Romaharshana, the suta or storyteller, comes to Naimishavana to attend a yagya. The rishis ask him, “Who is the greatest of the gods, the most perfect and powerful of divine beings?” The learned rishi responds, “I will gladly tell you of the purest, most perfect of beings, the great Lord Shiva.”So begins the telling of the Shiva Purana, recited by Romaharshana over many days. A telling that came to him from the sage Vyasa, who in turn heard it from the sage Narada himself.


Mahadeva, Section 3, tells the stories of Shiva and Parvati's illustrious sons, Kartikeya and Ganesha. Born to kill the demon Tarakasura, Kartikeya has an unusual birth and upbringing. As for the much-loved Ganesha, the story of his creation is one that has enthralled people through centuries.