शिवपुराण-प्रशंसा (Praise of the Śiva Purāṇa) / Śivapurāṇa Māhātmya
शैवं पुराणममलं शिवकीर्तितं तद्व्यासेन शैवप्रवणेन न संगृहीतम् । संक्षेपतः सकलजीवगुणोपकारे तापत्रयघ्नमतुलं शिवदं सतां हि
śaivaṃ purāṇamamalaṃ śivakīrtitaṃ tadvyāsena śaivapravaṇena na saṃgṛhītam | saṃkṣepataḥ sakalajīvaguṇopakāre tāpatrayaghnamatulaṃ śivadaṃ satāṃ hi
このシヴァ派のプラーナは垢なく清浄で、主シヴァ自らが讃え宣示されたものである。シヴァに深く帰依したヴィヤーサでさえ、これを編纂したのではない。要約して言えば、あらゆる生きとし生けるものの徳を益し、三種の苦悩を滅し、比類なく、善き人々に真に「シヴァ」—吉祥と解脱—を授ける。
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pashu
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga narrative; it is a doctrinal-phalaśruti verse: the Purāṇa is ‘amala’, Śiva-proclaimed, not Vyāsa-compiled, and destroys tāpa-traya while bestowing ‘Śiva’ (auspicious mokṣa).
Significance: Promises relief from the threefold sufferings (ādhyātmika/ādhibhautika/ādhidaivika) and attainment of ‘Śiva’—read in Siddhānta as Śivapada/mukti through grace.
Type: stotra
Role: liberating
It declares the Śiva Purāṇa to be pure and uniquely Śiva-proclaimed, emphasizing its power to remove tāpatraya (threefold suffering) and to grant śivatva—auspiciousness and liberation—through Śiva’s grace.
By praising the Purāṇa as Śiva’s own teaching meant for the uplift of all beings, it supports Saguna worship—such as Liṅga-upāsanā—as a compassionate, accessible means through which devotees receive Śiva’s saving grace and attain liberation.
The practical takeaway is śravaṇa and pāṭha (listening to and reciting the Śiva Purāṇa) with devotion to Śiva; this aligns with Shaiva practice alongside japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and regular Śiva-pūjā for removing inner distress.