Sūta said: From them took shape, the trio of the important deities. From one of the three the universe arose; it is protected by another; by one (i.e. the third) it is destroyed.[2] In this manner, the universe is pervaded by Śiva. Thus the three mūrties have been classified as aliṅga, liṅga and liṅgāliṅga. Brahman itself is the universe. The non-characterized lord is the source of the seed. He, the Supreme lord, is both the seed and the womb as well as the seedless. Being seedless he becomes seed, i.e. the cause of the universe. The term Ātman, applies to the seed (bīja), womb (yoni) and the unmanifest matter (pradhāna).