and wealth and diverse kinds of objects of desire.
The prosperity is his that is seen in Indra and other
gods. He is ever engaged in the good and evil
of men in this world. In consequence of his supremacy,
he can always obtain whatever objects he desires.
He is called Maheswara and is the lord of even the
supreme ones. In many forms of many kinds he
pervadeth the universe. The mouth which that God
has is in the ocean. It is well-known that mouth,
assuming the form of a mare’s head, drinketh
the sacrificial libation in the shape of water.
This god always dwelleth in crematoriums. Men
worship that Supreme lord in that place where none
but the courageous can go. Many are the blazing
and terrible forms of this God that men speak of and
worship in the world. Many also are the names,
of truthful import, of this Deity in all the worlds.
Those names are founded upon his supremacy, his omnipotence,
and his acts. In the Vedas the excellent hymn
called Sata Rudriya, hath been sung in honour of that
great God called the infinite Rudra. That God
is the lord of all wishes that are human and heavenly.
He is omnipotent, and he is the supreme master.
Indeed, that God pervadeth the vast universe.
The Brahmanas and the Munis describe him as the First-born
of all creatures. He is the First of all the
gods; from his mouth was born Vayu (the wind).
And since he always protecteth the creatures (of the
universe) and sporteth with them, and since also he
is the lord of all creatures, therefore is he called
Pasupati. And since his Phallic emblem is always
supposed to be in the observance of the vow of Brahmacharya,
and since he always gladden the world, therefore he
is called Maheswara. The Rishis, the gods, the
Gandharvas, and Apsaras, always worship his Phallic
emblem which is supposed to stand upright. That
worship maketh Maheswara glad. Indeed, Sankara
(at such worship) becomes happy, pleased, and highly
glad. And since with respect to the past, the
future, and the present, that God has many forms,
he is, on that account, called Vahurupa (many-formed).
Possessed of one eye he blazeth forth in effulgence,
or he may be regarded to have many eyes on every side
of his body. And since, he possesseth the worlds,
he is for that reason called Sarva. And since
his form is like that of smoke, he is for that reason
called Dhurjjati. And since those deities, viz.,
the Viswedevas are in him, he is for that reason called
Viswarupa. And since three goddesses adore and
have recourse to that Lord of the universe, viz.,
Firmament, Water and Earth, he is for that reason
called Tryamvaka. And since he always increaseth
all kinds of wealth and wisheth the good of mankind
in all their acts, he is for that reason called Siva.
He possesseth a thousand eyes, or ten thousand eyes,
and hath them on all sides. And since he protecteth
this vast universe, he is for that reason called Mahadeva.
And since he is great and ancient and is the source
of life and of its continuance, and since his Phallic