Arddha-Nari-Nara Avatara

Nandishvara said

Son, listen: Shiva's excellent form called arddha-nari-nara fulfilled Brahma's wishes. The beings Brahma created did not flourish, and, overcome by worry and grief, he was miserable. Then a voice from the sky said, "Create through couples." Hearing this Brahma wanted to carry out a further creation through couples, but until then no women had emerged from Ishana's line, so the lotus-born could not create through couples. Thinking that such beings would not be born without Shambhu's powers, Brahma began austerities. In his heart he lovingly thought of Parameshvara united with supreme Shivaa Shakti and performed those supreme austerities. Shiva was quickly satisfied. Isha, who is complete consciousness, took a form to satisfy wishes, and Hara approached Brahma in this arddha-nari-nara form. Seeing Shankara united with Shakti, Brahma lay on the ground like a rod, then folded his hands and praised him. Mahadeva, extremely pleased, spoke in a voice like rumbling clouds. He told Brahma he knew every wish in his mind: he was doing these austerities so that creatures would increase, and, pleased, would give what he desired. Having said this in naturally sweet, generous words, Shiva separated Devi Shivaa from his body.

Seeing supreme Shakti separate from Shiva, Brahma humbly bowed to her and entreated her. He said her husband, lord of gods, had told him to create, and Shambhu, the supreme self, had engaged him in creating all beings. He had made the gods and others through his mind, but they did not multiply and he had to create again and again. So he now wished to create through the powers of couples, so as to increase all his creatures. Before, no undying line of women had come from her, so he had no capacity to create a supreme lineage of women, yet in truth all the Shaktis arise from her. He asked, as Ishvari of everything, for the capacity to create a line of women, for the increase of moving and unmoving beings in the universe. He asked also for another boon: for the welfare of moving and unmoving beings, which can only come through Isha, that she become the daughter of his son Daksha. Devi Parameshvari assented and gave Brahma the capacity. Devi Shivaa, Shiva's Shakti pervading the universe, created from between her brows another Shakti equal to herself in radiance. Mahesha, ocean of compassion at play, saw this Shakti. Bhava smiled and told Ambika that Brahma had worshipped her through austerity, so she should be pleased and kind to him and do all he wished. She lowered her head and accepted Paramesha's command, and, as Brahma had asked, Devi became Daksha's daughter. Shivaa gave Brahma matchless powers and entered Shambhu's body again, and the lord vanished. Since then the category of women has existed in the world, Brahma was delighted, and creation went on through union. Nandi said he had thus told of Shiva's great and excellent form, arddha-nari-nara, which brings great auspiciousness to the virtuous, and an unblemished person who reads or hears it enjoys all pleasures and reaches the supreme destination.