Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 62
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
विष्णो सृष्टिकरं प्रीत्या पालयैनं पितामहम् । संपूज्यस्त्रिषु लोकेषु भविष्यसि मदाज्ञया
viṣṇo sṛṣṭikaraṃ prītyā pālayainaṃ pitāmaham | saṃpūjyastriṣu lokeṣu bhaviṣyasi madājñayā
Ô Viṣṇu, protège avec amour ce Grand-Père (Brahmā), l’agent de la création. Par Mon ordre, tu deviendras digne d’être adoré dans les trois mondes.
Lord Shiva
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadāśiva
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga legend; it is a divine injunction establishing Viṣṇu’s role as protector of Brahmā (creation-agent) and conferring worship-worthiness by Śiva’s command—an explicit hierarchy of offices under Pati.
Significance: Frames inter-deity harmony as dharma: honoring Viṣṇu as protector is consistent with Śiva-supremacy; encourages non-sectarian respect while maintaining Siddhānta metaphysics (Pati as sovereign).
Role: teaching
Cosmic Event: ordering of cosmic administration (creation-preservation coordination)
FAQs
It presents Shiva as the supreme regulator (Pati) who assigns cosmic functions: Brahmā creates and Viṣṇu preserves, both operating under Shiva’s command—highlighting that divine order and worship-worthiness arise from Shiva’s grace.
By showing that even Viṣṇu’s venerability is established by Shiva’s decree, the verse supports Shaiva Siddhānta’s view that Saguna Shiva (often worshipped as the Liṅga) is the ultimate source of power and authority behind all divine functions.
The takeaway is seva (loving protective service) done as Shiva’s command: preserve dharma with devotion, and reinforce it through Shaiva bhakti—regular japa of “Om Namaḥ Śivāya” and reverent worship of Shiva (Liṅga-pūjā) as the source of all cosmic roles.