Shiv Puran: Complete Story Samhita by Samhita in Simple Words

The Shiv Puran is one of the eighteen Mahapuranas and the fullest scripture on Lord Shiva: his glory, his leelas and avatars, the origin of the Shivalinga and the Jyotirlingas, and the way to worship him. Suta ji narrated it to Shaunaka and the sages gathered at Naimisharanya, as he had heard it from his teacher Ved Vyas. The text current today has about 24,000 shlokas in seven samhitas.

The Shiv Puran teaches that Shiva is not only the destroyer but the auspicious one; the word Shiva itself means auspicious. He is easily pleased, by a pot of water and a single bilva leaf, and so is called Ashutosh and Bholenath.

The seven samhitas and their sections

• Vidyeshvara Samhita: the greatness of the Puran, worship of the Shivalinga, the pillar of fire, the five-syllable mantra, rudraksha and bhasma.
• Rudra Samhita, Srishti Khanda: creation, Narada's pride, the story of Gunanidhi, Kubera.
• Rudra Samhita, Sati Khanda: Sati's marriage to Shiva, Daksha's yajna, Sati's sacrifice, Virabhadra.
• Rudra Samhita, Parvati Khanda: Parvati's birth, penance, the burning of Kamadeva, the divine wedding.
• Rudra Samhita, Kumara Khanda: the birth of Kartikeya, the slaying of Tarakasura, the birth of Ganesha.
• Rudra Samhita, Yuddha Khanda: Tripura, Jalandhara, Shankhachuda, Andhakasura.
• Shatarudra Samhita: Shiva's avatars: Nandi, Bhairava, Virabhadra, Sharabha, Hanuman, Ashvatthama, Kirata.
• Kotirudra Samhita: the twelve Jyotirlingas and the Shivaratri vow.
• Uma Samhita: charity, penance, sin and merit, the realm of Yama, the glory of Devi Uma.
• Kailasa Samhita: the meaning of Om, sannyasa and Shaiva worship.
• Vayaviya Samhita: the philosophy of Shiva, Pashupata yoga and knowledge of Shiva.

How to read it

Reading or hearing the Shiv Puran in Shravan, on Mahashivratri and on Mondays is held especially fruitful; there is also a tradition of hearing it over seven days. Each part here is on its own page: read in order or press Listen.

Common questions

How many samhitas are in the Shiv Puran?

Seven in the text current today: Vidyeshvara, Rudra, Shatarudra, Kotirudra, Uma, Kailasa and Vayaviya. The Rudra Samhita has five khandas.

Can the Shiv Puran be read at home?

Yes. Anyone may read or hear it at home with faith and cleanliness; faith is the main rule.

What is the root mantra of the Shiv Puran?

The five-syllable mantra "Om Namah Shivaya", which the Puran calls the simplest and most powerful.