Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 47
प्रणवविभागः—वेदस्वरूपत्वं लिङ्गे च प्रतिष्ठा
The Division of Oṃ, Its Vedic Forms, and Its Placement in the Liṅga
दक्षिणांगान्महेशस्य जातो ब्रह्मात्मसंज्ञिकः । वामांगादभवद्विष्णुस्ततो विद्येति संज्ञितः
dakṣiṇāṃgānmaheśasya jāto brahmātmasaṃjñikaḥ | vāmāṃgādabhavadviṣṇustato vidyeti saṃjñitaḥ
From Maheshvara’s right side was born Brahmā, known as the ‘Brahma-principle’; from His left side arose Viṣṇu, therefore designated as ‘Vidyā’ (the sustaining, ordering power). Thus the Purāṇa proclaims the Lord as the supreme Pati, from whom the cosmic functions proceed.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: functional emanation (Brahmā/Viṣṇu) from Mahēśvara in sṛṣṭi-ordering
FAQs
It establishes Mahesha as the supreme Pati: Brahmā (creation-principle) and Viṣṇu (ordering/sustaining power called Vidyā here) arise from Him, showing that all cosmic functions depend on Shiva’s lordship rather than existing independently.
By portraying Brahmā and Viṣṇu as emanations of Mahesha, the verse supports Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—as worship of the very source from whom the creator and sustainer derive their powers.
Meditate on Shiva as the inner origin of all powers while japa-ing the Pañcākṣarī (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), contemplating that creation and preservation arise from Him; offer bhasma/Tripuṇḍra and maintain Shiva-centric devotion (bhakti) as the unifying practice.