Legend holds that the great sage Veda Vyasa stands behind the Shiva Purana’s composition. Often celebrated as the master compiler of India’s epic and Puranic literature, Vyasa is said to have narrated this text to Garuda, the mighty eagle and Vishnu’s vehicle. As with the Mahabharata and other Puranas, the Shiva Purana weaves cosmology, mythology, and devotion into a tapestry that glorifies Lord Shiva.

Broken into seven “Khandas” (sections)—including Vidyesvara, Rudra, and Kailasa—the text plunges into Shiva’s various forms and pastimes, from the fiery tandava dance to the serene meditations atop Mount Kailash. While traditional accounts credit Vyasa with its authorship, modern scholars note layers of redaction and later embellishments. Manuscripts surfaced regionally over centuries, suggesting a living tradition that grew by leaps and bounds wherever Shiva bhakti flourished.

In these times of renewed global fascination with Shaivism—evident in this year’s Mahashivaratri gatherings and digital satsangs—this Purana continues to resonate. Devotees leaf through its pages looking for guidance on tapas (austerity), mantras, or the enchanting tales of the divine couple, Shiva and Parvati. It’s a testament to how a work attributed to one towering figure can evolve into a community treasure, passed down from teacher to student, from guru to disciple.

Whether chanted in a temple courtyard or streamed during an online havan, the Shiva Purana preserves that timeless dialogue between humanity and the auspicious Lord of destruction and renewal.