Shiva Purana — Vayaviya Samhita, Shloka 1
परस्य दुर्निर्णयः—षट्कुलीयमुनिविवादः तथा ब्रह्मदर्शनार्थं मेरुप्रयाणम् | The Dispute of the Six-Lineage Sages on the Supreme and Their Journey to Brahmā at Meru
सूत उवाच । पुरा कालेन महता कल्पेतीते पुनःपुनः । अस्मिन्नुपस्थिते कल्पे प्रवृत्ते सृष्ठिकर्मणि
sūta uvāca | purā kālena mahatā kalpetīte punaḥpunaḥ | asminnupasthite kalpe pravṛtte sṛṣṭhikarmaṇi
สูตกล่าวว่า—ในกาลก่อน ครั้นเวลายิ่งใหญ่ล่วงไป และกัลป์มากมายสิ้นสุดลงซ้ำแล้วซ้ำเล่า เมื่อกัลป์ใหม่นี้มาถึง และกิจแห่งการสร้างสรรค์เริ่มดำเนิน เรื่องราวศักดิ์สิทธิ์จึงเริ่มขึ้น.
Suta Goswami
Tattva Level: pati
Shiva Form: Sadyojāta
Role: creative
Cosmic Event: Kalpa-cycle transition: repeated kalpa-endings followed by the onset of a new kalpa and commencement of sṛṣṭi (creation).
FAQs
It frames the Purana within cyclical time—kalpas repeatedly end and begin—hinting that liberation lies in realizing the timeless Lord (Pati) beyond changing creation.
By introducing creation’s commencement, it sets the stage for understanding Saguna manifestations (such as the Linga as a worshipful form) within time, while Shiva’s reality ultimately transcends these cycles.
Contemplation on impermanence (kalpa-cycles) supports steady japa of the Panchakshara—“Om Namaḥ Śivāya”—and devotion to Shiva as the changeless refuge amid cosmic change.