Once, a divine boy approached the Grandfather of all, Brahma, and earnestly requested, “Give me a first name, O Grandfather.” Observing the boy’s tears, Brahma gently asked, “Why do you weep, O boy?” In response, Brahma bestowed upon him the name Bhava among the gods. Yet, the boy wept again, unsatisfied. He entreated, “Give me a third name,” and as he continued to weep, Brahma asked once more, “Why do you weep?” The boy was then told, “You are called Ishana among the gods.” Still, he wept, seeking yet another name. “Give me a fifth name,” he pleaded to the self-born Brahma. Again Brahma asked, “Why do you weep?” and gave him the name Bhima among the gods. But the tears did not cease. “Give me a seventh name,” the boy said, and Brahma, seeing his persistent sorrow, addressed him with compassion, “Do not weep.” He then gave him the name Mahadeva, and finally, the boy’s tears stopped. With his sorrow abated, the boy spoke, “Indicate the places of these by name.” Brahma revealed to him the six great elements: the sun, water, earth, air, fire, and space. He advised that among these, one should worship, honor, and bow respectfully with utmost care. Brahma reminded him, “What I previously told you, the name ‘Rudra,’ O mighty one.” As these words were spoken, the boy’s radiance became the very eye, shining forth brilliantly. Brahma cautioned that one should not gaze at the sun as it rises or sets. Therefore, anyone who desires long life and strives for purity should avoid looking at the sun at those times. Brahma further instructed that at both twilights, one should be seated and recite the Sāma, Ṛg, and Yajur Vedas. During the afternoon recitation of the Sāma, Rudra enters in succession. Thus, one should never oppose Rudra under any circumstance. Then Brahma again addressed the god, who was blue and red in hue. “Let water be your second form, named as such.” At that very moment, the boy entered the water, and thus he is remembered as Bhava of water. Because he causes existence and moistens all beings, he is called Bhava among them. Brahma instructed that one should not spit, bathe, or engage in intercourse in water, for both pure and impure forms of water are revered by sages as his bodies. The ocean is the womb of all waters, and thus they yearn for him. Therefore, one should not obstruct water, for all waters desire to reach the ocean. Once more, Brahma spoke to the boy, now known as Nīlalohita. “The earth is your third form, known by this name.” The boy entered the earth, and thus he is called Śarva. Brahma advised that one should not relieve oneself in the shadow, on the path, or in one’s own shadow. Whoever observes this conduct on earth is not harmed by Śarva. Brahma continued, “The fourth name of yours, which I have spoken here, is Īśāna.” Upon this, that which is within the body became fivefold, known as prāṇa, the vital breath. Therefore, one should never revile the wind, the lord who moves everywhere. When one lives thus, Maheśāna, the great lord, does not harm that person. Finally, Brahma declared, “The fifth name, which I have spoken, is Paśupati.” Thus, the divine boy received his sacred names and forms, each one a manifestation of his cosmic presence among the elements and within all beings.