Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 51
विष्णूत्पत्तिवर्णनम्
Description of the Origin/Manifestation of Viṣṇu
परिश्रमवतस्तस्य विष्णोः स्वाङ्गेभ्य एव च । जलधारा हि संयाता विविधाश्शिवमायया
pariśramavatastasya viṣṇoḥ svāṅgebhya eva ca | jaladhārā hi saṃyātā vividhāśśivamāyayā
Lorsque Viṣṇu s’appliquait à cette tâche, de ses propres membres jaillirent réellement des flots d’eau—nés de multiples manières par la Māyā de Śiva.
Suta Goswami (narrating the Rudrasaṃhitā account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Role: creative
FAQs
It presents Śiva as Pati—the supreme governor of Māyā—by whose power even cosmic functions carried out by Viṣṇu proceed; creation is shown to unfold under Śiva’s overarching divine agency.
By attributing manifestation to Śiva’s Māyā, the verse supports Saguna Śiva worship (including the Liṅga) as devotion to the accessible form of the Supreme who directs the universe’s visible processes.
A practical takeaway is japa of the Pañcākṣarī—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—with contemplation that all energies and transformations arise through Śiva’s śakti (Māyā), fostering surrender and steadiness in sādhanā.