories pertaining to Lord Shiva.
S Jayanarayanan
Feb 13, 2025, 2:40:13 PM2/13/25
to Chaturamnaya List, A. Discussion Group for Advaita Vedanta, Advaitin Google-Groups
> I found this sloka from kamakoti website. In that website they tell that
> till sloka belongs to Naradiya purana.
>
> https://www.kamakotimandali.com/2021/03/26/bhagavata-purana-samiksha/
>
The above website itself notes that: "For example, this list does not include shiva purANa, considered as a purANa by other lists and authorities."
Evidently, there are many such lists given in various Puranas. As already noted, the Srimad Bhagavatam accepts Shiva Purana as a Maha-Purana.
One more reason in favor of the Shiva Purana being a Maha-Purana - it is regarded as such by a Purana which is almost universally hailed as a Maha-Purana,
viz. the Vishnu Purana:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc115983.html
(Book 3, Chapter 6)
"Those who are acquainted with the Purāṇas enumerate eighteen, or the Brāhma, Pādma, Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva, Bhāgavata, Nāradīya, Mārkaṇḍeya, Āgneya,
Bhaviṣyat, Brahma Vaivartta, Laiṅga, Vārāha, Skānda, Vāmana, Kaurmma, Mātsya, Gārura, Brahmāṇḍa."
> till sloka belongs to Naradiya purana.
>
> https://www.kamakotimandali.com/2021/03/26/bhagavata-purana-samiksha/
>
The above website itself notes that: "For example, this list does not include shiva purANa, considered as a purANa by other lists and authorities."
Evidently, there are many such lists given in various Puranas. As already noted, the Srimad Bhagavatam accepts Shiva Purana as a Maha-Purana.
One more reason in favor of the Shiva Purana being a Maha-Purana - it is regarded as such by a Purana which is almost universally hailed as a Maha-Purana,
viz. the Vishnu Purana:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/vishnu-purana-wilson/d/doc115983.html
(Book 3, Chapter 6)
"Those who are acquainted with the Purāṇas enumerate eighteen, or the Brāhma, Pādma, Vaiṣṇava, Śaiva, Bhāgavata, Nāradīya, Mārkaṇḍeya, Āgneya,
Bhaviṣyat, Brahma Vaivartta, Laiṅga, Vārāha, Skānda, Vāmana, Kaurmma, Mātsya, Gārura, Brahmāṇḍa."
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