The Siva Purana

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The Purana is a comprehensive literary class encompassing ancient religion, philosophy, history, sociology, and politics, serving as an encyclopaedia of knowledge and wisdom. It covers topics such as Creation, the Dissolution of Manus, Ages of Manus, genealogies, and the histories of illustrious kings. Initially defined by the term Pancalaksana, a title popularized by the Fifth Century A.D. lexicon 'Amarakosa', the Puranas were later found to require a broader definition due to ongoing interpolations. Consequently, the Dasalaksana definition was adopted, but it too proved inadequate as the Puranas contained elements beyond its scope. The Puranas are categorized into two main classes: the Maha-puranas and the Upapuranas, with each class comprising eighteen texts, totaling thirty-six. The Maha-puranas are further divided into categories such as Vaisnava, Brahma, and Saiva. The Sivapurana exemplifies a Mahapurana, embodying five essential characteristics related to early religion and traditional history. Its significance lies in its philosophical exploration of Siva ritual, portraying Siva as the eternal principle and supreme god, the cosmic soul sustaining all existence. However, the ignorant aspirant, ensnared by illusion, often perceives Siva as a personal deity with distinct attributes, seeking knowledge and grace in times of distress.