Stories from the Shiva Purana

Shiva is one of the Hindu Trinity and the god of destruction. There are numerous stories of Shiva that talk about his extreme sides – peaceful and forgiving, and rage and destructive. He has always been benevolent towards his devotees and ruthless to those who disturb the balance of the three worlds. The Shiva Purana contains all the stories ever told about the powerful Mahadeva. Amar Chitra Katha’s special issue ‘Mahadeva – Stories From The Shiva Purana’ is a retelling of the Shiva Purana, recited by Romaharshana over many days. A telling that came to him from sage Vyasa who in turn heard it from sage Narada himself.

With the in-depth research and accurate information from Amar Chitra Katha’s esteemed editorial team and the vivid graphics that bring characters to life, created with precision by the master artists, this comic narrative of Shiva Purana is a must for every mythology enthusiast. The book elaborates every story of Lord Shiva from the Shiva Purana captivating and teleporting the reader into the Shiva Universe.

The book is divided into six sections:

The Beginning –

What is a Purana? Who created the Puranas? What is the essence of the Shiva Purana? When and how did Shiva first appear? Answers to these and many more are explained in the first section.

Shiva and Shakti –

This section narrates the importance of the balance between masculine and feminine energies. Shiva and his consort Shakti were viewed as different divinities but the stories reveal how the two are encompassed in one body. The two essentially being two halves of the same truth, each incomplete without the other.

Kartikeya and Ganesha –

The sons of Shiva and Parvati, Kartikeya and Ganesha took birth to accomplish mighty tasks even at a tender age. Their births, in fact, are fascinating tales of love and sacrifice. It also highlights the ongoing conflict between the brothers which eventually also leads to part of the next section, the creation of a Jyotirlinga.

The Jyotirlingas –

Spread across the length and breadth of India are the 12 Jyotirlingas that form the highest point of pilgrimage to any devotee of Shiva. Each of the Jyotirlinga stories reiterates the deep, loving bond that Shiva has with his devotees and how he has been and will continue to protect them from ill and evil.

Shiva the Saviour –

When evil prevails, he is the one that even the gods call upon for help. This part tells the stories of the times that Shiva the saviour freed the world from the oppression and immortality of those who had forgotten the path of dharma.

Moksha –

The final part of the Shiva Purana shows the path of Nirvana to the readers. It says that Moksha or liberation can be attained in the simplest of ways.