The Shiva for Creation, Sustenance & Dissolution – Shiva Purana

The chapters 15 of Section 5 of Kailash-saṃhita of Shiva Purana expound Creation, Sustenance & Dissolution.

​Shiva is associated with Maya Shakti on his left. He is Saguṇa and Vyasti - set of four comprising Ishvara, Vishveshvara, Parameshvara and Sarveshvara. He is the excellent Tirobhavacakra. Tirobhava is twofold. One concerns Rudra, the other the individual souls in view of their physical bodies. The Tirobhava Cakra consists of the Shantikala. This excellent region is presided over by Maheshvara. This region is attainable by those who serve Mahesha etc. It yields Salokya liberation to the devotees of Maheshvara.

Dissolution:
The image Rudra is born of a thousandth part of Maheshvara. He has Aghora for his face. He is the lord of the principle of fire. He is associated with Gaurishakti on his left. Rudra region is attainable by those who desire the propitiation of Rudras. It yields the Sayujya of Rudras gradually through Salokya. He is the cause of dissolution of the universe. Dissolution has been classified into three. The first Nitya is the daily slumber of living beings. The second is the conditioned dissolution of Brahma. The third is the final dissolution.

Sustenance:
Vishnu was born from a thousandth part of Rudra. In the form of Vamadeva wheel. He is the presiding deity of the principle of water. He is associated with Lakshmi Shakti on the left. He is the protector of all. He has four arms. He has eyes as splendid as the lotus. He is dark-complexioned and bears the characteristics of Shankha etc. Sustenance means the protection of the existing universe along with its creator until the completion of the pleasures of the souls, the reapers of the fruit. Protection is the activity of Vishnu. In the sustenance also the lord has five activities, viz; creation etc. This region is attainable by those who serve the lotus-feet of Vishnu. This wheel yields Salokya etc. to the devotees of Vishnu.

Creation:
Brahma was born of a thousandth part of Vishnu. He has the face of Sadyojata and is the presiding deity of the principle of earth. He is accompanied by the goddess of speech on his left. He is the creator and lord of the universe. He has four faces. He is red in complexion and his form is possessed of Rajas attribute. This wheel of creation is the cause of Brahma’s sons and other sages. It bestows desires and happiness to the devotee. Creation is the process of re-unification of the soul with the body previously annihilated—the body which along with the means, ancillaries and results comes out of Prakriti for gradual enjoyment. It is pleasing as long as it holds good. This region is attainable by those who have dedicated their minds to Brahma. This indeed bestows Salokya and other liberations on the devotees of Brahma.
The wheel of creation is dependent on golden splendour and is surrounded by water encompassed by fire. Fire is surrounded by wind; wind by ether; ether by the primordial element and that by intellect. Intellect is encompassed by the unmanifest. Such are the seven sheaths which protect the universe. The world above is ten times more than the one below.
Shiva alone accompanied by Shakti performs incessant sports through blessing, disappearance, dissolution, sustenance and creation.