Śivadyuti (शिवद्युति)

“The man of self-restraint should be above all praise, salutation and all rites prescribed by the smṛti in connection with departed ancestors. He should have this body and the Ātman as his support, and depend upon chance—that is, for his physical wants, he should be satisfied with those things that chance brings to him.” —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārakā 2.37

The story of Guṇanidhi continues with him, now named Śrīda, as the guardian of the quarter in the heavenly city of Alakā. He performs severe penance for 200,000 years, realizing his identity with Śiva, who appears to him and out great mercy, appoints him to the post of Kubera.

Brahmā said, “O Nārada, hear the story of Śiva’s arrival at Kailāśa, the best of mountains, thanks to the power of penance of Kubera. The Lord of the Universe, after bestowing the boon of lordship of treasures upon Kubera, returned to His excellent abode and thought within Himself thus: ‘My complete manifestation, born of Brahmā, can look after the activity of Dissolution. Now, assuming that form...

Brahmā said, “In the kalpa called Pādma, I created my mental son Pulastya, whose son Viśravas begot the son Vaiśravaṇa. He propitiated the three-eyed God Śiva with a very severe penance and enjoyed the city of Alakā built by Viśvakṛt. When that kalpa was over and the Meghavāhana-kalpa had started, the son of Yajñadatta, Śrīda, performed a severe penance. Realising the efficacy of devotion to Śiva...

“Therefore knowing the Ātman to be such indeed, develop mindfulness of nonduality. Having grasped nonduality, one should prefer to pass through the world like a dumb fool.”  —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārakā 2.36

Guṇanidhi the son of brāhmaṇa Yajñadatta, spoiled by his indulgent mother, became a sinful rascal. When his father found out, he disowned Guṇanidhi and put away his wife. Guṇanidhi became an indigent wanderer. Yet he was saved by ŚIva’s grace, by way of just a little pious activity.

“The wise, who are free from attachment, fear and anger, and who are well-versed in the meaning of the Vedas, verily realize this Ātman as totally devoid of all imaginations such as prāṇa etc., free from the illusion of the manifold, and nondual.”  —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārakā 2.35

“This Ātman is imagined both as unreal objects that are perceived, and as the nonduality. The objects (bhavas) are imagined in the nonduality itself. Therefore, nonduality alone is the highest bliss.” —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārakā 2.33

Brahmā said, “Guṇanidhi, the son of the Dīkṣita Yajñadatta, came to know of this. Regretfully he cursed himself and set off from that place. After wandering aimlessly for a long time, he, the wicked fellow, felt the abandonment keenly; losing all hope, he halted at a place. He thought to himself: ‘Where am I to go? What shall I do? I have not studied much, nor am I rich enough. Only a wealthy man...

“This manifold does not exist as identical with Ātman, nor does it ever stand independent by itself. It is neither separate from Brahman nor is it non-separate. This is the statement of the wise.” —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārakā, Śloka 34

Sūta said, “O great sages, after hearing these words of Brahmā, Nārada once again bowed to him and asked humbly:” Nārada said, “When did Śiva, favourably disposed to His devotees, go to Kailāśa? Where did he have the intimate acquaintance with Kubera of great and noble soul? What did Śiva of auspicious form do there? Please narrate all these things to me. I am deeply interested in it.” Brahmā said...

These last two chapters in Sṛṣṭikhaṇḍa about Creation describe the first-order creation of the universe by Brahmā and Viṣṇu.

“O Nārada, after performing the pentuplication of the bhūtas—elements and their attributes sound etc.—I evolved the gross elements—space, wind, fire, water and the earth—out of them, and created mountains, seas, trees etc. and the periods of time ending with Kali, and other ages. I created many other things as well; but O sage, I was not satisfied. Then O sage, I meditated on Śiva and His consort...

The big issue for me these days is the meaning of my recent spiritual experiences with Śiva. In any view they are extraordinary; but what is their real significance?

Nārada said, “O creator, O Brahmā the fortunate, you are blessed, O foremost among devas. A wonderfully sanctifying story of Śiva has been narrated by you today. I have heard the wonderfully divine story of the origin of the liṅga, the auspicious hearing of the efficacy of which destroys all miseries here. Please narrate what transpired thereafter, the grandeur of the created things, and particula...

“If the mind becomes inactive in a state of oblivion, awaken it again. If it is distracted, bring it back to the state of tranquillity. In the intermediary state, know the mind containing within it desires in potential form. If the mind has attained to the state of equilibrium, then do not disturb it again.” —Māṇḍūkya Upaniṣad Kārikā 3.44  “When the mind is immersed in oblivion (samādhi or su...

The sages said, “O disciple of Vyāsa, O fortunate one, please explain to us authoritatively the fruits granted by Śiva for worship with different flowers.” Sūta said, “O sages, Saunaka and others, please listen attentively. I shall lovingly explain to you the mode of offering flowers, which is the same as Brahmā explained to Nārada at his request.” Brahmā said, “A person desirous of wealth shall w...

It's 38 years to the day from the beginning of the solo meditation retreat that led to First Path realization. The story since then...

O sages, O devas, listen. Now I shall explain a mode of worship than which there is no better one and which is conducive to the achievement of all happiness and cherished desires. Getting up in the Brahma Muhurta within an hour before dawn one shall remember Siva accompanied by his consort. With palms joined in great devotion and head bent down he shall offer prayers: "O lord of devas, get up, get...

This is the most important Spiritual Insights from Śiva Purāṇa yet. If you haven't listened to Chapters 11 & 12 yet, make sure to do it before you hear this.

Nārada said, “O dear father Brahmā, with your mind fixed on Śiva, you are blessed indeed. Please explain this again still more precisely.” Brahmā said, “I, the lotus-born, once called together all the sages and all the Gods and addressed them lovingly with these good words. ‘If you have faith in permanent happiness, if you desire the achievement of the same, all of you shall come along with me to...

The sages said, “O Sūta the fortunate, O Sūta the disciple of Vyāsa, obeisance be to you. This wonderfully sanctifying story of Śiva has been narrated today. The wonderful and highly divine origin of the liṅga has been heard. Listening to its efficacy causes destruction of misery. O storehouse of mercy, please tell us the mode of the worship of Śiva, in accordance with the conversation of Brahmā a...

For the last five years at least, we have been aware of a very dangerous movement called neo-Advaita. It is a counterfeit version of authentic Advaita, teaching an offensive nihilistic, atheistic philosophy that rejects the worship of God. I will no longer allow neo-Advaita posts on this channel. Anyone making posts based on neo-Advaita philosophy will immediately lose their posting privileges.

These chapters deal with Śiva-tattva, the principle and nature of Śiva. Understanding Śiva is so important because He is the bridge between nondual Brahman and the duality of the creation. Actually Śiva is incomprehensible to the mind, but can be understood to a certain extent through bhakti. Notably, Śiva can bestow perfect knowledge, jñāṇa n the conditioned beings, liberating them from materiali...

Lord Śiva said: “O Viṣṇu of good rites, O Hari, listen to another pronouncement of Mine. You will be worthy of honour and worship in all the worlds forever. Whenever a misery befalls the world created by Brahmā, you shall be eager for the destruction of all miseries. In all difficult and unbearable activities, I shall help you. I shall kill your indefatigable and fierce enemies. O Viṣṇu, spread yo...