Evidence of Creation of Nature in Shrimad Devi Mahapuran
“Mother-Father of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv”
(Birth of Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv from the union of Durga and Brahm)
Shrimad Devi Bhagwad, Third Skand Chapter 1 to 3 (published from Gitapress Gorakhpur, translator Shri Hanuman Prasad Poddar and Chiman Lal Goswami, from Page no. 114 onwards)
From Page no 114 to 118, it is mentioned, “Many consider the Acharya Bhavani to be the fulfiller of all wishes. She is known as Prakriti and has an inseparable relationship with Brahm; like, a wife is also known as ‘the other half’, which means that Durga is Brahm’s (Kaal’s) wife. On being asked about the subject of the creation of nature in one brahmand by King Parikshit, Shri Vyas ji said that – ‘I had asked Shri Narad ji that – ‘Oh, Devrishi (godly sage)! How was this brahmand created?’ In answer to this question of mine, Shri Narad ji said that I had asked my father, Shri Brahma ji that – Oh, father! Have you created this brahmand or Shri Vishnu ji is the creator or Shiv ji has created it? Please tell me the truth. Then my revered father told me that – Son Narad, when I gained consciousness I found myself sitting on a lotus flower. I did not know from where I appeared on this fathomless water? I kept exploring the earth for one thousand years but did not find any end to that water. Then an ethervoice said, “Do meditation”. I meditated for one thousand years. Then an ethervoice ordered to do creation. Just then, two demons, named Madhu and Kaitabh, came there. Fearing them, I descended holding the stalk of the lotus flower. There, God Vishnu was lying unconscious on a snake bed (shesh shaiya). A woman came out of his body (Durga was the woman who had occupied Vishnu's body as a ghost). She became visible in the sky adorned with jewellery. Then God Vishnu became conscious. Now, there were two of us, Vishnu ji and I. Just then, God Shankar also came there. Goddess made us three sit in an aircraft and took us to Brahmlok. There we saw another Brahma, another Vishnu and another Shiv. Then we saw a goddess. On seeing her, Vishnu ji discerningly gave the following description: (Brahm Kaal provided insight to God Vishnu; he recalled the memories of his childhood, and then told the story of his childhood).
On page no. 119-120, God Vishnu said to Shri Brahma and Shri Shiv that this is the mother of us, three. She only is the Mother of the universe (Jagat Janni) Goddess Prakriti. I had seen this goddess when I was a small child and she was rocking me in a cradle.
In the Third Skand, on page no. 123; Shri Vishnu ji praising Shri Durga ji said — You are a pure figure. This whole world is arising from you only. I (Vishnu), Brahma and Shankar, we all exist by your grace. We take birth (aavirbhaav) and die (tirobhaav); that is, we three gods are mortal. Only you are eternal. You are the Mother of the Universe, Goddess Prakriti.
God Shankar said — Goddess, if the greatly fortunate Vishnu has taken birth from you, then Brahma who was born after him, must also be your son only, and then am I, Shankar, who does Tamoguni leela, not your child, that is, you only are my mother too.
Conclusion from Shrimad Devi Bhagwad
It is clear from the above-mentioned description that Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Shiv are mortal. They are not Mrityunjai (changeless-eternal) or the greatest gods. They are Durga’s (Prakriti) sons and Brahm (Kaal / SadaShiv) is their father.
In Third Skand, on page no. 125; on being asked by Brahma ji that – ‘O Mother! Are you the Brahm who has been mentioned in Vedas or is it someone else?’ Here, in its answer Durga is saying that – I and Brahm are one only. Then in this very Skand, Chapter 6 on page no. 129, she is saying that now to accomplish my task, you all sit in the aircraft and go quickly. When in presence of any difficult situation you will remember me, then I will appear before you. Gods! You must always keep remembering Brahm and me (Durga). If you will keep remembering us both, then there is no doubt why your tasks will not be accomplished. It is self evident from the aforesaid description that Durga (Prakriti) and Brahm (Kaal) only are the mother and father of the three gods. And Brahma, Vishnu and Shiv are mortal and are not Almighty.
Durga (Goddess Prakriti) married off the three gods (Shri Brahma, Shri Vishnu and Shri Shiv). In the Third Skand, on Page no 128-129.
Gita Chapter 7 Verse 12 also describes the same concept
Ye, ch, ev, satvikaH, bhavaH, rajsaH, tamsaH, ch, ye,
MatH, ev, iti, taan, viddhi, na, tu, aham, teshu, te, myi ||12||
Translation: (Ch) and (ev) also (ye) that (satvikaH) preservation from Satvgun Vishnu (bhavaH) characteristic and (ye) that (rajsaH) creation from Rajogun Brahma (ch) and (tamsaH) destruction from Tamogun Shiv (taan) all those, you (matH, ev) happening from me alone in a well-planned manner and according to the rules (iti) thus (viddhi) consider (tu) but, in reality (teshu) in them (aham) I and (te) they (myi) in me (na) are not.
Translation: And also the characteristics of preservation from Satvgun Vishnu and that of creation from Rajogun Brahma and destruction from Tamogun Shiv, consider all of them to be happening from me alone in a well-planned manner and according to the rules; but, in reality, neither am I in them, nor are they in me.