Execution of five-fold functions

Umapati Shivam says that the world is created by Brahma and conserved by Visnu while Shiva performs the office of the destruction. It looks like Shiva is but one of the Trinity to whom the three cosmic functions are entrusted. Shiva stands distinguished because of His function of destruction. After creation, preservation and destruction, the latter one has a residual process left for recreation by Brahma who will not be able to execute the same after total destruction.Here only, Shaiva Siddhanta asserts the intrinsic priority of the function of destruction since what is not destroyed and thereafter not preserved somewhere, cannot be recreated.

Shaiva Siddhanta very clearly says that the function of destruction includes annihilation of all. It includes the world, the individual selves and also the creator and preserver gods who are really pashus .The destruction of universe in relation to other two functions has a relative superiority. Hinduism assigns the three cosmic functions to three Gods^[1] as mentioned earlier.These gods are assigned and given authority for their functions by Lord Shiva who preserves somewhere the residue after destruction.His supremacy is demonstrated by His functions.^[2]

Umapati Shivam raises a doubt and also deals with the same vividly. If Brahma and Visnu are only mere creatures with finitude and susceptible to ignorance then how can they perform their respective functions? Performance of cosmic operation implies omniscience and omnipotence. Then these gods subject to destruction along with the world will not be able to create or preserve. Umapati Shivam says that Shiva is the only God (Pati). Shiva confers His sovereign power on Brahma and Visnu and manifests in them the requisite omniscience and omnipotence to perform the cosmic functions.^[3] It may be noted that one central source emanates its operative aspects of its knowledge and power to Brahma and Visnu who in turn exercise the same for performing the cosmic function assigned to each of them. Once they attain liberation they cease to function as creator and protector respectively. That is why it is said that they receive a part of knowledge and power of the Lord. If all cosmic functions are attributed to a single source, then one more problem is encountered. Creation and protection are contradictory functions with reference to destruction. These mutually contradictory functions cannot originate from a single source. Though these are performed by one single God-head, such a possibility is definitely to be ruled out.Umapati Shivam says that these mutually contradictory functions do not introduce any difference in the God-head because of its transcendence. While all cosmic functions proceed from one ultimate source, for that very reason, that source is not to be conceived as the direct agent in respect of these functions. When the sun is present, some flowers blossom, some flowers bud in order that they may blossom and others wither away.^[4] The presence of sunlight is common to all the flowers. God is like the transcendent sun. The flowers do their respective functions due to sunlight. Hence the omnipresence of Shiva is a necessary condition for the functions of creation and protection though transcending them at the same time.