Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 57
शिवतत्त्ववर्णनम् (Śiva-tattva-varṇana) — “Description/Exposition of the Principle of Śiva”
महाप्रलयकृद्रुद्रो विश्वात्मा हृदयोद्भवः । त्रिधा भिन्नो ह्यहं विष्णो ब्रह्मविष्णुभवाख्यया
mahāpralayakṛdrudro viśvātmā hṛdayodbhavaḥ | tridhā bhinno hyahaṃ viṣṇo brahmaviṣṇubhavākhyayā
เราคือรุทระ ผู้กระทำมหาปรลัย เป็นอาตมันแห่งสรรพจักรวาล อุบัติจากดวงหทัย (แห่งปรมะ) และเรานี้เองก็ชื่อว่าพระวิษณุ อีกทั้งปรากฏเป็นสามภาคด้วยนามว่า พระพรหม พระวิษณุ และภวะ (พระศิวะ)
Lord Shiva (Rudra/Bhava), instructing on the one Supreme manifesting as the Trimūrti in the Sṛṣṭi narrative
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Rudra
Sthala Purana: The verse’s ‘mahāpralaya-kṛt’ Rudra theme underlies many kṣetra myths where the liṅga is said to remain as the sole refuge through pralaya, but no specific Jyotirliṅga is named here.
Significance: Positions Rudra as the cosmic dissolver and viśvātmā; darśana/śaraṇāgati to Rudra is framed as refuge amid impermanence and dissolution.
Type: rudram
Role: destructive
Cosmic Event: mahapralaya
FAQs
It teaches that the Supreme Reality (Pati) is one, yet functions through three cosmic roles—creation, preservation, and dissolution—so the seeker should look beyond sectarian division and recognize Shiva as the inner Self (Viśvātmā) guiding liberation.
By stating that the One appears under multiple divine names, the verse supports Linga worship as a unifying symbol of the Supreme beyond limited forms—Saguna worship (Bhava/Rudra) becomes a doorway to realizing the formless, all-pervading Lord.
Meditate on Shiva as the indwelling Self (Viśvātmā) while repeating the Panchākṣarī mantra “Om Namaḥ Śivāya,” offering worship to the Linga with the understanding that all cosmic functions arise from the one Lord.