Mahātmya

  • Singing Pañcākṣarī - Method 1: Pañcākṣarī Everyone knows the famous pañcākṣarī ‘नमः शिवाय’ (namaḥ śivāya) which represents the essence of the ākāśa tattva. Some, more adept at the five tattva forms of the pañcākṣarī know that the jala tattva form is ‘शिवाय नमः’… ...
  • Śivapurāṇa Puja - Since you are going to learn the Śiva Mahāpurāṇa, get a printed copy of the same, especially the Vidyeśvara Saṁhitā. Treat this as the body of Śiva and keep it wrapped on a silk cloth when not in use. Keep… ...
  • Pañcākṣarī Sādhana - Śrī Ambāla Chakra The Ambā Chakra is formed by writing the five akṣara of the pañcākṣarī mantra in order in a box of 25 squares. Draw six horizontal and vertical lines to get a box of 25 squares. Note that… ...
  • SMP Introduction - Overview The purāṇa recommends a daily reading of two muhurta[1], but concedes that shorter durations like one muhurta or even half muhurta also gives great benefits. People who cannot be regular are advised to choose an auspicious month (like Śrāvaṇa)… ...
  • Gandharva-Rāja Tumburu - Cañculā who had turned to prostitution for her loathsome husband Binduga got salvation after hearing the Śiva purāṇa. On her prayer, Pārvatī ordered Tumburu, the Gandharva-raja to relieve Binduga who had taken rebirth as a piśāca after suffering many hells… ...
  • Meditation after Purāṇa Recitation - शोध्यमानं दर्पणं हि यथ भवति निर्मलम्। तथैतत्कथया चेतो विशुद्धिं यात्यसंशयम्॥१।३।९ विशुद्धे चेतसि शिवो नृणां तिष्ठति साम्बिकः। ततो याति विशुद्धात्मा साम्बशम्भोः परं पदम्॥ १।३।१० śodhyamānaṁ darpaṇaṁ hi yatha bhavati nirmalam| tathaitatkathayā ceto viśuddhiṁ yātyasaṁśayam||1|3|9 viśuddhe cetasi śivo nṛṇāṁ tiṣṭhati sāmbikaḥ| tato… ...
  • Purāṇa Reading - Besides the daily reading process summarised earlier where specific time period has been advised, the sixth chapter deals with the elaborate complete recital (pārāyana) which extends into the seventh chapter dealing with worship. The auspicious time for the start of… ...
  • Purāṇa Initiation - Process of Purāṇa Initiation The method of listening to the Śiva purāṇa has been taught in chapter-6 titled “Śravaṇa vidhi varṇanaṁ” of the Mahātmya and the method of worship and adoration has been taught in the next chapter-7 titled “Śravaṇa… ...
  • Protection - In reply to the auspicious question of Śrī Śaunaka which was framed in exactly five śloka, emulating the energy of the glorious Śiva pañcākṣarī, Śrī Sūta agreed to narrate the divine Śiva Purāṇa. The word purāṇa indicates that it is… ...
  • Kali Yuga - Śrī Sūta continues that this great purāṇa was originally narrated by Lord Śiva himself. Thereafter Vyāsa narrated this to Sanatkumāra for the benefit of the people under Kali [Yuga]. The word कलि (kali) is generally taken to mean the yuga… ...