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Sadasiva

At the end of Pralaya, the Supreme Lord thinks of re-creation of the world. He is then known
by the name Sadasiva. He is the root-cause of creation. From Sadasiva creation begins. In
Manusmriti He is called Svayambhu. Sadasiva is unmanifested, He destroys the Tamas caused by
Pralaya and shines as the self-resplendent light bringing forth the five great elements, etc., into
being.
The Siva Purana says that Siva is beyond both Prakriti and Purusha. Siva is Mahesvara. He
is the witness, well-wisher and nourisher of all beings. The Gita says: ‘Upadrashtanumanta cha
bharta bhokta mahesvarah’.
Mahesvara conducts the work of creation according to His will and pleasure. The Sruti says,
‘Mayam tu prakritim viddhi mayinam tu mahesvaram’. Know Prakriti to be Maya and Mahesvara
to be the wielder of Maya or Prakriti. The Sakti of Siva works in two different ways. Mula Prakriti
and Daivi Prakriti. Mula Prakriti is Apara Prakriti from which the five elements and other visible
objects and the Antahkarana are evolved. Para Prakriti is Chaitanya Sakti which converts the Apara
Prakriti and gives name and form to it. Apara Prakriti is Avidya and Para Prakriti is Vidya. The
controller and dispenser of these two Prakritis is Lord Siva.
Siva is distinct from Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra.

Lord Siva is the Lord of innumerable crores of Brahmandas or worlds. Isvara united with
Maya gives rise to Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra out of Rajas, Sattva and Tamo Gunas respectively,
under the command of Lord Siva. Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra are the trinities of the world.
There is no difference among the trinities, Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra. By the command of
Mahesvara these three do the creative, preservative and destructive duties of the world. The work of
all the three deities is done conjointly. They all have one view and one definite purpose in creating,
preserving and destroying the visible universe of names and forms. He who regards the three deities
as distinct and different, Siva Purana says, is undoubtedly a devil or evil spirit.
The Lord who is beyond the three Gunas, Mahesvara, has four aspects: Brahma, Kala,
Rudra and Vishnu. Siva is the support for all the four. He is the substratum for Sakti also. Siva is
distinct from the Rudra included in the trinities. Rudra is really one though according to the
different functions He is considered to have eleven different forms.
The first face of Siva does Krida or play, the second does penance, the third destroys or
dissolves the world, the fourth protects the people and the fifth, being knowledge, fully covers the
entire universe by its power. He is Isana the creator and promoter of all beings, from within.
The first form of Siva is the enjoyer of Prakriti as Kshetrajna Purusha. The second is
Tatpurusha resting in Sattva-guna, rooted in Bhogya-Prakriti, the Prakriti-enjoyed. The third is
Ghora rooted in the eightfold Buddhi like Dharma, etc. The fourth is Vamadeva rooted in Ahankara
and the fifth is Sadyojata, the presiding deity of the mind. The eight forms of Siva are Sarva, Bhava,
Rudra, Ugra, Bhima, Pasupati, Isana and Mahadeva, rooted respectively in earth, water, fire, air,
ether, Kshetrajna, sun and moon.