Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 45
हंस-वराह-रूपग्रहण-कारणम्
The Reason for Assuming the Swan and Boar Forms
त्रयस्सर्गाः प्रकृत्याश्च ब्रह्मणः परिकीर्तिताः । तत्राद्यो महतस्सर्गो द्वितीयः सूक्ष्मभौतिकः
trayassargāḥ prakṛtyāśca brahmaṇaḥ parikīrtitāḥ | tatrādyo mahatassargo dvitīyaḥ sūkṣmabhautikaḥ
On énonce trois créations : celles issues de Prakṛti et celles de Brahmā. Parmi elles, la première est la création de Mahat (l’intellect cosmique), et la seconde est la création subtile des principes élémentaires.
Sūta Gosvāmi (narrating the Purāṇic teaching to the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: enumeration of sarga-bhedas (mahat-sarga; sūkṣma-bhautika evolution)
FAQs
It frames creation as an ordered unfolding of tattvas—first Mahat (cosmic intelligence) and then subtle elemental principles—so the seeker can discern Prakṛti’s evolutes and turn inward toward Pati (Śiva), who transcends them.
By distinguishing the created categories (Mahat and subtle elements) from the Supreme, it supports Linga-worship as a focus on Śiva as the Lord beyond Prakṛti, while still approachable in saguna form for devotion and concentration.
A practical takeaway is tattva-viveka (discriminative meditation): contemplate Mahat and the subtle elements as transient, and steady the mind in Śiva through japa of the Pañcākṣarī “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” optionally with bhasma (tripuṇḍra) and rudrākṣa as Shaiva supports.