Shiv Puran Vidyeshvara Samhita: Glory of Shiva, Shivalinga and Rudraksha

The Vidyeshvara Samhita is the doorway to the Shiv Puran. It first explains how people in the Kali age can be saved, then tells the famous story of the origin of the Shivalinga, and ends with the practice of Shiva worship: the linga, the five-syllable mantra, rudraksha and bhasma.

The glory of the Shiv Puran

At Naimisharanya the sages led by Shaunaka asked Suta ji: "In the Kali age people will be sunk in wrongdoing, short-lived and restless; how will they be saved?" Suta ji replied that hearing the Shiv Puran is the simplest and best means.

The story of Devaraj: Devaraj was a Brahmin who had abandoned his duties and committed every kind of wrong out of greed. Once he went to Pratishthanpur near Prayag, where the Shiv Puran was being recited in a Shiva temple. Struck by fever, he lay there for a month, and the katha fell on his ears without his intending it. When he died Yama's messengers came for him, but Shiva's attendants stopped them and took him to Shiva's realm. If even unintended hearing is so powerful, how much more hearing with faith.

Chanchula and Binduga: In the village of Bashkal lived Binduga, a wicked Brahmin, and his wife Chanchula, who followed his example. Binduga died and became a pishacha. Later Chanchula went to Gokarna, heard the Shiv Puran and was filled with remorse. She took instruction from the reciter, spent her life in devotion to Shiva and reached Shiva's realm. There she prayed to Mother Parvati for her husband. At Parvati's command the gandharva Tumburu recited the Shiv Puran to Binduga on the Vindhya mountain, and he too was freed.

How to hear the katha: an auspicious time, a clean place and a devoted reciter; listeners should be disciplined, eat simple food during the katha and listen attentively. There is a tradition of hearing it over seven days.

The goal and the means

Suta ji explained that the highest goal is to reach Shiva, and the three means are shravana (hearing his stories and qualities), kirtana (singing his name and glory) and manana (reflecting on him). Whoever cannot do these should worship the Shivalinga, which is within everyone's reach.

The pillar of fire: the origin of the Shivalinga

Once Brahma and Vishnu quarrelled over which of them was greater, and the quarrel turned into battle. Between them appeared an endless pillar of blazing fire with no visible beginning or end. They agreed that whoever found its end would be greater. Vishnu became a boar and dug downward; Brahma became a swan and flew upward. After thousands of years Vishnu found no end, returned and admitted it. Brahma found a ketaki flower falling from above, persuaded it to bear false witness, and claimed he had seen the top.

Then Shiva appeared from the pillar. He praised Vishnu's truthfulness and declared him equally worthy of worship. Angered by Brahma's lie, he brought forth Bhairava, who cut off the (fifth) head that had lied. At Vishnu's request Shiva forgave Brahma, but said he would not receive separate temple worship. The ketaki flower was cursed never to be offered to Shiva.

That pillar was the first Shivalinga. It appeared in the month of Margashirsha under the Ardra nakshatra, which is therefore a special day of Shiva. Shiva declared that whoever worships this form, both formless and with form, gains the merit of worshipping him in person.

How to worship the Shivalinga

• Bathe the linga with water, milk, curd, ghee, honey and Ganga water.
• Offer bilva leaves, dhatura, aak flowers, sandal paste, unbroken rice and bhasma.
• Worship of a parthiva (clay) linga is especially praised for the Kali age.
• After worship one goes half way round the linga; the channel through which the water flows is not crossed.
• Mondays, Pradosh, the monthly Shivaratri and Mahashivratri are special days.

The five-syllable mantra: Om Namah Shivaya

The Shiv Puran calls "Namah Shivaya" (with Om, the six-syllable form) the greatest mantra. Anyone may chant it at any time with faith. Its five syllables are taken to stand for the five elements and Shiva's five faces. Om itself is called Shiva's form.

Rudraksha and bhasma

Rudraksha: after thousands of years of meditation Shiva opened his eyes, and from his tears grew the rudraksha trees. Beads from one to fourteen faces are described, each linked to a deity, and are worn with purity.

Bhasma and tripundra: three horizontal lines of sacred ash on the forehead mark a devotee of Shiva. The ash reminds us that the body ends as ash, so pride is pointless.

Days, planets and charity

The samhita explains that Shiva arranged the seven days of the week by the planets, each with its own worship and charity. Giving food, water, clothes and knowledge are called the best gifts.

What this samhita teaches

• Pride and falsehood bring down even the greatest; truthful Vishnu was honoured.
• God is infinite; wisdom is not in measuring Him but in bowing before Him.
• Shiva worship is not hard: a pot of water, a bilva leaf and "Om Namah Shivaya".
• Hearing, singing and reflecting on God's stories are the three simple means of devotion.