Shiva Tattva

Brahma said

Maheshvara heard Vishnu's praise of him and was greatly pleased. The ocean of compassion showed himself to us with his consort: five faces and three eyes, matted hair with the moon on his brow, large eyes, a fair body smeared with ash, a blue throat, ten arms, ornaments everywhere, every limb beautiful, and a Tripundra of ash on his forehead. We saw the god Parameshvara so, with his wife. With me, the illustrious Vishnu praised him again in excellent words. In answer, Hara gave him the nigama texts in the form of his breath. Mahesha, home of compassion, was pleased with Vishnu and also gave him knowledge of Hara, the supreme self. Sage, out of compassion the supreme self gave all this to me too. Having received the nigama texts, Vishnu was content, but together with me he joined his hands and asked Maheshvara more.

Vishnu said

Lord, how are you pleased? How shall I worship you? How should one meditate on you? How are you brought under control? Mahadeva, we follow your command. Tell us what to do. You are cause and effect. Shankara, instruct us for our joy. Great ruler, have pity on us and tell us all this, and make us understand everything else. Shiva, we are your followers.

Brahma continued

Hearing this, Bhagavan Hara was pleased. The ocean of compassion answered us cheerfully.

Shiva said

Best of the gods, I am truly pleased with your devotion. See me as Mahadeva and you will be free of every fear. Always worship my lingam and meditate on the form you see now; make an effort at this task. When I am worshipped as the lingam I am pleased and give many kinds of fruits. I give people whatever their minds desire. Best of gods, whenever hardship comes, worship my lingam and the misery will go at once. Mighty ones, I am lord of everything. You came from my nature, from my left and right sides. Brahma, grandfather of the worlds, was born from my right, and Vishnu from my left. I am pleased with you both and will give you the boon you want. By my command may your devotion to me be firm. Wise ones, make my earthen image. When you serve it in many ways, you will find happiness. Brahma, obeying my command you will be the creator. Child Hari, you will protect all that moves and stands.

Brahma continued

The lord then told us the auspicious modes for worshipping him; worshipped so, Shambhu grants many fruits. Hearing Shambhu, Hari and I joined our hands, bowed and answered Mahesha.

Vishnu said

If you are pleased with us, grant us a boon: constant, unwavering devotion to you. Father, though you are without qualities, you take an avatara in play to help us. You are supreme Parameshvara, lord of the gods. The quarrel between us has ended well, since you came to settle it.

Brahma continued

Hearing this, Hara spoke to Hari, who stood with bowed head and joined hands.

Shri Mahesha said

Though I have no qualities, I take qualities in order to create, preserve and destroy. I am the supreme brahman, unchanging, whose nature is being, consciousness and bliss. Hari, Vishnu, I am always without parts, but for creation, preservation and dissolution I take on qualities and divide myself in three, called Brahma, Vishnu and Hara. Vishnu, together with Brahma you prayed that I take an avatara. Since I am affectionate to my devotees, I will fulfil that wish. Brahma, my supreme form, like the present one, will appear from your body and be famed in the worlds as Rudra. Born as my portion, his capacity will equal mine and not be less. He is I and I am he. There is no difference even in the rules of worship. When fire meets water, its qualities are not changed by the contact. In the same way I am not bound by contact with qualities. It is I in the form of Shiva, and I, Shiva, am also in the form of Rudra. Great sage, no one should try to make a difference between him and me. They are essentially one form, divided in two only for the world's purposes. So it should be known that there is never a difference between Shiva and Rudra. When gold is made into an ornament its substance does not change. God, there is a difference of name, not of substance. Clay is the same though it is shaped into different vessels. The presence of the cause in the effect is another example. The noble, learned and knowing, whose knowledge is unsullied, should know this. Understanding it, you two should see no difference. It is the substance and form of Shiva that is everywhere. I, you, Aja and the one who will be Rudra are the same form. Differences lead to bondage. But the eternal form of Shiva is mine alone, and it is always called the real cause: truth, knowledge, infinite. Knowing this in the mind, always meditate on this truth.

Brahma, hear another secret. You two arose from Prakriti, but Rudra was not born of Prakriti. I will be born in this form from Brahma's furrowed brows. This Hara will be said to have tamas by nature and also vaikarika ego, but the substance is tamas only in name, not in fact. For this reason, Brahma, you will be the creator and Hari will protect your creation. The one who will be born of my portion will be the agent of dissolution. This Devi Prakriti, Parameshvari, is known as Uma. Her Shakti in the form of the goddess of speech will take refuge with Brahma. Another Shakti will arise from Prakriti and take refuge with Vishnu, in the form of Lakshmi. Another portion, Kali, will certainly take refuge with me; to do her work she will be born in the form of fire. These are the supreme, auspicious Devis or Shaktis, whose tasks in order are creation, preservation and dissolution. Supreme among gods, they are portions of Prakriti, my beloved. Vishnu, with Lakshmi, carry out your task. Brahma, at my command, with the goddess of speech, born as a portion of Prakriti, gladly undertake creation. I will take the help of Kali, a portion of my beloved who is greater than the greatest, and in the form of Rudra will do the excellent work of dissolution. After creating the world, with its four varnas and ashramas all engaged in their tasks, you will certainly be happy. With knowledge and higher knowledge you will bring benefit to the worlds. Vishnu, at my command, from now on you will give liberation to the world. The fruits of seeing you will be the same as the fruits of seeing me. This is the boon I give you, and it is true, doubtless true. Vishnu will be in my heart and I in Vishnu's. Those who separate the two do not know my mind. Hari was born from my left limb and Vidhatri from my right. Rudra, cause of the great dissolution, whose self is in the universe, will be born from my heart. I have divided myself into three, Brahma, Vishnu and Bhava; for creation, preservation and dissolution they stand for the three gunas, rajas, sattva and tamas. But Shiva is directly distinct from the gunas, beyond Purusha and Prakriti. I am the supreme brahman, eternal, infinite, complete and spotless. Hari, protector of the three worlds, has sattva outside and tamas inside. Hara, who dissolves the three worlds, has tamas outside and sattva inside. Vidhatri, who creates the three worlds, has rajas both inside and outside. These are the gunas in the three gods; Shiva is said to have none. Vishnu, gladly protect the grandfather, who will undertake the work of the creation. At my command you will be worshipped in the three worlds. You and Vidhatri will serve Rudra. The one who will dissolve the three worlds is Shiva's complete avatara. In the Padma kalpa the grandfather will be born as your son. You will see me then, and so will the lotus-born one.

Brahma concluded

So Mahesha Hara, full of unmatched compassion, spoke, and Lord Sarveshvara, very pleased, spoke again to Vishnu.