Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 27
सर्गविभागवर्णनम्
Classification of Creation: the Nine Sargas and the Streams of Beings
दशधा चैकधा चक्रे स्वात्मानं प्रभुरीश्वरः । ते तेनोक्ता महात्मानो दशधा चैकधा कृताः । यूयं सृष्टा मया वत्सा लोकानुग्रहकारणात् । तस्मात्सर्वस्य लोकस्य स्थापनाय हिताय च
daśadhā caikadhā cakre svātmānaṃ prabhurīśvaraḥ | te tenoktā mahātmāno daśadhā caikadhā kṛtāḥ | yūyaṃ sṛṣṭā mayā vatsā lokānugrahakāraṇāt | tasmātsarvasya lokasya sthāpanāya hitāya ca
Der Herr, der höchste Īśvara, offenbarte sein eigenes Selbst sowohl als das Eine wie auch in zehnfacher Gestalt. Jene großen Seelen, von Ihm unterwiesen, wurden ebenfalls zehnfach und zugleich eins. „Ich habe euch erschaffen, ihr Lieben, aus Mitgefühl für die Welten; darum wirkt für die Festigung und das Heil aller Welten.“
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: cosmogonic emanation (vyūha) of the Lord into one-and-many
FAQs
It presents Shiva as Pati (the Supreme Lord) who freely manifests unity and multiplicity, and creates exalted beings to uphold the worlds through His anugraha (grace), showing that cosmic order serves spiritual welfare.
By affirming Shiva’s ability to be both the One and the many, it supports Saguna worship—approaching the One Lord through manifest forms such as the Linga—while remembering His transcendent sovereignty beyond form.
The takeaway is seva and dharma as worship: stabilize the world through righteous conduct while meditating on Shiva as the One who appears as many—commonly supported by japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and steady devotion.