INTRODUCTION
First of all, Sage Shaunak expressed his desire to Sutji about
knowing the means, which could help a man in this era of Kali to
attainment lord Shiva, by cleansing all the impurities of his mind
and rectifying his inherent demonic tendencies. Sutji then described
about Shiv Mahapuran - the supreme of all the puranas, which was
narrated by Lord Shiva himself and which was later on retold by Sage
Vyas with the permission of Maharshi Sanatkumar, for the benediction
of common man. Sutji said, "By understanding the mysteries of
Shivmahapuran and singing its praises, a man attains greater virtues
than that which could be attained by being charitable or by the
performance of all the 'yagyas'. Contemplating on the subject
matters of Shivmahapuran give auspicious fruits just like a 'Kalpa-taru'
(A mythological tree which fulfills all the wishes). Shiv Mahapuran
contains twenty-four thousand shlokas and seven.
Samhitas which are as under:-
1) VIDYESHWAR SAMHITA, 2) RUDRA SAMHITA 3) SHATRUDRA SAMHITA
4) KOTI RUDRA SAMHITA 5) UMA SAMHITA 6) KAILASH SAMHITA 7) VAYVIYA
SAMHITA
The 25th Chapter of VIDYESHWAR SAMHITA describe about the
glory of Rudraksha - The Holy Beads.
VIDYESHWAR SAMHITA
(SAGES ENQUIRE)
Vidyeshwar Samhita which is classified into twenty five chapters,
has a narration in its first chapter which goes as follows-
Once upon a time, the sages were performing a yagya at Prayag
kshetra. Sage Sutji came to know about this and arrived there. All
the sages were very pleased to see him. They requested:-
"Lord! Though we have heard many tales from you regarding the man's
benediction, but today we want to listen to something special.
Because in this present era of Kali, when all the castes have
forgotten about their respective duties we want to know is there any
way to prevent the deterioration in the human values?"
Sutji replied:-
"O Great men! Your enquiry has great relevance in this era of Kali.
I will certainly tell you about the way by the help of which a man
can achieve benediction. Shivmahapuran contains the essence of
Vedantic philosophy, which gives worldly pleasures as well as
Salvation. Mere remembrance of it destroys all the sins of a man.
One who studies the Rudra-Samhita attentively, his gravest of sins
are destroyed instantaneously. One who studies Rudra-Samhita'
silently, sitting in front of Bhairav-idol, all of his aspirations
are fulfilled. A man gets liberated from the sin of killing a
brahmin, if he studies Rudra Samhita while circulbulating around a
Banyan tree."
"Kailash Samhita is even Superior than Rudra Samhita, as it
elaborates upon the meaning of Omkar. Shivmahapuran is created by
lord Shiva Himself. It contains twelve Samhitas which are -
Viddyeshwar, Rudra, Vinayak, Uma, Matri, Ekadash-rudra, Kailash,
Shat-rudra, Koti-rudra, Sahastra Koti, Vayaviya and Dharma."
"Initially it contained one lac shlokas but it was precised to
twenty-four thousand shlokas by sage Vyas. The present ShivPuran is
the fourth one which consists of seven Samhitas. The earlier three
Shivpuranas are unavailable. The scientific analysis of the Vedantic
mysteries are the main subject of this divine Shivpuran. The study
of Shivpuran helps a man to attain Dharma, Artha, Kaam and Moksha.
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