Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 41
शिवशक्त्यैक्य-तत्त्वविचारः / Inquiry into the Unity of Śiva and Śakti
Para–Apara Ontology
विष्णुर्विश्वेश्वरो देवो लक्ष्मीर्विश्वेश्वरप्रिया । ब्रह्मा शिवो यदा स्रष्टा ब्रह्माणी ब्रह्मणः प्रिया
viṣṇurviśveśvaro devo lakṣmīrviśveśvarapriyā | brahmā śivo yadā sraṣṭā brahmāṇī brahmaṇaḥ priyā
Viṣṇu est le Seigneur de l’univers (Viśveśvara), et Lakṣmī est la bien-aimée de ce Seigneur de l’univers. Lorsque Śiva agit en tant que Brahmā, le Créateur, alors Brahmāṇī (Sarasvatī) est la bien-aimée de Brahmā.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Mahādeva
Jyotirlinga: Viśvanātha
Sthala Purana: By naming Viṣṇu as Viśveśvara and then stating that Śiva becomes Brahmā as creator, the verse echoes the Śaiva Purāṇic theme that the ‘Lord of the universe’ is ultimately Śiva; Kāśī’s Viśvanātha is famed as the manifest Lord of the cosmos who grants liberation even amid creation.
Significance: Darśana of Viśvanātha is held to confer viśveśvaratva-bhakti and, in Kāśī’s theology, final release through Śiva’s grace (anugraha) even while the world-process continues.
Shakti Form: Lalitā
Role: nurturing
FAQs
It teaches that cosmic offices (like creation) are functions within the universe, while Śiva-tattva is the supreme Pati who can manifest as Brahmā for creation; thus the consorts align with the deity’s operative role.
By stating that Śiva can become the creator as Brahmā, the verse supports Saguna worship where the One Lord is adored through forms and functions—yet the Linga points to Śiva as the underlying, all-pervading Lord beyond those roles.
Contemplate the one Lord behind all divine functions while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya), and cultivate non-sectarian reverence that culminates in focused devotion to Śiva as Pati.