14 - The five Brahmans

Sanatkumara said:

1. O Nandin, the most excellent among the Ganas, recount to me the five Brahmans, that cause welfare and that sanctify all the embodied beings.

Nandikeshvara said:

2. O most excellent one among the sons of the lotus-born deity, I shall precisely recount to you the five forms of Shiva himself, called the “Pancha Brahmans.” ¹²³

123. The five forms of Shiva are called Ishana, Tatpurusha, Aghora. Vamadeva and Sadyojata. In fact, they represent the pancha mahabhutas (five gross elements), the source of the entire universe.

3. Shiva identical with the Pancha-Brahmans, is the sole creator, the sole protector and the sole annihilator of all the worlds.

4. They say that Shiva is both the material as well as the efficient cause of all the worlds. That Shiva is said to be of five forms.

5. The great forms of Shiva the greatest Atman, worthy of being the refuge of all the worlds are five. They are known by the name Pancha Brahmans.

6. The first form of Shiva Parameshthin is termed Ishana. He is Kshetrajna the knower of the field and the enjoyer of Prakruti that is worthy of being enjoyed.

7. What is called Tatpurusa is said to be the second physical form of the lord. That is identical with Prakruti as the residence of the supreme soul.

8. What is called Aghora is the third important physical form of the lord. It is the physical form pertaining to the cosmic intellect and it has eight ancillary parts beginning with Dharma.

9. What is called Vamadeva is the fourth important physical form of the lord. It pervades everything in the form of ego.

10. What is called Sadyojata is the fifth physical form of the lord. It is stationed in all embodied beings in the form of the mind.

11. The greatest lord lshana is the eternal Parameshthin. He is stationed in all living beings in the form of the sense-organ ear.

12. Lord Tatpurusha is stationed in the bodies of the embodied beings in the form of the sense-organs of touch.

13. The great lord Aghora is glorified by the learned as stationed in the eyes in the bodies of all living beings.

14. Vamadeva is known as firmly established in the sense- organ tongue in the parts of the embodied beings.

15. It is mentioned that Sadyojata is stationed in the bodies of all living beings in the form of the sense-organ of smell.

16. It is said that Ishana is stationed in all the bodies of living beings in the form of the organ of speech.

17. Learned men Say that Tatpurusha is stationed in the bodies of all embodied persons in the form of the organ of action, the hands.

18. Those who know the truth say that Aghora is stationed in the bodies of all living beings in the form of the organ of action, the feet.

19. Sages say that Vamadeva is stationed in the bodies of all living beings in the form of the organ of action, the rectum.

20. Lord Sadyojata is stationed in the bodies of all living beings in the form of the organ of generation. It is said by those who are conversant with the Vedic and scriptural texts.

21. The sages and Devas mention that lord lshana is the lord of living beings, that he is of the subtle form of sound and is the cause of the firmament.

Leading sages say that lord Tatpurusha is in the subtle touch and is the cause of the wind.

23. Persons conversant with the Vedas say that the terrible lord Aghora in the subtle form of Rupa is the cause of the fiery element.

24. Those who know the real principles say that the well- known lord Vamadeva being in the subtle form of Rasa is the cause of the waters.

25. All those who know the real principles praise the great lord Sadyojata as the cause of the earth element in the subtle form of smell.

26. Leading sages say that the primordial lord lShana is the wonderful entity in the form of the firmament.

27. The wise know that lord Tatpurusha is the Wind, in view of his pervading all the worlds.

28. Those who know the meanings of the Vedic texts speak of the noble-souled Aghora as having the form of the fire worshipped by all.

29. In view of his enlivening nature in regard to the Universe, the sages know the great lord Vamadeva as having the form of water. They mention him to be pleasing to the mind

30-33. Wise men know that lord Sadyojata is in the form of the earth. He is the preceptor of the world. He is the sole great sustainer of the universe consisting of the mobile and immobile beings.

The entire unit of the universe both the mobile and immobile is in the form of the five brahmans. The sages who have realised the truth call that the Bliss of Shiva.

He who is seen in the universe in the form of the twentyfive principles is Shiva and none else, who reveals himself in the form of the five Brahmans.¹²⁴

124. nanyatam gatah — abhedam praptah — has become the constituent of the universe.

Hence, by all those who seek welfare, Shiva the soul of the twentyfive principles, identical with the five Brahmans, shall be assiduously thought of.