The Shiv Purana says that Bhagwan Shiv incarnates in every Kali Yuga for the purpose of “conferring the Dharm of the Vedas to disciples”. “Shulapani himself incarnates upon the earth through the yugas to spread knowledge for the liberation of those in his protection”. (Shiv Purana, Vayaviya Samhita).

The Kurm Purana says: “Fallen men with minds steeped in tamoguna and making a pretence of practicing religion shall mislead all with all manner of temptation. In Kali Yuga, Ishvar, the Lord of all, the most exalted Mahadev Rudra shall not be seen in the eyes of men as worthy of worship. For the welfare of the faithful and the establishment of the Shrot and Smart Dharma. Shankar shall take many incarnations. He shall confer upon disciples jnana, the essence of the Vedas, and the religion of the Vedas”.

Kurm Purana says that the Kali Yuga is ‘Maheshwar Yuga” and states in the eighteenth chapter as follows:

Brahmkrityuge devastretayam Bhagvana Ravi
Dwapare Devatam Vishnu: Kalaun Devo Maheshware.

(Brahma is regarded as the special deity of Satya Yuga, the Sun of Treta Yuga, Vishnu of the Dwapar Yuga and  Mahesh or Shiv as the special deity of the Kali Yuga.)

Kurm Purana says:  “In this manner Paramatma Shiv had described all the Yogeshwar incarnations of all the chaturyugis of the Vaivasvat Manvantar. There shall be twenty eight Vyasas one after another in every Dwapar and a Yogeshwar incarnation at the beginning of each Kali Yuga. There shall be four eternal disciples along with each Yogeshwar incarnation who shall be great Shiv devotees and who shall advance the path of yoga”.  (Kurm Purana, 28:31-35).

The names of all the incarnations of Lord Shiv are given in the Shatrudrasamhita and Vayaviya Samhita of the Shiv Purana (Chapters 4&5, Chapter 9). They are similarly given in Chapter 51 of the Poorva Vibhag of the Kurm Purana. The Puranas also record that in each incarnation the Lord shall have four yogi disciples who shall be adept Yogis and shall attain liberation. The names of all these and those to come in the future are also given. We also know from the authority of these Puranas that these incarnations occur in all the Kali Yugas and that the purpose always is “to assist Vyas” or to “spread” or “strengthen” yoga or the ‘nivrutty marg’ the path of renunciation.

In the Shiv Puran, Lord Krishna inquires of his Guru Upamanyu about the names of the incarnations of Lord Shiva and the latter gives the names of the following chronological incarnations:  Shvet, Sutar, Madan, Suhotra, Kangkalaugakshi, Jaigishavya, Dadhivaha, Rishabh, Ugra, Atri, Supalak, Gautam, Vedshira, Gaukarna, Guhavasi, Shikhandi, Jatamali, Attahas, Daruk, Languli, Mahakal, Shuli, Dandi, Mundish, Sahishnu, Somsharma, and Lakulish.

The Puranas confirm that the last such incarnation was that of Lord Lakulish and that that incarnation is distinguished by kayavatar, i.e., the Lord’s incarnation in bodily form, at a place called Kayavarohan. (Kurm Purana, 51:10, Skand Purana, Nagar Khand) References to Lord Lakulish may also be found in the Vayu Purana, Ling Purana and Padma Purana.