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ISAVASYA UPANISHAD
Tantra refers to sacred literature which appeared from the 5th century onward and focused mainly on Shiva, as the supreme Godhead. Later the emphasis was on the worship of Sakthi - The Goddess of Power or Cosmic energy. After the Gupta age ended in the 6th century the Tantric tradition heavily influenced Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. (MSN Encarta encyclopaedia)
In Tantra Sastra Shiva is the Supreme God. The Nirguna aspect of Shiva is called Purusha and Saguna aspects belong to Prakriti. Prakriti is called Sakthi. From Sakthi, 'Nada' (Word - Vibration - Sound) comes, out of which Nada Bindu (Point source of energy) comes into existence. This has three components - Bindu, Nanda and Biju. Bindu originated Raudri and from Nada comes Jyesta. From Bija 'Vama' and Vishnu were emanated. They are called Jnana, Icha and Kriya - wisdom, will and action. When Bindu divides, there arises a sound in an unmanifested form. The order of emanation or germination is given as:
Sadasiva ->Isa ->Rudra ->Vishnu ->Brahman
Shiva is one with Kala (Eternal Time). From Sadasiva the all pervading witness of the Universe came. From Sadasiva Isa; From Isa Rudra; From Rudra Vishnu and from Vishnu Brahma came. Thus in Tantra Saiva cult, Isa is the first manifest form of Sadasiva - the Father God
In the later Tantric literature, there are five Sivas: Sadasiva, Isa, Rudra, Vishnu, and Brahma; all of them are described as "Five Great corpses" because they are all inert without Sakti. Siva is Sava; hence, Sakti is portrayed as standing on Sava-Siva. The Five Great Corpses (pancha-maha-preta) which are inanimate objects upon which Devi sits, reclines, presides, and merges as Consciousness. In yet another representation Siva is the couch; Sadasiva is the mattress; Isa is the pillow; Isa, Rudra, Hari (Vishnu), and Brahma are the four legs of the couch. Somebody was probably trying to trace the growth of the religious ideas in symbolism.
Thus by the Sixth century Isa became just a leg of the couch.
INVOCATION
Om purnamadah purnamidam purnat purnamudacyate purnasya purnamadaya purnamevavasisyate Om santih santih santih
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