1. Birth of Śiva

In the Śiva Purāṇa, while Brahmā was performing penance for creation, lord Śiva emerges from the spot called avimukta (between the eyebrows and nose). He (Śiva) takes on the form of Ardhanārīśvara or half man and half woman.^[1] Another reference has been found in this Purāṇa, where Dakṣa said that Śiva manifested himself as Brahmā’s son in the name of Rudra.^[2] He (Rudra) originated from the eye brows of Brahmā.^[3]

In the Kūrma Purāṇa, Rudra is said to have originated from Viṣṇu.^[4] In another context of this Purāṇa, it is said that Rudra takes his birth from the mouth of Brahmā.^[5] Again in the same Purāṇa, Śiva is said to have originated from the forehead of Brahmā who has crooked eyebrows.^[6]

In the Liṅga Purāṇa, a reference has been found where it is stated that when Brahmā was overwhelmed with anger, tears fell from his eyes on the ground. From these very tears, ghosts and goblins originated. After seeing this Brahmā became angry and intended to give up his life. At that time, Rudra originated from his (Brahmā’s) mouth in the form of prāṇa.^[7]

In the Vāyu Purāṇa, it is stated that at the very beginning of the kalpa, Brahmā was meditating to get a son who should be equal to him. At that time, a blue and red coloured child appeared in his lap and started crying. Then Brahmā asked him the reason for crying. The boy asked for names from Brahmā. Brahmā gave him eight names, i.e. Rudra, Bhava, Śiva, Paśupati, Īśa, Bhīma, Ugra and Mahādeva.^[8] Thereafter, Brahmā created eight bodies for each of these names, viz. the sun, earth, water, fire, air, ether, the initiated brāhmaṇa and the moon.^[9] Then Brahmā bestowed eight wives to the eight bodies of Rudra which are pointed out here—Suvarcalā, Umā, Vikeśī, Śivā, Svāhā, Diśā, Dikṣā and Rohiṇī. The names of their sons are—Śanaiścara, Śukra, Lohitāṅga, Manojavā, Skanda, Sarga, Santāna and Budha.^[10] The Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa already gives the concept of eight forms of Rudra.^[11]

According to the Vāyu Purāṇa, Nīlalohita (Śiva) was commanded by Brahmā to create progeny. Then Śiva created numerous sons who were equal to him.^[12] They are known as Rudras. In the Vedas, They are called as Śatarudra.^[13] From these references, it can be understood that lord Śiva was born of Brahmā as Nīlalohita.^[14]

The same story regarding the birth of Rudra has been delineated in the Bhāgavata Purāṇa.^[15] In the Brahma Purāṇa, it is stated that Brahmā created Rudra out of his fury.^[16]

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

avimuktābhidhāddeśātsvakīyānme viśeṣataḥ... ardhanārīśvara bhūtvā pūrṇāṅśassakaleśvaraḥ || Ibid., 2.1.15.55-56

[2]:

mama svāmī śivo ya hi sa jāto brahmaṇastutaḥ || rudranāmā pūrṇarūpāvatāraḥ paramātmanaḥ || Ibid., 2.2.12.19

[3]:

varaprabhāvādbhrukuṭeravatīrṇo vidhesma ca || Ibid., 2.2.12.30

[4]:

ātmano muni śādūrlāstatra devo maheśvaraḥ | rudraḥ krodhātmako jajñe śūlapāṇistrilocanaḥ || Kūrma-purāṇa, 1.2.6

[5]:

tadā prāṇamayo rudraḥ prādurāsītprabhormukhāt || Ibid., 1.10.22

[6]:

bhrūkutīkuṭilā tasya lalāṭātparameṣṭhinaḥ | samutpanno mahādevaḥ śaraṇyo nīlalohitaḥ || Ibid., 1.7.26

[7]:

krodhāviṣṭasya netrābhyāṃ prāpatannaśrubindavaḥ | tatastebhyośrubindubhyo bhūtāḥ pretāstadābhavan || sarvānstānagrajāndṛṣṭvā bhūtapretaniśācarān | anindata tadā devo brahmātmāna majo vibhuḥ || Liṅga-purāṇa, 1.41.40-41

[8]:

Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.27.4-16; Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa, 49.7; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa, 1.10.5-17; Viṣṇu-purāṇa, 1.8.6

[9]:

Vāyu-purāṇa,1.27.18-19; Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa, 1.1019-20; Viṣṇu-purāṇa, 1.8.7

[10]:

Kūrma-purāṇa, 1.10.26-30

[11]:

Śatapatha-brāhmaṇa, 6.1.3.1-18

[12]:

Vāyu-purāṇa, 1.10.42-43

[13]:

Ibid., 1.10.53-55

[14]:

Ibid., 1.27.5

[15]:

Bhāgavata-purāṇa, 3.12.7-13

[16]:

tato’sṛjatpurā brahmā rudraṃ roṣātmasaṃbhavam || Brahma-purāṇa, 1.45