Shiva Purana is a Hindu scripture.
One of the eighteen traditional puranas, a kind of smrti
literature that included much of old Indian mythology.
The smrtis, or "remembered" writings, were a kind
of literature that was regarded less authoritative than the shrutis, or
"heard" texts, despite their importance.
The Vedas, the oldest and most authoritative Hindu religious
books, were included in the shrutis, whilst the Mahabharata and Ramayana,
dharma literature, the Bhagavad Gita, and the puranas were included in the
smrtis.
The puranas are a collection of holy stories ranging from
myths to ceremonial instructions to exaltation of different sacred locales
(tirthas) and activities.
Most puranas emphasize the worship of one god as dominant
above all others, and as the name implies, this one is dedicated to Shiva
devotion.
One of the lengthier and bigger puranas is the Shiva Purana.
It includes instructions on how, where, and when Shiva should
be worshiped, as well as a detailed narrative of Shiva's epic deeds—many of
which have become common mythology for many traditional Hindus.
