Artworks

Inscribed in Sanskrit on reverse, 'Iti tasya vachah shrutva Naimikharepa vasinah aprichchan rishayah shreshthah katham iyam pranashinim. Nishrutva tu tvanmukhat Devanatha prabho smayam adhuna bruhi tatsamravam Shivasya aradhanam param. Yatha pashcan nidhau proktam yena praradhitah Shivah. Prasanne na Shive naiva kasmai dattam phalam mahat. Parvatyah shrutapurvaiva vivahas tatra nagatah. Suta uvacha: Samyak prishtam hi bhagavan nishchayad bhavito hyasi. Munishvara tadaham te kathayamy aghashantaye. Shrunutam tat shishah shreshthah bhavadbhih prichchhate yadvat. Tatha Vyasena vai pura prishtam Sanatkumara kat. Yathavat tad ghanam tena Vyasena shrutavan aham. Shivapujam akanchanyam tan maya kathyate adhunah. Tat shrutva Lokanathasya kamya kamyena hetuna tam chaiva kathayamy adya mahamune shrinu mattah.’

‘Hearing those words, the sages dwelling at Naimisharanya addressed Shuka “O revered one, please recount to us that sacred story which destroys sin. From your own mouth, O lord among men, we have heard many things already. Now tell us in detail the supreme worship of Shiva, just as it was spoken of in ancient times, by which Shiva was propitiated. For when Shiva is pleased, great fruits are bestowed otherwise, to whom could they possibly be given? We have heard that Parvati performed austerities for Shiva and that their marriage then took place. Please narrate that to us as well.

Shuka replied “O sages, you have asked well, with firm devotion. Therefore I shall recount it to you for the removal of sins. Listen attentively, O best of disciples. Long ago Vyasa himself, the sage, asked Sanatkumara this very question, and from him Vyasa received the full account. From Vyasa I too have heard it, and now I shall narrate it to you. Thus shall I tell you of the worship of Shiva, as it was taught, and how it brings the highest good. Having heard of the lord of the worlds, and for the sake of your desire, I shall now narrate it—listen, O great sages.”’

The Sage Shukadeva (or Shuka) was the son of Vyasa, the legendary poet-sage credited with composing the Mahabharata , the Bhagavata Purana, and the seventeen additional great Puranas (Mahapuranas). This composition illustrates a foundational framing narrative found across major Puranas. Rather than depicting a scene directly from the Shiva Purana, it showcases the classic Puranic tradition where Shukadeva expounds divine knowledge and philosophy to a gathering of religious ascetics.