of the Ātman with Eternal and Unchangeable Parama Shiva, the Highest Reality.
In the beginning when all was Parama Shiva, a desire of being many grew in the All-Pervading One. He accordingly brought into play His Māyā Shakti (His illusive power which in fact performs or is answerable for what is called creation ) and created the Universe which is, in other words, Self-Forgetfulness. All beings from the highest to the lowest were thus manifested : All- Transcendent Parama Shiva remaining unchanged, though this Universe is but a manifestation of His in His aspect as Shakti, being related to Him in the same way as a drop of water is to the ocean or a spark to the fire. Compassioning the resultant evils of the Universe, He devised means for Self-Realisation-the only way of attaining to and being one with Parama Shiva. The revelations for gaining this end proceeded from Him as set forth in the Agama Shāstrās, i.e., doctrines of superhuman authorship From Brahman, more clearly Shabda Brahman, originated these Āgama Shastras wherein, inter alia, is described the significance of the Mātrikās or the letters of the alphabet from अ to ह. With regard to the Mātrikās it will be seen that the vowels, sixteen in number, represent Bhairava or Parama Shiva in other words, and
