Deity

Shiva

शिवŚiva

Also called Shiv, Mahadev, Mahakal, Bholenath

verses
35,438
books
38
chapters
4,667
Parent of
Ganesha, Kartikeya
Abode
Kashi
Consort of
Parvati, Sati

What the texts say

In the Shiva Purana, Shiva is the agent of dissolution, one of three ways the one Supreme Lord appears. Shiva Purana 2.2.2.15 The same Purana calls him the supreme yogi, absorbed in yoga. Shiva Purana 2.2.10.39 There, Shankara, one of Shiva's names, took his abode on Kailasa with his divine consort. Shiva Purana 2.2.10.59 The Purana says fire from Shiva's third eye reduced Kama, the god of desire, to ashes. Shiva Purana 2.3.20.2 In the Bhagavata Purana, the gods sought shelter with Shiva from a spreading poison, and he drank it, leaving a bluish line on his neck. Bhagavatam 8.7.19, 8.7.42, 8.7.43 In the Ramayana, the earth cannot bear the river Ganga's descent, so she falls on the head of Shiva, the trident-bearer, seen as the only one able to hold her. Ramayana 1.43.7, 1.42.24 The Linga Purana calls the Linga Shiva's emblem, a sacred sign for contemplation and worship. Linga Purana 1.3.1

Where to read

Every verse that names Shiva, book by book.

  1. Skanda Purana

    8,819 verses · 1,171 chapters

    All 8,819 verses in the Skanda Purana
    • 1.4.16.14

      Shambhu, tumne Indra ki baaz rok di thi. Woh gusse mein tha, usne Jambha ko maara tha. Par tumne uski baaz aise jam di jaise koi jeet ka khamba ho. Kitni der tak waise khadi rahi, jaise koi victory pillar.

    • 1.3.2.1

      Brahma ne kaha ki maine Ved padhe. Main apne saare muh se Shiv ki bhakti mein gaana gaya. Maine apne mann mein puja ki aur Shiv ko yaad kiya.

    • 1.1.5.13

      Woh us bade parvat ke andar gaye. Wahan unhone Shiv ji ko dekha. Shiv ji akele mein rehte the aur Nandi bhi wahan tha.

  2. Shiva Purana

    8,165 verses · 450 chapters

    All 8,165 verses in the Shiva Purana
    • 2.3.24.1

      Devon ne kaha ki Rudra bhagwan ko namaste. Woh Madan ko khatam karne wale hain. Unki tareef karni chahiye. Woh bahut chamak rahe hain. Unki aankhen teen hain. Hum baar-baar unko pranaam karte hain.

    • 2.4.2.6

      Devto ne kaha, Devon ke Dev, Mahadev, aap to daya ke samundar ho. Aap sabke andar baith kar dekhte ho. Shankar, aapko sab pata hai, kya chal raha hai sab jaante ho.

    • 2.2.42.3

      Mahadev ne kaha, sunno dhyan se. Devataon mein tum dono bade ho. Beta, main tumhe sach bata raha hoon. Tumhara gussa main hamesha seh sakta hoon.

  3. Linga Purana

    3,205 verses · 161 chapters

    All 3,205 verses in the Linga Purana
    • 2.27.2

      Purane zamane mein Shiv bhagwan ne Manu ko ek special puja sikhayi. Uska naam hai Jayabhishek. Yeh puja jeet aur acha phal deti hai.

    • 1.85.1

      Toh yeh tha Linga Purana mein Uma-Maheshwar vrat ka adhyay. Suta ne kaha ki har vrat mein pehle bhagwan ki puja karni chahiye. Phir pandit log panch akshar ka mantra padhein, vidhi ke hisaab se.

    • 1.98.1

      Toh yeh tha Linga Purana ka sataanavein adhyay, Jalandhar ke maare jaane ka poora hissa. Ab rishiyon ne Suta se poocha ki bhai, Vishnu ne Maheshwar se woh Sudarshan chakra kaise liya? Woh bhi devon ke dev se.

  4. Padma Purana

    2,852 verses · 442 chapters

    All 2,852 verses in the Padma Purana
    • 1.17.1

      Bhishma ne kaha, dwij shreshth. Us yagya mein koi khaas baat hui thi kya? Mujhe batao. Rudra wahan kaise the? Aur Vishnu bhi wahan the, deviyon mein sabse bade. Woh sab kaise baithe the wahan?

    • 5.114.6

      Shambhu ne kaha, Ram, yeh brahmin pehle bahut ameer tha. Uske paas sab kuch tha. Woh apni biwi ke kharche mein laga rehta tha aur khush rehta tha.

    • 1.43.47

      Bacche ne kaha ki saat din baad us daitya ko maaro. Woh baccha sirf saat din ka hoga, phir bhi Shankar ke sabse bade logon mein se ek banega.

Also named in

Key chapters

The chapters where Shiva matters most.

  1. Devas’ Hymn, Nandikeśvara’s Petition, and Śiva’s Rising from Samādhi

    Shiva Purana 2.3.24 · 37 verses

    Supreme refuge

  2. Description of the Birth/Manifestation of Śiva’s Son

    Shiva Purana 2.4.2 · 46 verses

    Bhaktavatsala savior and metaphysical authority

  3. Aruṇācala as Jyotirmaya-Liṅga: Brahmā-Viṣṇu Stuti, Śiva’s Anugraha, and the Establishment of Worship

    Skanda Purana 1.4.16 · 13 verses

  4. Consolation of the Devas and the Ordinance of Consequences in the Dakṣa-Yajña Episode

    Shiva Purana 2.2.42 · 33 verses

    Principal speaker

  5. Search for Kārttikeya and the Nandī Dialogue

    Shiva Purana 2.4.4 · 31 verses

    Doctrinal arbiter and cosmic sovereign

  6. Brahmā-Viṣṇu-Pūjā: Upacāra-Vistāra and Īśvara’s Prasāda (Offerings in Shiva Worship and the Lord’s Grace)

    Shiva Purana 1.1.9 · 8 verses

    Recipient and measure of worship

  7. Aruṇācala as Jyotirmaya Sthāvara-Liṅga: Stuti, Darśana, and Boon-Granting

    Skanda Purana 1.3.2 · 15 verses

  8. The Latter Part: Advanced Rituals, Consecrations, and Pashupata Yoga

    Linga Purana 2.27 · 101 verses

  9. Grades of Devotees and the Praise of Knowledge-Centered Devotion

    Shiva Purana 2.2.43 · 20 verses

    Primary teacher

  10. Maya’s Hymn to Śiva (and Śiva’s Gracious Response)

    Shiva Purana 2.5.12 · 22 verses

    Gracious absolute who receives praise

Key episodes

  1. The Churning of the Ocean (Samudra Manthan)

    Bhagavatam 8.5-8.10

  2. Durga Slays Mahishasura

    Markandeya Purana 82-84

  3. Brahma's Sacrifice at Pushkara and Savitri's Curse

    Padma Purana 1.16-1.17

  4. The Descent of the Ganga: Sagara's Sons and Bhagiratha

    Ramayana 1.38-1.44

  5. The Pillar of Fire: Brahma, Vishnu and the Endless Linga

    Shiva Purana 1.1.6-1.1.9

  6. Daksha's Sacrifice and Sati's Self-Immolation

    Shiva Purana 2.2.26-2.2.43

  7. Shiva Burns Kama

    Shiva Purana 2.3.17-2.3.21

  8. Parvati's Austerity to Win Shiva

    Shiva Purana 2.3.22-2.3.29

  9. The Birth of Kartikeya and the Slaying of Taraka

    Shiva Purana 2.4.1-2.4.12

  10. The Birth of Ganesha and His Elephant Head

    Shiva Purana 2.4.13-2.4.18

  11. Ganesha and Kartikeya Race Around the World

    Shiva Purana 2.4.19-2.4.20

  12. Shiva Destroys the Three Cities (Tripura)

    Shiva Purana 2.5.1-2.5.12

Also known to Wikipedia · Wikidata Q11378