41 - Nativity of Brahma 

1. When the period of a thousand yugas lapsed and it was morning for him, lord Brahmā created once again the subjects who had fallen off, in the same manner as they were before. 

2-6. O leading brahmin, when thus the period of twice Parārdha lapsed, the earth merged into the water, the water into the fire, the fire into the wind, the wind into the ether along with the tanmãtras. O excellent brahmin, eleven sense-organs and the tanmätras merged into the ego lo! in a trice. Ego merged into intellect (mahat) in a moment. O brahmin, the intellect also attained the unmanifest(avyakta) and merged into it. The unmanifest became merged into the lord along with its Guņas. Thereafter creation took place as before from Purușha Shiva.268 Then the mental sons were created by him by mere thinking.

268. At first there was nothing except Prakruti and Purușha (i.e. Shiva and Māyā). Then Shiva created twentyfive tattvas out of himself. Cf. 

7-9. The subjects thus created by the lotus-born deity did not flourish in this world. For the purpose of increase, lord Brahmā performed a penance with the supreme lord in view, in the company of his mental sons. The great lord was pleased by their penance. Realising Brahma's desire, the lord pierced through the middle of Brahmā's forehead. Saying “I am your son” he then became male-cum- female in his form. 

10-14. The lord with half-female body became his son. Then the lord burnt Brahmā, the preceptor of the universe. Thereafter for the purpose of the flourishing increase of the worlds the lord adopted the yogic path and enjoyed his own prosperous semi Mātrā, Parameśhvari. He created Vishņu and Brahmā in her. The lord of the universe, the soul of the universe, created the Pāśhupata missile too. Hence Vișhņu and Brahmā were born of the part of Mahadevi. Thus, Brahmä who was the Egg-born, and the lotus born was born also of the body of the lord. 269 Thus, in brief, the entire anecdote has been mentioned to you, as also what happened during the first Parārdha of Brahma. 

269. Brahmā is born of (i) the Cosmic Egg, (ii) the lotus, as well as (iii) the body of Shiva. 

15-21. I shall now briefly mention the detachment of Brahmã born of tamoguņa. Lord Vișhnu split his body into two and created universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings. He then created Brahmã who in turn created Rudra. O sage, in another kalpa, Rudra created Brahmã. Then O sage, in another kalpa, Vișhņu created Brahmã, then Brahmā created Vișhnu, then the lord created Brahmã. Then Brahmã thought that the world was full of misery, and he abandoned the activity of creation. He engaged his soul in the higher soul. He restrained the movement of the vital breaths and remained motionless like a rock. He remained in Samadhi (ecstasy) for ten thousand years the splendid lotus that faced downwards and was stationed in the heart was filled with inhalation. It became blossomed out. When by means of retention of breath it was restrained that lotus became ürdhva-vaktra (with face lifted upwards). 

22-27. In the middle of its pericarp, he installed the lord. Then Brahma, the self-controlled who had purified his soul by perfect restraint of his senses installed the great lord Shiva in his heart. The lord was situated there in a space as small as the, hundred part of the thread of the lotus stalk270 by repeating 'om' in a series of half measures of time. He who was worthy of worship himself,271 then propitiated the unchanging lord (i.e., Shiva) by means of flowers of restraint etc.272 Then at the behest of the Ishvara situated in the heart-lotus (of Brahmā) the all pervading lord born of the body of Bhava came out of Brahma by piercing through his forehead. 

That lord born from Shiva's heart was blue originally but became red by contact with fire. Because that Purușha was both Nīla (blue) and Lohita (red) just like the form of Kāla, the God of Death, he was named Nilalohita by Isvara and lord Käla by Brahma. The all-pervading one (ie. Kala) became pleased thereby. 

270. mrnāla-tanu-bhäga: Cf. niväraśhūkavat tanvi pită bhäsvatya. ņūpamå tasyāḥ śhikhayā madhye hi paramātma vyavasthitah; also Balāgramātram hrdayasya madhye...cited in ST. 

271. yājyah-yajanayogyaḥ ST. worthy of worship. 

272. yama-pushpädibhiḥ: in the form of observances such as yama, niyama, äsana, prāņāyāma, pratyābāra, dhäranä, dhyāna and samadhi. 

28. O great sage, Brahma, the soul of the universe eulogised the lord who was delighted in his mind and who had the universe as his form by means of the Namāșhtaka--the set of right names 273.

273. Eight names of Shiva. SP. Vidyeshvara-samhitā (Ch. 20. 47) mentions eight names as Hara, Maheśhvara, Shambhu, Shulapāņi, Pinākadhrk, Shiva, Pashupati and Mahadeva. But Linga has a different list, represented by the the eight forms of Shiva.

Brahma said: 

29-32. O lord Rudra, obeisance to you of unmeasured splendour like the sun. Obeisance to you lord Bharma identical with water and taste. Perpetual obeisance to Sharva who has the form of earth and smell. Obeisance to you, iśhá, identical with air and the quality of touch. Obeisance to Palupati the lord of individual souls, identical with fire of excessive splendour. Obeisance to you, Bhima, identical with (their having the quality of sound. Obeisance to Mahādeva, identical with the moon the abode of nectar. Obeisance to you, Ugra, the Yajamāna (one who performs sacrifice) who is the agent for all actions .274

274. karma-yogine: karma-yogin is the eighth form of Shiva called yajamāna (a sacrificer) and Ugra. According to ST. karmayogine=karmaphala-bhoktre one who enjoys the fruits of his actions i.e.  Jiva. 

33-34. He who reads this hymn sung by Brahmā unto Rudra. he who listens to this, or he who narrates this to brahmins with great concentration will attain identity with the lord of eight cosmic bodies, within a year. After eulogising thus, Brahmā looked at the great lord. 

35-36. The great lord stood with the eight forms spread all round. The sun shine. So also the fire and the moon. There were earth, wind, water, ether and yajamāna --the sacrificer. Ever since that time they call Ishvara, Ashtamūrti. 

37-38. Thanks to the grace of Ashtamūrti, Brahmā created again. After creating the world of mobile and immobile beings, he fell asleep for the period of a thousand yugas. In the next kalpa when he woke up he became desirous of creating the subjects, and so he performed great and severe penance. 

39. Even when he performed the penance thus, nothing happened. After a great deal of time he became miserable and his sorrow turned into anger. 

40. When he was overwhelmed with anger, drops of tears fell from his eyes. From those drops of tears goblins and ghosts originated. 

41. On seeing this first-born creation consisting of goblins, ghosts and demons, the unborn deity lord Brahmâ censured him self. 

42. Thereupon, the infuriated lord Brahmă, abandoned his life. Thereafter, Rudra in the form of Prāņa (vital breath) appeared through the mouth of lord Brahma. 

43. The lord, having a lustre resembling that of the rising sun became Andhanārīśhvara (male-cum-female form). He divided himself into eleven 275 parts and settled down there.

275.  ekādaśhadha: in eleven forms, as stated in Vișhnu (cited In ST). They are named Aja-ekapád, Ahirbudhnya, Tvașhtr, Rudra, Hara, Tryambaka, Aparajita, Vrušhākapi, Shambhu, Kapardin and Raivata. Other Purāņas give different lists. For detail, see Matsyapurāņa --A study, pp. 65-67. 

 44. With half a portion of himself Ardhanarishvara, the soul of all, created umā. She created Lakșhmi, Durgā and Sarasvati. 

45-48. (She further created) Vāma, Raudrī, mahāmāyā, Vaishnavi the lotus-eyed goddess, Kalavikariņi, Käli residing in the lotus, goddess, Balavikarini, Balapranathini, Satvabhuatadamani, the suppressor of all living beings) and Manonmani. Similarly, thousands of other women were created by her. Accompanied by those ladies and the Rudras, Mahadeva, Parameśhvara the lord of the three worlds stood in front of lord Brahmā, Parameșhthin who was the soul of all but was now lying dead. 

49. Lord Maheshvara, the sympathetic son of Brahmā, granted him vital airs. 

5O. Then Rudra the lord of Devas was delighted, and he spoke these pleasant words to Brahmä who regained his life a little. 

51. O highly blessed lord Brahmã, 0 preceptor of the worlds, do not be afraid; the vital airs have been established here in your heart. Hence, lord get up. 

52-54. On hearing his words as though in dreams passing through his mind, Brahmā became delighted in his heart. With the vital airs coming back to him, he looked at Maheśhvara with his eyes that had the lustre of full-blown lotus. After glancing up at him for a long time, lord Brahmă got up and said with palms joined in reverence in a tone affectionate and majestic. 

"O highly blessed one, tell me. You are delighting my mind: Who are you standing with eight cosmic bodies and in eleven forms?” 

Indra said: 

55-58. On hearing his words, Maheshvara the slayer of the enemies of Devas spoke through all his mouths. 

The lord said: 

“Know me the great soul and know her the birthless Mayā. These standing by are the Rudras, who have come here to protect you". 

Thereafter Brahmã bowed down to the lord of Devas and said with palms joined in reverence. His words were choked with delight. 

"O lord, O lord of the chiefs of Devas, I am agitated and excited due to miseries. 

59-60. O Ishäna, O Shankara, it behaves you to release me from the bondage of worldly existence. 

Thereupon the lord of Umä laughed at Brahma. Then the lord of the universe vanished from there along with Umá and the Rudras. 

Indra said: 

61-64. Hence O Shilāda, understand that in all the worlds it is difficult to get a person who is not born of a womb and who is deathless. Even the lotus-born deity has death. But if Rudra the lord of Devas is pleased, a son not born of a womb and devoid of death is not difficult for you to get. It is not possible for me, for Vishņu and for Brahmä to offer you a son not born of a womb and devoid of death. 

Shailādi said: 

After speaking thus to the leading brahmin and blessing him, the kind lord accompanied by Devas went away riding on his white elephant.