The Image That Is Worshipped

Ishvara said

Fair-faced one, I will now tell the excellent process of creation, how the four, Mahesha and the others, arose from Sadashiva. The lord Sadashiva is lord of space and in composite form. The four, Mahesha and the others, exist in their individual forms. Mahesha arose from Sadashiva and represents a thousandth of his parts. His face is Purusha and he is lord of the wind. He has Maya as his Shakti on his left. He is parted and does much action. Together these four, Ishvara, Vishveshvara, Parameshvara and Sarveshvara, make the excellent wheel of disappearance. There are two kinds of disappearance: one concerns Rudra and the others and cannot be perceived; the other concerns those in animal forms and occurs when they lose their bodies. Those addicted to pleasures exist as long as karma is out of balance. When karma is in balance there is only the lord, full of compassion. All the other lords called gods are without alternative and free of disease, directly forms of the supreme brahman. The wheel of disappearance is full of the kalas of tranquillity and Maheshvara presides over this excellent region. Those who serve at Mahesha's feet gain this destination, and gradually those devoted to Maheshvara gain liberation as residence in his world. The image of Rudra arose from Maheshvara and represents a thousandth of his parts. Aghora is the face and he is lord of fire. He has Gouri as Shakti on his left. He is the lord who destroys everything. He takes a collective form in the group of four, Shiva and the others, and this wonderful wheel is called Shiva, Hara, Mrida and Bhava. Lord among sages, called a destroyer, this is said to be supreme and greatly divine. The learned say destruction is of three kinds: the daily kind, when living beings sleep; the occasional kind, connected with Brahma; and the great dissolution the Vedas also mention. Infinitely energetic Rudra thought of these three kinds for living beings, for birth, for tranquillity and an end to all misery connected with birth, for sleep and rest and for ripening karma. Rudra is said to have made these three types. I will now tell the five kinds of tasks the lord does, creation, destruction and the rest. Bhava and the other divinities are described as forms of the supreme brahman, the cause of compassion to the worlds. The wheel of destruction has learning as its kalas. Rudra presides over this region without ailments, and those who wish to worship Rudra gain this destination, and through residence in his world gradually gain union with him. Vishnu arose from Rudra's image and represents a thousandth of his parts. In the form of Vamadeva's wheel he is presiding lord of water. Rama is the Shakti on his left. He is everyone's great protector, four-armed, lotus-eyed, dark, bearing the marks of the conch and other things. In his collective form he is part of Vasudeva and the others. He gives liberation to those who worship Vishnu. That excellent, famous wheel consists of Vasudeva, Aniruddha, Samkarshana and Pradyumna. He ensures the preservation and protection of the created universe along with its creator, until living beings have enjoyed the fruits of their ripened karma. Vishnu and the others were given the task of protecting. In preserving the created world the lord does five kinds of tasks. The divinities led by Pradyumna are described as without a second and without fear and always give liberation and bliss. Brahmana, this wheel for preservation and establishment is excellent, and the supreme destination is said to be presided over by Janardana. Those who serve Vishnu's lotus feet gain it, and in this wheel those devoted to Vishnu gain residence in his world. Pitamaha arose from Vishnu and represents a thousandth of his parts. His face is Sadyojata and he presides over the earth tattva. The lord is creator of the universe, with Vagdevi on his left, four-faced, red, his form that of rajas. This wheel of creation has Hiranyagarbha, Virat, Purusha and Kala and is served by Brahma's sons and other rishis. It gives happiness and all desired things to Brahma's followers. Creation is the process of naturally bringing out an individual self already withdrawn, for enjoying karma, and it represents the fruits of practice. It is known that Pitamaha brings about this joining. Those who know the process of creation know it brings happiness as long as this cycle lasts. Sage, the lord who creates the universe does five tasks; Asti, Kaala and Udaya are described as the divinities here. The learned describe this cycle of creation as a form of renunciation. This beautiful destination is presided over by Pitamaha and is gained by men who have given their minds to Brahma, who gain liberation and residence in his world in heaven. This disc has four wheels, but the disc is unimportant since Mahesha and the others are the wheels, called Pranava. This prosperous, famous disc of the universe is spoken of in the shruti. Sage, hymns in the shruti say it has five wheels. Actually the wheel of creation is only one and arises as Shambhu's energy extends it. It is said to have ten components, five wheels and five spokes. Like a wheel of fire it roams ceaselessly, taking in creation and dissolution, and because it whirls it is called a wheel. Because the process of creation is extensive it appears large and thick. The divinity's golden complexion is from Shambhu's infinite energy, and the Shakti who does the tasks of this wheel has a golden light around her. The wheel is surrounded by water, the water by fire, the fire by wind, the wind by space, space by Mahat, and the elements exist in space and are also surrounded by Mahat, which is always surrounded by the unmanifest. Supreme sage, this is how believers speak of the universe. I have told you of the seven sheaths that protect the universe; the water around it is determined to be ten times the wheel's size, and brahmanas who know say that, moving up, each sheath is ten times the one before. This is what the shruti means when it describes the wheel and says it is in the midst of water. With Shivaa the lord of the worlds engages in his ceaseless play and does this, showing favour, disappearing, withdrawing, preserving and creating. Sage, what is the point of saying more? I have told you the substance: it is certain that all this is Shiva with Shakti.