శివ మహాపురాణం (Siva Maha Puranam)

The Shiva Purana is one of the eighteen key texts in the Purana category of Sanskrit literature within Hinduism and is a crucial part of the Shaivism literary tradition. Originally believed to encompass 100,000 verses distributed across twelve Samhitas (Books), the Purana explains that Sage Vyasa condensed it before imparting the teachings to Romaharshana.

This text delves into various chapters exploring Shiva-focused cosmology, mythology, and the interplay among deities. It addresses ethics, yoga, pilgrimage sites (tirtha), expressions of devotion (bhakti), geographical features including rivers, and other related themes. The Shiva Purana serves as an essential historical resource, shedding light on Shaivism’s various forms and theological foundations dating back to the early 2nd millennium CE. The oldest extant portions feature notable Advaita Vedanta philosophy interwoven with the devotional aspects of bhakti.