The higher Deity, the constructor of the universe is the great God sitting in everyone's heart

एष एव परो देवो विश्वकर्मा महेश्वरः |
हृदये संनिविष्टं तं ज्ञात्वैवामृतमश्नुते || 38 ||

This indeed is the superior deity, the constructor of the universe, the great God. After knowing him who is ensconced in the heart, one attains freedom from the mortal world (the cycle of births and deaths).

On knowing God, one is released from the cycle of births and deaths

शिवमेवेश्वरं ज्ञात्वा शांतिमत्यंतमृच्छति || 35 ||
स एव कालो गोप्ता च विश्वस्याधिपतिः प्रभुः |
तं विश्वाधिपतिं ज्ञात्वा मृत्युपाशात्प्रमुच्यते || 36 ||

One gets extreme peace after knowing that Lord Shiva only is the God.
He indeed is the time, the protector and the head of this universe, the Lord. After knowing him, that head of the universe, one is released from the bonds of death (the cycle of births and deaths).

Smaller than an atom, larger than the earth

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयानयमव्ययः |
गुहायां निहितश्चापि जंतोरस्य महेश्वरः || 24 ||

 

Smaller than an atom, larger than the earth, undecaying, ensconced in the heart of living beings, even though the great God of this (everything).

 

Part 1, Chapter 2, shloka 20 of Katha Upanishad is very similar.

 

अणोरणीयान्महतो महीयान्

आत्मस्य जन्तोर्निहितो गुहायाम् |

God exists all over the worlds covering everything

शिवतत्त्वज्ञानवर्णनं नाम षष्ठोऽध्यायः

 

Shiva element knowledge Chapter 6

 

वायुरुवाच |

 

Vayudeva said (to the sages)

 

सर्वतः पाणिपादोऽयं सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखः |

सर्वतः श्रुतिमाँल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति || 21 ||
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासः सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितः |
सर्वस्य प्रभुरीशानः सर्वस्य शरणं सुहृत् || 22 ||

 

This (fellow has) hands and legs everywhere, eyes, head, mouth, everywhere, has ears everywhere, stands (exists) in (this) world covering everything.
(He) illuminates all the senses, without all senses (of his own), Ishana (God), the Lord of everyone, the shelter/refuge of everyone, kindhearted.

 

Compare with shlokas 13 and 14 of Chapter 13 of Bhagvad Gita.

 

सर्वतः पाणिपादं तत्सर्वतोऽक्षिशिरोमुखम् |
सर्वतः श्रुतिमल्लोके सर्वमावृत्य तिष्ठति ||
सर्वेन्द्रियगुणाभासं सर्वेन्द्रियविवर्जितम् |
असक्तं सर्वभृच्चैव निर्गुणं गुणभोक्तृ च ||

Three characteristics of Prakriti stay like oil in a sesame seed

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः |
प्रकृतौ सूक्ष्मरूपेण तिले तैलमिव स्थिताः || 34 ||

 

Sattva, rajas, tamas – these characteristics are born of Prakriti, staying in Prakriti like oil in a sesame seed.

 

Compare with shloka 5 of Chapter 14 of Bhagvad Gita.

 

सत्त्वं रजस्तम इति गुणाः प्रकृतिसंभवाः |
निबध्नन्ति महाबाहो देहे देहिनमव्ययम् ||

 

These are the characteristics which bind the undecaying soul/individual (body bearing entity – a living being) with the physical body. Sattva can overpower rajas, but is still something that binds the soul.

One becomes similar to Lord Shiva when all the dirt of the mind is removed

क्षीणे चात्ममले तस्मिन्पुमाञ्छिवसमो भवेत् || 28 ||

 

And on (total) disappearance of the dirt of the mind, at that point, man becomes similar to Lord Shiva.

Sorrow of this world ends only with knowledge

शिवतत्त्वज्ञानवर्णनं नाम पञ्चमोऽध्यायः

 

Shiva element knowledge Chapter 5

 

वायुरुवाच |

 

Vayudeva said (to the sages)

 

अज्ञानप्रभवं दुःखं ज्ञानेनैव निवर्तते | 11

 

Unhappiness/sorrow resulting from ignorance (sorrow of the material world) recedes/goes away only by knowledge.

How Naimisharanya became the site for the Dirghasatra

एतन्मनोमयं चक्रं मया सृष्टं विसृज्यते |
यत्रास्य शीर्यते नेमिः स देशस्तपसः शुभः || 53 ||

 

This Manomaya chakra created by me (is being) released. Where it falls/breaks down, that Nemi region (will be) auspicious for asceticism.

Higher devotion comes from Yoga

ज्ञानध्यानाभियुक्तस्य पुंसो योगः प्रवर्तते || 39 ||
योगेन तु परा भक्तिः प्रसादस्तदनन्तरम् |
प्रसादान्मुच्यते जन्तुर्मुक्तः शिवसमो भवेत् || 40 ||

 

Yoga prevails in a man who has knowledge and (practises) meditation.
By yoga only, higher devotion (comes), Prasada (a state of mind with purity and satisfaction) soon after, by Prasada a living being (is) liberated (and) becomes similar to Lord Shiva.

The great God can be seen only through higher devotion

अस्य भूतानि वश्यानि अयं सर्वनियोजकः |

अयं तु परया भक्त्या दृश्यते नान्यथा क्वचित् || 23 ||

 

Living beings are under this (fellow's) control, this (fellow) is the organiser of everything. This (one) can be seen only by higher devotion, not otherwise in any way.

 

The second half of this shloka appeared also in Vidyeshwara Samhita, Chapter 3, shloka 12.

There is no level above that of the great God

एको देवो महादेवो विज्ञेयस्तु महेश्वरः |
न तस्य परमं किञ्चित्पदं समधिगम्यते || 15 ||

 

The one Deva, the great Deva should really be known as the great God. No level above his can be reached (no level above his exists).

The highest truth, which even the mind cannot grasp

नैमिषोपाख्यानं नाम तृतीयोऽध्यायः

 

Naimisharanya episode Chapter 3

 

ब्रह्मोवाच |

 

Brahma said (to the sages)

 

यतो वाचो निवर्तन्ते अप्राप्य मनसा सह |

आनन्दं यस्य वै विद्वान्न बिभेति कुतश्चन || 1 ||

 

That without grasping which speech turns back along with the mind, whose joy,
a knowledgeable person does not fear for any reason.

The first half of this shloka also appears in Taittiriya Upanishad, Chapter 2, shloka 9.

There is nothing that Lord Brahma does not know

मुनिप्रस्ताववर्णनं नाम द्वितीयोऽध्यायः

 

Description of the prologue by the sages – Chapter 2

 

मुनय उचुः |

 

Sages said (to Lord Brahma)

 

त्वं हि सर्व जगद्धाता सर्वकारणकारणम् |

त्वया ह्यविदितं नाथ नेह किञ्चन विद्यते || 27 ||

कः पुमान्सर्व सत्त्वेभ्यः पुराणः पुरुषः परः |

विशुद्धः परिपूर्णश्च शाश्वतः परमेश्वरः || 28 ||

 

You are really the creator of the universe, the cause of all causes. There is nothing here, Lord, that you do not know.
Which man (is) in all living beings, ancient, higher Purusha (God), pure, complete and eternal supreme God?

Seven Samhitas of the fourth version of Shiva Purana

वायवीयसंहितायां पूर्वभागे विद्यावतारकथनं नाम प्रथमोऽध्यायः

Vayaviya Samhita, Earlier/east part, Knowledge incarnation Chapter 1

सूत उवाच |

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

व्यासेन तत्तु संक्षिप्तं चतुर्विंशत्सहस्रकम् |
शैवं तत्र पुराणं वै चतुर्थं सप्तसंहितम् || 58 ||
विद्येश्वराख्या तत्राद्या द्वितीया रुद्रसंहिता |
तृतीया शतरुद्राख्या कोटिरुद्रा चतुर्थिका || 59 ||
पञ्चमी कथिता चोमा षष्ठी कैलाससंहिता |
सप्तमी वायवीयाख्या सप्तैवं संहिता इह || 60 ||

That actually shortened/condensed by sage Vyasa (is) there really the fourth (version of the) Purana of Lord Shiva with seven Samhitas, 24000 (shlokas).
There the first called Vidyeshwara (Samhita), second Rudra Samhita, third called Shatarudra, fourth Kotirudra,
And fifth called Uma, sixth Kailasa Samhita, seventh called Vayaviya; thus seven Samhitas here (in this Purana).

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Liberated ascetics are buried, not cremated

यतिनाम्मरणानन्तरं दशाहपर्यन्तं कृत्यवर्णनं नामैकविंशोऽध्यायः

 

Tasks upto ten days after the death of an ascetic – Chapter 21

 

वामदेव उवाच |

 

Vamadeva said (to Kartikeya) as a prelude to his question

 

ये मुक्ता यतयस्तेषां दाहकर्म न विद्यते |

मृते शरीरे खननं तद्देहस्य श्रुतं मया || 1 ||

 

There is no burning ceremony (cremation) of those who are liberated ascetics. I have heard that on the dead body, burial of the body (is performed).

Six things forbidden for ascetics

क्षौरस्नानविधिवर्णनं नाम विंशोऽध्यायः

 

Tonsure and bath procedure description Chapter 20

 

सुब्रह्मण्य उवाच |

 

Kartikeya said (to sage Vamadeva)

 

ताम्बूलं तैजसं पात्रं रेतःसेकं सिताम्बरम् |
दिवास्वापो हि नक्तान्नं यतीनां षड् विवर्जिताः || 34 ||

 

Betel leaf, metallic vessels, releasing semen, white cloth (clothes), sleeping during day, eating at night are six (things) forbidden to ascetics.

Study of Guru's statements and Vedas leads to God appearing in the heart

योगपट्टविधिवर्णनं नामैकोनविंशोऽध्यायः

 

Yoga band procedure description Chapter 19

 

सुब्रह्मण्य उवाच |

Kartikeya said (to sage Vamadeva)

 

वेदशास्त्रगुरूणां च वाक्याभ्यासवशाच्छिशोः |
पुर्णानन्दमयः शंभुः प्रादुर्भूतो भवेद्धृदि || 22 ||

 

By the study of statements of Veda scriptures and Guru's, Lord Shiva with complete joy appears in the heart of the (initiated) disciple.

The first vibration of creation is called Shivatattva

निजेच्छया जगत्सृष्टमुद्युक्तस्य महेशितुः |
प्रथमो यः परिस्पन्दः शिवतत्त्वं तदुच्यते || 70 ||

While the great God was occupied with creating the universe of his own wish, the first vibration which (occurred) is called the Shiva element.

Only by the combination of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti does joy arise continuously

शिवतत्त्ववर्णनं नाम षोडशोऽध्यायः

Shiva element description Chapter 16

सुब्रह्मण्य उवाच |

Kartikeya said (to sage Vamadeva)

एवं शिवत्वं शक्तित्वं परमात्मनि दर्शितम् |
शिवशक्त्योस्तु संयोगादानन्दं सततोदीतः || 33 ||
अतो मुने तमुद्दिश्य मुनयः क्षीणकल्मषाः |
शिवे मनः समाधाय प्राप्तः शिवमनामयम् || 34 ||

In this way, the characteristics of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti are shown in the supreme soul. Only by the combination of Lord Shiva and Goddess Shakti does joy arise continuously.
Sage, therefore considering that, sages who have become free of sin, having focussed their mind on Lord Shiva, achieved the pure Shiva state.