The Vedas say that one who is born will die, that is, one who is created will perish. According to the Vedas, God or the Supreme Being is unborn, unmanifested, formless, attributeless and without any vices. Unborn means one who has never taken birth and who will never take birth in the future. Manifest means one who is not born from any womb and has manifested on his own and unmanifest means one who is not self-manifested. Formless means one who has no shape, nirgun means one who does not have any quality of any kind, nirvikaar means one who does not have any vice or defect of any kind.

Now the question arises that what is Shiva? He was born or appeared in some form or the other, that is why he got married. That is why he gave blessings to many demons and also killed many demons. Actually, when we say ‘Shiva’ then it is about formless God and when we say ‘Sadashiva’ then it is about the great soul of God and when we say Shankar or Mahesh then it is about Mahadev, the husband of Sati or Parvati. Hindus are unable to differentiate here and consider everyone as the same. Often Lord Shankar is also called Shiva.

According to Shiv Puran, Lord Shankar is believed to have originated from Lord Sadashiv and Parashakti Ambika. That Ambika is also known as Prakriti, Sarveshwari, Tridev janani (mother of Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh,  That Shakti manifested by Sadashiv has 8 arms. Parashakti Jagatjanani, that Goddess is endowed with various kinds of movements and holds many kinds of weapons. That Goddess of Shakti is Durga, the better half of Sadashiv in the form of time. Durga manifested from that Sadashiv. While enjoying in the Anandroop forest of Kashi, once both of them desired to create another man, on whom they could place the responsibility of creation i.e. procreation and attain Nirvana. For this, they manifested Vishnu from their left side. Thus, the mother and father of Vishnu are Sadashiv in the form of time and Parashakti Durga.  After creating Vishnu, Sadashiv and Shakti made efforts as before and created Brahmaji from their right side and immediately placed him in the navel lotus of Vishnu. Thus, Hiranyagarbha (Brahma) was born as a son from that lotus.

Once Brahma and Vishnu fought over supremacy, and a pillar in the form of Kaal stood in the middle. Then Kaal in the form of Jyotirlinga said, ‘Sons, by performing penance, you both have received two actions from me, namely creation (birth) and sustenance (maintenance). Similarly, my manifestations Rudra and Maheshwar have received two other great actions, destruction and disappearance (non-action), from me, but no one can get another action called anugraha (mercy). Both Rudra and Maheshwar have not forgotten their actions, so I have given them my similarity.’ Sadashiv says, ‘They (Rudra and Maheshwar) have the same vehicle as me, wear the same dress as me and have the same weapons as me. They are similar to me in form, dress, vehicle, posture and action.’ Now there are 7 souls here – Sadashiv from Brahma (God), Durga from Sadashiv. Vishnu, Brahma, Rudra, Maheshwar from Sadashiv-Durga.  This proves that the parents of Brahma, Vishnu, Rudra and Mahesh are Sadashiv and Durga in the form of time.

That time-form Brahma Sadashiv had created a region called ‘Shivlok’ with Shakti at the same time. That great region is called ‘Kashi’. It is the place of salvation. Here Shakti and Shiva, that is, time-form Brahma Sadashiv and Durga live as husband and wife. It was here that Jagatjanani gave birth to Shankar. This beautiful place Kashipuri was never freed from the proximity of Shiva and Parvati even during the time of deluge.

According to another Purana, once the sages and munis became curious as to who is the father of Lord Shankar? They asked this question to Shankarji himself that O Mahadev, you are the creator of all but who is your creator? What is the name of your parents? Answering this question, Lord Shiva said- O Munivar, my creator is Lord Brahma. I have been born by Lord Brahma, the creator of this universe. After this, the sages once again asked Lord Shankar that if he is your father then who is your grandfather? Then Shiva replied that Lord Shri Hari, that is, Lord Vishnu, who nurtures this universe, is my grandfather. Unaware of this divine play of God, the sages again asked another question that when your father is Brahma, grandfather is Vishnu, then who is your great grandfather, then Shiva smilingly replied that Lord Shiva himself.