Shiv PuranaPuranas are almost like an encyclopaedia listing the human achievements in this part of the world till the time they were edited or compiled. In every cycle of time the master editor called Veda Vyas emerges to edit vet and compile these records. Their significance is enormous even in the present as they give a peep into the distant past of Hindus when the world was evolving and the psyche of the race was being formed. These Puranas record the arguments that make us to decide as to what is holy and what is vile; what is good and what is bad. By going through them we can compare our present day jurisprudence vis-a-vis the ancient norms. Apart from that they are a huge store-house of information conceiving every subject under the sun. It is with the view of unearthing these gems that the present series of the puranas has been planned. |
Contents
An Introduction | 7 |
Thus Spake Romaharshana | 9 |
The Story of Brahma | 10 |
Brahma Begins The Process of Creation | 13 |
The Story of Tarakasura | 15 |
Kama Deva The Love god Incinerated | 17 |
Parvatis Birth Legend | 19 |
Parvatis Great Penance | 23 |
The Thousand Names of Shiv | 81 |
The Story of Vedanidhi | 89 |
Its Significance | 91 |
Why Shivs One Epithet is Chandrashekhar | 94 |
Why ash covers Shivs Body | 95 |
The Story of Nandi | 97 |
How Parvati Became Gauri | 99 |
The Tale of Upamanyu | 101 |
Lord Shivs Marriage to Parvati | 27 |
The Tale Relating to the Birth of Kartikeya | 30 |
Creation and Eventual Destruction of Tripura 3 1 | 31 |
Sita and Ketaki flower | 35 |
Shiva Prohibits Champaka flower in His Worship | 38 |
The Tales Related to Ganesh | 40 |
The Tales Related to Kartikeya | 53 |
The Tales Relating to Jyotirlinga Teerthas | 58 |
Other Important Teerthas of Shiv | 73 |
The Encounter of Arjuna and Shiv | 77 |
How Vishnu Acquired Sudarshan Chakra | 79 |
Andhakasura and Hiranyaksha | 103 |
The Story of Ruru | 108 |
Apperance of a False Paravati | 110 |
Yet Another False Paravati | 112 |
Two Illustrious guests of Yama | 114 |
The story of Shatanika and Sahastranika | 116 |
Parashurams Story | 119 |
Description of Hells Geography Astronomy Time Division and Manns | 122 |
Epilogue | 126 |
Common terms and phrases
alms Andhaka Anusuiya Apsaras Arjuna arrow asked became began Bhim blessed body Brahma brahmana brother called Champaka Chandra created creator cursed Daksha deadly decided deity demon demon-lord desired boon devotee of Shiv devout difficult Tapasya divine sage earth epithet eventually father flowers Gandharvas Ganga Ghushna Goddess gods grant head hermitage Hiranyaksha holy hunter husband Indra Jyotirlinga Kailash Kama Kartikeya Kashi Kashyapa Ketaki killed king learnt linga Lord Ganesh Lord Shankar Lord Shiv Lord Vishnu lotus Maina marriage married meditation milk moon mother mount named Nandi Narada noble Once Parashuram Parnada penance perform person powers pray to Shiv Punya Rama Ravana realised realm replied requested returned river Ruru Samhita Sati Shilada Shiv and Parvati Shiv appeared Shiv Purana Shiv's Shiva Shlokas Sita slay sons started story Suvadi tapasya Taraka teertha told tree Tripura Trymbaka Upamanyu Vedanidhi Vedas Vedvyas Vidyunmali Viradha weapon wife woman worship yagya Yama