What Is the Shiv Puran?

Long ago, many sages gathered in the holy forest of Naimisharanya for a great yagya. There came Suta, a master storyteller. The sages asked him: in the Kali Yuga people will be restless and dharma will grow weak, so how will a person's mind become calm and pure?

Suta smiled and said: the answer is the Shiv Puran. He had heard it from his teacher, Ved Vyas. Tradition says this Purana is full of Shiv's own deeds and teachings, and that anyone who listens to it with love finds their mind slowly becoming clear.

The Shiv Puran is divided into sections called samhitas, such as the Vidyeshvar Samhita, Rudra Samhita, Shatarudra Samhita, Kotirudra Samhita, Uma Samhita, Kailash Samhita and Vayaviya Samhita. In its commonly known form it is said to have about twenty-four thousand verses.

What does it contain? How the Shivling appeared, why Sati gave up her body, how Parvati performed tapasya, how Ganesh and Kartikeya were born, where the twelve Jyotirlingas are, and why the Shivratri fast is special. It also gives simple guidance on devotion, worship and right living.

The biggest message of the Shiv Puran is that Shiv is Bholenath, the innocent and easily pleased Lord. He is won not by wealth or show but by a sincere heart. A pot of water, a few bel leaves and the Panchakshar mantra said with feeling: for devotees, that is the path to Shiv.