Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c9.2010

c9.2010

In the beginning or during the Brahmapralaya (deluge) Mahāviṣṇu was lying in the great waters of the deluge. On both sides of Viṣṇu hundred universes each and on both sides of his feet and at the centre of his head twenty universes each remained attached. One universe glowed as a gem on Viṣṇu’s nose. Maharṣis like Lomaśa did tapas seated on his navel. Meanwhile Viṣṇu sat in deep meditation ready for creation. But, he did not find anything and began, therefore, sobbing. Then appeared an extra-mundane light at which he got frightened and closed his eyes. Śiva, rotating in both his hands a garland each made of a crore of universes appeared before Viṣṇu. He then stood up and enquired of the visitor who he was. Śiva exhibited his form. Śiva told Viṣṇu that he had not attained sufficient wisdom for creation and also advised him to achieve enough knowledge by first taking the Varuṇa bath and then the Bhasma bath.