Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 3
पशुपाशपतिज्ञान-प्राप्तिः
Acquisition of Paśupati–Pāśa Knowledge
वायुरुवाच । एकोनविंशतिः कल्पो विज्ञेयः श्वेतलोहितः । तस्मिन्कल्पे चतुर्वक्त्रस्स्रष्टुकामो ऽतपत्तपः
vāyuruvāca | ekonaviṃśatiḥ kalpo vijñeyaḥ śvetalohitaḥ | tasminkalpe caturvaktrassraṣṭukāmo 'tapattapaḥ
വായു പറഞ്ഞു—പത്തൊമ്പതാം കല്പം ‘ശ്വേതലോഹിത’ എന്നറിയപ്പെടുന്നു. ആ കല്പത്തിൽ സൃഷ്ടി നടത്തുവാൻ ആഗ്രഹിച്ച ചതുര്മുഖ ബ്രഹ്മാവ് തപസ്സു ചെയ്തു।
Vayu
Tattva Level: pasha
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Kalpa reference: Śveta-Lohita (19th)
FAQs
It frames creation as arising from tapas (disciplined spiritual power), implying that even Brahmā’s creative capacity depends on a higher, ordered principle—ultimately aligned with Shaiva theology where Pati (the Lord) is the ground of all manifestation.
By showing Brahmā undertaking austerity before creation, the text points to dependence on divine grace and cosmic order; in Shaiva practice this is mirrored through Saguna Shiva worship—especially Linga-upāsanā—where devotion and discipline invite the Lord’s empowering presence.
The takeaway is tapas as steady sādhanā: daily japa of the Pañcākṣarī (“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”) with a disciplined vow, supported by simple purity observances (e.g., bhasma/tripuṇḍra and focused meditation) to cultivate inner power and clarity.