The Siva Purana

CONTENTS PART I Page Introduction xi-xviii THE GLORY OF SIVAPURANA 1. Greatness of Sivapurana 1 2. Liberation of Devaraja 6 3. Cancula's disillusion and detachment 9 4. Cancula's salvation 14 5. Binduga's salvation 18 6. Rules for listening to Sivapurana 24 7. Injunctions and prohibitions 29 SIVAPURANA: VIDYESVARA SAMHITA 1. Doubt of the sages 34 2. Answers to the doubts 38 3. Achievable and the means of achievement 44 4. Excellence of listening and deliberation 46 5. Greatness of the phallic emblem of Siva 49 6. Battle between Brahma and Visnu 52 7. Siva manifests himself as a column of fire in the battlefield 54 8. Siva's forgiveness of Brahma 57 9. Proclamation of Siva as the great lord 60 10. Fivefold activities and the Omkara-mantra 64 11. Mode of worshipping the phallic form of Siva and making gifts 67 12. The narrative of Siva's holy centres and temples 73 13. Description of good conduct 78 14. Description of fire- sacrifice 87 15. Qualification, time and place for Devayajna 91 16. Modes of worship of clay idols and their results 96 17. The syllable Om and the five-syllabled mantra 106 18. Bondage and liberation: The glorification of the phallic emblem of Siva 118 19. Glorification of the worship of Siva's Earthen phallic image 131 20. Mode of worshipping an earthen phallic image by changing Vedic mantras 135 21. Number of phallic images of Siva used in worship 142 22. On the partaking of the Naivedya of Siva and the greatness of Bilva 146 23. Glorification of Rudraksa and the names of Siva 150 24. Greatness of the holy ashes 154 25. Greatness of Rudraksa 163 RUDRA-SAMHITA SECTION I: CREATION 1. Inquiry of the sages 172 2. Indra sends Kamadeva to disturb the penance of Narada 175 3. Narada attends the Svayamvara of the virgin 180 4. Narada goes to Vaikuntha and curses Visnu 185 5. Narada goes to Kasi 191 6. Description of the nature of the Mahapralaya and the origin of Visnu 194 7. Dispute between Brahma and Visnu 199 8. Description of the body of Sabdabrahman 205 9. Description of Sivatattva 209 10. Description of supreme Sivatattva 214 11. Mode of worshipping Siva 217 12. The essential and the non-essential in the worship 224 13. Mode of worshipping Siva 231 14. Direction for the worship of Siva 237 15. Manifestation of Rudra 244 16. Description of the creation 250 17. Story of Gunanidhi 255 18. Redemption of Gunanidhi 260 19. Friendship of Siva and Kubera 266 20. Siva goes to Kailasa 269 RUDRA-SAMHITA SECTION II: NARRATIVE 1. Summary of Sati's life 274 2. Appearance of Kama 278 3. Kama is first cursed and then blessed 282 4. Kama's marriage 288 5. Story of Sandhya 291 6. Sandhya granted a boon by Siva 296 7. Sandhya alias Arundhati marries Vasistha 302 8. Description of the form and features of Vasanta 304 9. The power of Kama and the birth of his attendants 309 10. Brahma- Visnu dialogue 314 11. Hymn to Durga. Brahma granted a boon 319 12. Daksa granted a boon 324 13. Narada is cursed by Daksa 328 14. Birth of Sati and her childish sports 331 15. Sacred rites of Nanda and hymn to Siva 336 16. Prayer to Siva offered by Brahma and Visnu 342 17. Sati granted the boon 347 18. Marriage of Siva and Sati 353 19. Description of Siva's sports 357 20. Shiva's marriage festival 364 21. Dalliance of Sati and Siva on the Himalayas 369 22. Dalliance of Sati and Siva on the Himalayas 373 23. Description of the power of devotion 379 24. Sati's test of Rama's divinity 384 25. Separation of Sati and Siva 389 26. The cause of estrangement between Daksa and Siva 395 27. The inauguration of Daksa's sacrifice 400 28. Sati's journey 405 29. Sati's statement 409 30. Sati's casting-off of her body and the subsequent disorder. 415 31. The celestial voice 417 32. Birth of Virabhadra and Siva's advice to him 420 33. March of Virabhadra 425 34. Devas see bad omens at Daksa's sacrifice 428 35. Visnu's statement 430 36. Dialogue between Visnu and Virabhadra 434 37. Destruction of Daksa's sacrifice 440 38. Dialogue between Ksuva and Dadhica 445 39. The fight between Visnu and Dadhica 451 40. Journey to Kailasa and the vision of Siva 456 41. Devas eulogise Siva 460 42. The removal of Daksa's misery 465 43. The Arrangement in Daksa's sacrifice 469 PART II RUDRESVARA SAMHITA: PARVATIKHANDA SECTION III Pages 1. Marriage of Himacala 475 2. Sanaka etc. curse Mena and her sisters 478 3. Gods praise Siva 482 4. Goddess Durga consoles the gods 485 5. Mena obtains the boon 489 6. Parvati's birth 494 7. Childhood sports of Parvati 499 8. Narada-Himalaya Conversation 501 9. Parent's advice to Parvati and Siva appears before Parvati in dream 506 10. Mars is born and raised to the status of a planet 510 11. Siva and Himavat meet together 512 12. Siva-Himavat dialogue 516 13. Siva-Parvati dialogue 520 14. Birth and Penance of Vajranga and Taraka 525 15. Penance and reign of Taraka 528 16. Brahma consoles the Gods harassed by Taraka 533 17. Dialogue between Indra and Kama 537 18. Kama causes perturbation in Siva's grove 540 19. Kama's destruction by Siva 544 20. The submarine fire 548 21. Narada's instructions to Parvati 550 22. Parvati's penance 554 23. Himavat dissuades Parvati, gods go to meet Siva 560 24. Siva's consent to marry Parvati 564 25. Parvati's test by seven celestial sages 571 26. Parvati-jatila dialogue 578 27. Fraudulent words of Brahmacarin 582 28. Parvati sees Siva 585 29. Siva-Parvati dialogue 589 30. Parvati returns home 593 31. Siva's magic 597 32. Seven celestial sages arrive 602 33. Appeasement of Himavat 607 34. Anaranya 613 35. Padma and Pippalada 617 36. Speeches of seven sages 623 37. Letter of betrothal despatched; arrangement for the celebration of marriage; arrival of the mountain-invitees 626 38. Description of the dais 631 39. Arrival of the goods and Siva's preparations 634 40. Marriage procession of Siva 639 41. Description of the altal-structure 643 42. Meeting of Siva and Himavat 648 43. Siva's wonderful sport 650 44. Mena regains consciousness 656 45. Jubilation of the citizens at the sight of Siva 664 46. Arrival of the bridegroom 668 47. Siva enters the palace of Himavat 671 48. Description of Marriage 675 49. Delusion of Brahma 680 50. Description of fun and frolic 685 51. Resuscitation of Kama 690 52. Marriage party is fed and Siva retires to bed 694 53. Description of Siva's return journey 697 54. Siva returns to Kailasa 706 RUDRASAMHITA KUMARAKHANDA SECTION IV 1. Dalliance of Siva 711 2. Birth of Siva's son 716 3. Boyhood sports of Karttikeya 722 4. Search for Karttikeya and his talk with Nandin 726 5. Karttikeya is crowned 732 6. Miraculous Feat of Karttikeya 738 7. Commencement of the war 741 8. Battle between the gods and asuras 745 9. Taraka's fight with Indra, Visnu and Virabhadra 749 10. Death of Taraka and Jubilation of the gods 754 11. Victory of Kumara and the death of Bana and Pralamba 758 12. Gods eulogise Siva 761 13. Birth of Ganesa 765 14. Ganas argue and wrangle 769 15. Ganesa's battle 775 16. Ganesa's head is chopped off 780 17. Resuscitation of Ganesa 783 18. Ganesa's crowned as the chief of Ganas 788 19. Ganesa's marriage 793 20. Celebration of Ganesa's marriage 798 RUDRASAMHITA: YUDDHAKHANDA SECTION V 1. Description of the Tripuras 802 2. Prayer of the gods 809 3. Virtues of the Tripuras 815 4. Tripuras are initiated 820 5. Tripuras are fascinated 826 6. Prayer to Siva 831 7. Gods pray to Siva and Siva's instructions to the gods 836 8. Construction of the cosmic chariot 840 9. Siva's campaign 843 10. Burning of the Tripuras 846 11. God's prayer 850 12. Gods return to their abodes 854 13. Resuscitation of Indra 858 14. Birth of Jalandhara and his marriage 863 15. Fight between the gods and Jalandhara 866 16. Battle of the gods 873 17. Fight between Visnu and Jalandhara 877 18. Dialogue between Narada and Jalandhara 881 19. Jalandhara's emissary to Siva 886 20. Fight between Ganas and Asuras 891 21. Description of the special war 896 22. Jalandhara's battle 900 23. Outraging the modesty of Vrnda 904 24. Jalandhara is slain 909 25. God's prayer to Siva 914 26. Vanishing of Visnu's delusion 917 27. Birth of Sankhacuda 923 28. Penance and marriage of Sankhacuda 926 29. Previous birth of Sankhacuda 930 30. Prayers to Siva 935 31. Siva's advice to the gods 938 32. Siva sends emissary to Sankhacuda 943 33. March of Siva 946 34. March of Sankhacuda 950 35. Dialogue between Siva and the emissary of Sankhacuda 953 36. Mutual fight 957 37. Fight of Kali 960 38. Fight of Kali 963 39. Annihilation of the army of Sankhacuda 966 40. Death of Sankhacuda 970 41. Curse of Tulasi 973 42. Death of Hiranyaksa 978 43. Death of Hiranyakasipu 984 44. Andhaka attains the leadership of Ganas 989 45. Andhaka sends his emissary to Siva 997 46. Andhaka's fight with Siva 1002 47. Swallowing of Sukra 1007 48. Swallowing of Sukra and his emergence 1012 49. Andhaka obtains the leadership of Ganas 1016 50. Sukra learns Mrtasanjivani lore 1021 51. Narrative of Usa 1026 52. Narrative of Usa (continued) 1031 53. Dalliance of Usa and Aniruddha 1036 54. Fight among Bana, Siva, Krsna and others 1041 55. Chopping of Bana's arms and his humiliation 1047 56. Baja attains the position of Siva's Gana 1051 57. Gajasura is slain 1054 58. Dundubhi Nirhrada is slain 1061 59. Vidala and Utpala are slain 1065 PART III SATARUDRASAMHITA. 1. Five incarnations of Siva. 1069 2. Eight forms of Siva 1074 3. Half-female incarnations of Siva 1075 4. Story of Rsabha 1078 5. Nineteen incarnations of Siva 1081 6. Incarnations of Nandisvara 1086 7. Coronation and the nuptials of Nandisvara 1092 8. Incarnation of Bhairava 1097 9. Sports of Bhairava 1103 10. Narrative of Man-lion 1110 11. Incarnation of Sarabha 1113 12. Incarnation of Sarabha (continued) 1119 13. Incarnation of Grhapati 1123 14. Incarnation of Grhapati (continued) 1129 15. Incarnation of Grhapati (continued) 1138 16. Incarnation of Yaksesvara 1139 17. Incarnations of Siva 1143 18. Eleven incarnations of Siva 1145 19. Narrative of Durvasas 1148 20. Incarnation of Hanumat 1154 21. Incarnation of Mahesa 1157 22. Harassment by Visnu's sons and the incarnation of Bull 1159 23. Incarnation of Bull (continued) 1163 24. Incarnation of Pippalada 1167 25. Incarnation of Pippalada (continued) 1172 26. Incarnation of Vaisyanatha 1174 27. Incarnation of Dvijesvara 1180 28. Incarnation of Yatinathahamsa 1186 29. Incarnation of Krsnadarsana 1190 30. Incarnation of Avadhutesvara 1195 31. Incarnation of Bhiksuvarya 1199 32. Incarnation of Suresvara 1206 33. Incarnation of Brahmacarin 1212 34. Incarnation of Sunartakanata 1218 35. Incarnation of Saintly brahmin 1221 36. Incarnation of Asvatthaman 1224 37. Incarnation of Kirata 1228 38. Description of Arjuna's penance 1234 39. Slaying of the demon Muka 1240 40. Kirata- Arjuna dialogue 1244 41. Incarnation of Kirata (contununed) 1248 42. Twelve Jyotirlinga incarnations 1253 KOTIRUDRASAMHITA 1. Glory of Jyotirlingas and their Uplingas 1259 2. Greatness of Sivalingas 1263 3. Penance of Anasuya and Atri 1265 4. Greatness of Atrisvara 1268 5. Death of the Brahmin lady and the greatness of Nandikesvara 1273 6. Brahmin lady attains Heaven 1276 7. Greatness of Nandikesvara 1282 8. Greatness of Mahabala 1285 9. Attainment of the supreme goal by an outcaste women 1287 10. Greatness of Mahabala (continued) 1290 11. Greatness of Pasupatinatha 1294 12. Why Siva assumed the phallic form 1296 13. Origin of Vatuka 1301 14. Origin of Somanatha 1307 15. Origin of the second Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga 1312 16. Glory of Mahakala 1314 17. Glory of Mahakala (continued) 1319 18. Glory of Omkaresvara 1325 19. Glory of Kedaresvara 1327 20. Glory of Bhimesvara and the havoc perpetrated by Bhimasura 1326 21. Origin of Bhimesvara 1335 22. Greatness of Visvesvara, the arrival of Rudra at Kasi 1340 23. Greatness of Visvesvara (continued) 1343 24. Greatness of Trymbakesvara and Gautama 1348 25. Planned arrangement of Gautama 1351 26. Greatness of Tryambakesvara (continued) 1356 27. Greatness of Tryambakesvara (continued) 1362 28. Greatness of Vaidyanathesvara 1366 29. Havoc created by Raksasas of Darukavana 1373 30. Greatness of Nagesvara 1377 31. Greatness of Ramesvara 1381 32. Narrative of Sudeha and Sudharma 1385 33. Origin and glory of Ghusmesvara 1389 34. Acquisition of Sudarsana by Visnu 1394 35. Thousand names of Siva 1397 36. Efficacy of the thousand names of Siva 1414 37. Devotion to lord Siva 1417 38. Greatness of Sivaratri 1422 39. The rite of Sivaratri 1429 40. Glory of Sivaratri 1431 41. Review of salvation 1439 42. Difference between Saguna and Nirguna 1441 43. Review of knowledge 1444 UMASAMHITA 1. Krsna meets Upamanyu 1450 2. Upamanyu's instruction 1456 3. Greatness of Siva 1461 4. Exhibition of Siva's skill 1468 5. Great sins 1471 6. Different types of sins 1475 7. Pathway to hell and the emissaries of Yama 1479 8. Description of hell 1484 9. Pangs of hell 1488 10. Mode of suffering in hell 1491 11. Glory of the gift of food 1495 12. Glory of penance 1500 13. Glory of Puranas 1504 14. General charitable gifts 1508 15. Description of the Nether Worlds 1511 16. Uplift from hell 1514 17. Description of the Jambudvipa 1518 18. Seven continents 1522 19. Worlds and planets 1529 20. A special Mantra 1533 21. Fruits of righteous war 1537 22. Origin and development of the body 1541 23. Infancy and other stages; impurity of the body 1545 24. Women's nature 1551 25. Ascertainment of the time of death 1555 26. Dodging of Kala 1560 27. Escaping death & realisation of Siva 1565 28. Chayapurusa 1568 PART IV UMASAMHITA 29. Primeval creation 1573 30. Description of creation 1575 31. Description of creation 1580 32. Family of Kasyapa 1583 33. Description of creation 1587 34. Manvantaras 1589 35. Description of Vaivasvata 1594 36. Nine sons and the race of Manu 1597 37. Race of manu 1602 38. Satyavrata to Sagara 1607 39. Kings of the solar race 1612 40. Power of the manes 1615 41. Seven hunters, their attainment 1619 42. Power of the Pitrs 1624 43. Mode of worshipping Vyasa 1626 44. Birth of Vyasa 1627 45. Incarnation of Mahakalika 1638 46. Incarnation of Mahalaksmi 1645 47. Dhumraksa, Canda, Munda and Raktabuja killed 1650 48. Manifestation of Sarasvati 1655 49. Manifestation of Uma 1660 50. Incarnation of Sataksi 1663 51. Review of holy rites 1667 KAILASASAMHITA 1. Discussion among Vyasa, Saunaka and others 1674 2. Dialogue between the God and the Goddess 1678 3. Way of Sannyasa 1680 4. Daily conduct of a Sannyasin 1686 5. Mystic diagram of the ascetic 1689 6. Nyasa in the path of renunciation 1692 7. Worship of Siva 1697 8. Mental worship of Siva 1703 9. Mode of interpreting the Pranava 1706 10. Susta's instructions 1710 11. Brahma Vamadeva 1713 12. Procedure of Sannyasa 1718 13. Procedure of Renunciation 1725 14. Pranava in the form of Siva 1731 15. Idol of Siva for worship 1734 16. Siva's Principle 1738 17. Non-dualistic nature of Siva 1744 18. Procedure of initiating a disciple 1749 19. Rules of Yogapatta 1752 20. Rules for hair-cutting and ablution 1757 21. The first ten days rite on the death of an ascetic 1760 22. Rites on the eleventh day on the death of an ascetic 1766 23. Twelfth day rites for Yatis 1769 VAYAVIYASAMHITA, SECTION I 1. Origin of the sacred lore 1774 2. Problem of the sages 1778 3. Naimisa episode 1781 4. Advent of Vayu 1787 5. Principles of Siva cult 1788 6. Principles of Siva cult 1794 7. Glory of Time 1799 8. Span of life of the Trinity 1802 9. Creation and sustenance 1804 10. Description of Creation 1806 11. Description of Creation 1810 12. Description of Creation 1812 13. Creation of Brahma and Visnu 1817 14. Manifestation of Rudras 1821 15. Song of Prayer addressed to Siva and Siva 1822 16. Manifestation of divine Sakti 1825 17. Narrative of Creation 1827 18. Abandonment of the body by Sati 1831 19. Origin of Virabhadra 1836 20. Destruction of Daksa's sacrifice 1841 21. Punishment of the Gods 1844 22. Destruction of Daksa's sacrifice 1847 23. Siva's Fury 1852 24. Siva's sports on the Mandara mountain 1857 25. Goddess attains fair complexion 1862 26. Attainment of higher status by the tiger 1865 27. Gauri's embellishment 1868 28. Glory of Bhasma 1871 29. Analysis of Vag-Artha 1872 30. Principle of Siva 1875 31. Instruction in perfect wisdom 1879 32. Description of excellent practice 1887 33. Rules Governing Pasupativrata 1891 34. Penance of Upamanyu 1899 35. Story of Upamanyu 1904 VAYAVIYASAMHITA, SECTION II 1. Acquisition of sons by Srikrsna 1910 2. Glory of lord Siva 1912 3. Upamanyu's advice to Srikrsna 1916 4. Magnificence of Gauri and Siva 1919 5. Knowledge of Pasupati principle 1926 6. Principle of Siva 1929 7. Principle of Siva 1932 8. Incarnations of Vyasa 1935 9. Siva Yogacarya 1938 10. Devotion to Siva 1940 11. Saivite knowledge 1946 12. Glory of the mantra of Siva 1951 13. Glory of the mantra of Siva 1954 14. Glory of the mantra of Siva 1959 15. Greatness of the preceptor 1965 16. Consecretion of the disciple 1971 17. Rules of Saivite initiation 1977 18. Purification of the six paths 1980 19. Consecration of the aspirant and the greatness of the Mantra 1985 20. Special consecration 1988 21. Nitya and Naimittika rites 1991 22. Compulsory and optional Saiva rites 1995 23. Rules of worship 1999 24. Ritual of lord Siva 2001 25. Worship of Siva 2007 26. Worship of Siva with the ancillary rites 2013 27. Rite of sacrifice 2014 28. Compulsory and optional rites 2021 29. Kamya rites 2024 30. Kamya rites 2027 31. Hymn to lord Siva 2034 32. Rites for bliss hereafter 2047 33. Rites for bliss hereafter 2054 34. Delusion of Visnu and Brahma 2056 35. Delusion of Visnu and Brahma 2059 36. Installation of Siva 2065 37. Goal of Yoga 2070 38. Obstacles in the path of Yoga 2075 39. Saivite Yoga 2081 40. Journey of the Naimisa sages 2086 41. Instructions of Vvasa 2089 INDEX 2095