I had attended Shiv Maha Purana Katha shivir couple of years back
and I have heard one story over there which shows one of the significance of
this Purana.

There was a bad guy or asura who lives in a village and used to kill
people, rob them, eat them and do other bad stuff. All villagers were very distressed
with this. One day another asura was passing through the same village and he fought
with that bad guy who used to kill villagers. After the fight that bad guy was
killed and the new ausra tried to eat him but not able to as his blood was so
ugly, so he just shattered his bones in anger and passed away from that
village. Now the villagers became very happy.

The soul of that bad guy was suffering from different yaatnas in
Naraka and suddenly Shiva Ganas came to Yama and asked for the same soul from
him. Yama was very surprised that this guy has not done any single good thing
in his entire life and how come Shiv ganas are here to take him to the Shiva
Loka. Then after Yama˘s request shiva Ganas has explained that after his death one crow took one of the bone piece in his beak and
flew away.Suddenly while flying one of his bone had
fallen on the stone where few years back someone dictated the Shiva Purana at
the same place. So because of this effect his soul should be free from Narak
and should be shifted to shiva lokas.

Now you can imagine the person who will read this Maha Purana or
listen to this will guaranteed get Moksha which is for me to stay with Lord Shiva for ever and there is no birth re-birth cycle.

Please share more stories on the significance/mahatva of this purana.

May lord Shiva bless you all.

Regards,
Amit Arora
www.aboutshiva.com