Linga Mahā Purana
12 - Glory of Vāmadeva
Süta said:
1. Thereafter the thirtieth kalpa is called Rakta. In this kalpa, Brahmã of great splendour had the red colour.
2-5. Even as Brahmā desirous of a son was meditating, a boy of great splendour menifested himself: He was adorned in red ornaments. He wore red garlands and clothes. His eyes were red. He was valorous. On seeing that noble boy in red clothes, Brahmă resorted to great meditation and understood him to be great Lord. Brahmā, of self control bowed to Vāmadeva. and contemplated on him. Thus eulogised by Brahma, the supreme lord Shiva was delighted at heart. He addressed Brahmā thus.
6-9. “Since, O Brahmä, I have been seen by you meditating on me with the desire for a son, with great devotion, and since I was eulogized with the mantra beginning with "brahmane Vāmadevāya" you will attain the strength of meditation and will realize me as Iśhvara, the assiduous creator of the worlds, in every kalpa. Thereafter four sons were born to him who were as pure and splendid as brahman. They were named as Virajas, Vibahu, Vishoka and Vishvabhāvana..
10. They were pious and on a par with Brahmā. They were heroic and enterprising. They wore red garments and red garlands and applied red unguents.
11-13. Their bodies were smeared with red saffron; they had applied red ashes over their bodies. At the end of a thousand years they re-entered the great eternal lord. In the mean time they attempted to realize brahman. For blessing the worlds and with a desire for the welfare of their disciples they imparted instructions in dharma and became favourites of Brahmă. Ultimately, at the end of a thousand years, they re-entered the great lord.
14-15. All other brahmins who practise yoga and repeat the sacred formula ‘namo brahmane Vāmadevāya'65 and who are devoted to him as their greatest resort are liberated from sins. They become devoid of impurities and they attain the strength of Brahman. They achieve the blessed region (rudraloka) whence there is no return to this (mortal) world,
65. Våmadeva form is represented by the back-face of Shiva. In Hindu Mythology God Shiva has five faces named Ishāna, Tatpurusha, Aghora, Vāmadeva and Sadyojāta, representing the five elements: ether, air, fire, water and earth. Cf. part II. ch. 14. A statue of Shiva in the Elephanta caves represents this form in which the frontal view depicts three heads only, the fourth one on the back is concealed from view and the fifth one on the top is dropped out as the symbol of invisible ether.
Summary of chapter 12 of the Linga Mahā Purana is as follows:
This chapter extols Vāmadeva, the second divine face of Mahādeva, associated with the northern direction, red complexioned splendor, and the sustaining power of cosmic preservation. The narrative describes how Vāmadeva revealed Himself during the Raktakalpa to grant boons to Brahmā and instruct the cosmic sages in the eternal principles of devotion, righteous conduct, and profound meditation upon Śiva.