There are many folk tales related to the birth of Lord Shiva. Still the birth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva is a mystery. The stories of the birth of all three are different in Vedas and Puranas. The reason for their separation is that those who believe in Shiva build their philosophy keeping Shiva at the center. Those who believe in Vishnu keep Vishnu at the center, but all Puranas agree that Vishnu married Sati, the daughter of Daksha, the son of Brahma, and Vishnu married Lakshmi, the daughter of Bhrigu, the son of Brahma. In such a situation, know about some selected stories related to the birth of Shiva.
birth of Shiva
According to the Vishnu Purana, Brahma was born from the navel-lotus of Vishnu, while Shiva was born from the radiance of Vishnu’s forehead.
Many stories about the birth of Mahadev Shiva and Vishnu are prevalent in Puranas and religious texts. According to the Shiva Purana, Lord Shiva is considered self-manifested, while according to the Vishnu Purana, Lord Vishnu is self-manifested. According to the Shiva Purana, once when the god Mahadev was rubbing nectar on his ankle, Lord Vishnu was born. Whereas, the Vishnu Purana holds that Brahma was born from the navel-lotus of Lord Vishnu, while Shiva was born from the radiance of Lord Vishnu’s forehead. It is believed that Shiv Shankar always remains in Yogmudra because of the sharpness of the forehead. According to Shrimad Bhagwat, once when Lord Vishnu and Brahma overwhelmed with ego were fighting claiming themselves to be superior, then Mahadev, the God of Gods appeared from a burning pillar.
child form shiva
In Vishnu Purana, description of child form of Lord Shiva is found. Brahma needed a child. Shivji was born after severe penance.
The description of the child form of Lord Bholeshankar is found in Vishnu Purana. According to the Vishnu Purana, Brahma needed a child. He did hard penance for this. Then suddenly the child Shiva appeared crying in his lap. When Brahma asked the child the reason for crying, he replied that his name is not ‘Brahma’, that’s why he is crying. Then Brahma ji named Shiva as ‘Rudra’, which means one who cries. Shiva ji did not remain silent even after this, so Brahma gave him another name, but Shiva still did not remain silent. In this way, to pacify Lord Shiva, Brahma gave eight names. In this way Shiva was known by eight names – Rudra, Sharva, Bhava, Ugra, Bhima, Pashupati, Ishaan and Mahadev. Each of his names has special significance.
first incarnation
This incarnation of Shankarji is considered to be the Gana of Shiva, which originated from his hair. It is considered as an incarnation of Shiva.
It is believed that Lord Shiva was married to Sati, the daughter of Daksha, the son of Brahma. Once Daksha organized a huge Yagya, but he did not invite Shiva and Sati. Even after the refusal of Mahadev Shiva, Sati reached this Yagya. When she saw her husband Shivshankar being insulted in the Yajna, she sacrificed her body by jumping into the Yajnavedi. When Shiva came to know, he uprooted a lock of hair from his head in anger and threw it on top of the mountain. It was from that hair that the fearsome Virbhadra appeared. This incarnation of Shiva destroyed Daksha’s yagya and gave death sentence to Daksha by beheading him. Later, on the request of the deities, Shivji revived Daksha by putting the face of a goat on his head.