Shloka 17
Śiva’s Boon to Viśvakarman and the Manifestation of Devī
Bhavānī/Parāśakti
मिथुनप्रभवामेव कृत्वा सृष्टिमतः परम् । संवर्धयितुमिच्छामि सर्वा एव मम प्रजाः
mithunaprabhavāmeva kṛtvā sṛṣṭimataḥ param | saṃvardhayitumicchāmi sarvā eva mama prajāḥ
“Having thereafter established creation as arising through pairs (male and female), I now desire to nourish and expand all these beings who are my progeny.”
Brahma
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Shakti Form: Pārvatī
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It highlights the cosmic method of manifestation—multiplicity arises through paired generation—yet remains within divine order; from a Shaiva Siddhanta lens, all increase of beings (paśu) ultimately functions under the higher sovereignty of Pati (Shiva), even when voiced through Brahma’s creative role.
Creation and its expansion are presented as regulated processes; Linga worship centers the devotee on Shiva as the transcendent ground (Nirguna) and immanent governor (Saguna) of these processes, reminding that progeny and prosperity are sustained by Shiva’s overarching power beyond Brahma’s secondary agency.
As the verse concerns nurturing and increase, a practical takeaway is to perform Shiva-oriented nitya-puja with japa of the Panchakshara (“Om Namah Shivaya”) for right ordering of household life, along with Tripundra (bhasma) and Rudraksha as disciplines that keep worldly growth aligned to dharma.