Before the creation, only supreme soul called Shiva existed

सगुणनिर्गुणभेदवर्णनं नाम द्विचत्वारिंशोऽध्यायः

 

Description of the difference between (God) with form and without – Chapter 42

 

सूत उवाच |

 

Suta Goswami said (to the sages)

 

यच्चादौ हि समुत्पन्नं निर्गुणात्परमात्मनः |

तदेव शिवसंज्ञं हि वेदवेदान्तिनो विदुः || 2 ||

 

That only which got produced right in the beginning from the formless supreme soul is really called Shiva (and) Veda scholars know that.

 

Then Prakriti was produced.