The Origin and Relationships of the Deities
According to the Shiv Puran, Agni Puran, and Brahmand Puran, before the creation of the universe, there was only Shunya (nothingness). In that void existed only Shiva and Paramamba in the form of a subtle dot, or Bindu—comparable to the singularity in the Big Bang theory, possessing infinite density and energy.
When the thought arose in the divine consciousness, "I am the one, let me become many," the expansion of the universe began.
- Manifestation of Lord Vishnu: Bhagwan Shiva rubbed nectar on his right hand and manifested Lord Vishnu, naming him so because of his charming and beautiful form. Initially, Vishnu was unaware of his originator, but he heard a divine voice saying, "Tap karo, tap karo"—instructing him to perform deep and intense penance to realize his true self and power.
- Manifestation of Lord Brahma: After Bhagwan Shiva rubbed nectar on his left hand and manifested Lord Brahma, he followed the same instruction to perform penance to understand his own identity.
- The Divine Revelation: Until then, neither Vishnu nor Brahma knew their originator, and a conflict arose between them regarding supremacy. After a strong, intense Jyoti (pillar of fire) appeared in front of them, it eventually manifested into a Shiv Ling.
The Supreme Authority of Shiva
This context establishes the relationships: Shiva is the originator of the other two deities, making Him the absolute center of all and the most powerful force.
According to the Shiva Mahapuran (Vidheshwar Samhita), in the story where Shree Sanatkumar (the mind-born son of Lord Brahma) asks Nandikeshwar (the leader of the Shivagadh, or coordinators of Shiva), it is revealed that Shiva alone is the center of everything. He is the supreme deity who controls all cosmic activities performed in the universe.
As described in the Shiva Mahapuran, we are all extensions of Shiva—even the nine planets, the sun, and the moon are parts of Shiva. Every subtle thing, whether visible or unseen, belongs to Shiva alone.