All those who were purified of sin, steadfast in celibacy and pure in heart, journeyed to the world of Rudra—a realm so exalted and rare that return from it is nearly impossible. In the course of cosmic ages, the thirty-first kalpa came to be known as Pītavāsā. In this era, the illustrious Brahma himself assumed the aspect of Pītavāsā. Desiring a son, Brahma entered deep meditation, and from the radiance of his contemplation appeared a luminous youth. This youth was adorned in yellow garments, his body fragrant with yellow unguents, garlanded with yellow flowers, and clothed in yellow attire. He was youthful and radiant, with a golden sacred thread, a yellow turban crowning his head, and mighty arms. Witnessing this wondrous being, Brahma, still absorbed in his meditation, approached the Lord of the worlds within his mind, seeking refuge in that mighty one, the supreme creator. As Brahma continued his meditation, he beheld the splendid Māheśvarī, the universal form of the earth, emerging from the face of the Great Lord. She was an awe-inspiring vision: four feet, four faces, four arms, four breasts, four eyes, four horns, four fangs, and four mouths—endowed with thirty-two auspicious qualities, sovereign of all, her gaze extending in every direction. This radiant Great Goddess, consort of the Great Lord, shone brilliantly before him. Once more, the Great God—worshipped by all the gods—sang praises, invoking: "Intellect, memory, wisdom." With joined palms, he called out, "Come, come, O Great Goddess!" Standing before the Lord, he encompassed the entire universe through yoga, bringing all the worlds under his control. The Lord of gods then addressed her: "You shall be Rudrāṇī, the supreme purpose for the welfare of the brahmins." Thus, to Brahma—who was longing for a son and absorbed in meditation—the Lord of gods, teacher of the world, bestowed upon him the Great Goddess, four-footed and supreme. Recognizing her through the yoga of meditation as the highest goddess, Brahma, the teacher of the world, accepted her. Compelled by Brahma’s desire, he then meditated upon the Raudrī Gāyatrī, and thus the Vedic knowledge known as the Raudrī Gāyatrī was revealed. Brahma recited prayers to the Great Goddess, who is revered throughout the worlds, and took refuge in the Great God with a mind absorbed in meditation. Pleased, the Great God granted Brahma divine yoga, vast knowledge, lordly power, supreme wisdom, and true detachment. From Brahma’s side, divine boys appeared, adorned with yellow garlands and garments, their bodies fragrant with yellow unguents. With yellow turbans, yellow faces, and yellow hair, they radiated pure brilliance and dwelt there for a thousand years. These sages, endowed with yoga, delighting in austerity, committed to the welfare of the Brahmins, and strong in dharma and yoga, performed long and sacred sacrificial rites. After instructing others in the great yoga, they entered into the Great Lord himself. In this way, all who take refuge in the Great Lord, with controlled minds, absorbed in meditation, and mastery over their senses—abandoning all sin—become pure, radiant with the brilliance of Brahman. They merge into the Great God, Rudra, and are not subject to rebirth. When that kalpa had passed, and the golden age dawned, the self-born one, Brahma, began yet another kalpa, called Asita. After a thousand divine years had passed in that vast cosmic ocean, Brahma, desiring to create beings, pondered deeply, distressed at their absence. As he meditated, longing for sons, the color of the supreme creator himself turned black. Then, from his contemplation, Brahma beheld a wondrous boy appear—black in color, of great might, and shining with his own radiance. The boy was clad in black garments and a black turban, wore a black sacred thread, and was adorned with a black topknot, garland, and unguents. Though terrible in form, he was not terrifying to behold; the lord of gods, wondrous and black-tawny, bowed to him with reverence. Absorbed in breath-control, glorious, and with the Great Lord fixed in his heart, Brahma took refuge in that Lord, his mind immersed in meditation. In his contemplation, Brahma envisioned Aghora, assuming the form of Brahma himself. As the supreme creator meditated, the god Aghora, of terrible might, granted him a vision. At Brahma’s side, black boys appeared, adorned with black garlands and unguents. Four great-souled boys were born: Krishna, Krishna-shikha, Krishna-asya, and Krishna-vastradhṛk. For a thousand years, through the power of yoga, they worshipped the Supreme Lord and imparted the great yoga to their disciples. Perfected in yoga, they entered, with their minds, into the pure, attributeless Śiva, attaining the abode of the Lord of the universe. In this way, by this yoga, other wise souls also contemplate the Great God and reach Rudra, the imperishable. When that aeon, too, had passed, and the dreadful dark age arrived, Brahma praised the Lord of gods, who had assumed the form of Brahman. Pleased by Brahma’s devotion, Hara spoke: "With this very form, I bring about dissolution—of this, there is no doubt. O highly fortunate one, I destroy terrible sins such as the killing of a Brahmin and other transgressions, as well as various lesser faults. In this way, O virtuous one, I also remove secondary sins, severe mental and verbal wrongs, O Grandfather. Bodily sins, mixed ones, incidental ones, those done deliberately, and those that are innate or accidental—I remove them all." Thus passed the cycles of creation, the Lord’s grace ever guiding, purifying, and uplifting those devoted to him.