Bhagavan Siva advised Brahma, Vishnu and Rudra would all be of the same status. They are essentially of the manifestations of His origin. They would carry out ‘Panchakritya’ or Five Duties viz. ‘Srishti’ (Creation), ‘Sthithi’ (Preservation) and ‘Laya’ (Destruction), ‘Tirobhav’ (Concealment and Revival) and ‘Anugraha’ (Providing Salvation). Srishti would be performed by Brahma, Sthithi by Vishnu, and Laya by Rudra; the fourth task, viz. Tirobhav would be performed by Mahesa, who would be yet His fourth manifestation and finally the most significant task of Anugraha would be the exclusive dispensation by Himself. After defining the first four duties as ‘Sarga’ (Nature), Bhagavan Siva taught the Mantra OM as the combined power of Himself and Shakti and the extraordinary potency of the recitation of the Mantra.
