Studies in the Epics and Puranas c8.74

c8.74

The Śvetāśvatara no doubt was written in the interests of a Śaivite theory of theism; but it equates the god Śiva with the supreme godhead.³⁶ It tries philosophically to account for the creation of the world by the godhead by criticizing the extant opinions, which hold Time, Nature, Necessity, Chance, Elements, Person, their Combination, or the Ātman as the cause of all things. After controverting the different theories, it concludes that Rudra alone rules the world by his powers;....(he) can be regarded as the creator of all things that exist. He is the supreme godhead. Thus the Śvetāśvatara advances a truly philosophic theory of creation in which all power is ultimately due to a personal godhead who causes the whole universe to move round his finger.