॥ Om, Salutations to the Divine Consciousness ॥

I take refuge in the Rudrayamala, which is the encyclopedia of the science of Nigama and Agama, and is the end of all prosperity.

I, Rudra, take refuge in it.

The Compassionate Divine Couple and Their Unique Gift

The Mother of the World, Bhagavati Shiva, who is the embodiment of infinite compassion, and Shiva Himself are the creators of the entire universe. By their grace, deities like Brahma manifest and engage in creation, sustenance, and dissolution according to their commands. Even though the Mistress of the entire universe, Bhagavati, and the Lord of the entire universe, Bhagavan, are one in essence, they take dual forms for the sake of blessing the world and develop the creation made of words and meanings as a Divine Couple. They themselves are the form of Brahman; therefore, the creation of Nigama and Agama also occurred through them. There is no difference between Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. For the sake of human understanding, they have been described separately, but in essence, they are not separate. It is also clear that at their root is Shakti, the primordial element, through which the creation of deities occurred for the sake of divine play.

According to the Tantra scriptures, this primordial couple, with a generous sentiment for the welfare of the world, continues to present reflections on necessary duties in the form of mutual dialogue and questions and answers. Infinite scriptures have emerged according to their infinite nature. This is also necessary because if the parents do not arrange for the education of their children, who else will? When even the deities like Brahma, after manifesting, could not know like the ignorant—"Who am I, whence have I come, who is my mother, who is my father?"—then they too were kindly given knowledge by these two. Regarding Nigama and Agamas, the 'Sarvollasa-Tantra' states clearly:

It issued from the mouths of Shiva, went to the face of Girija Goddess Parvati, and was known to Sri Vasudeva; hence it is called Nigama.