《初學記(ji)》中曾解(jie)釋道:“無宗無上(shang),而獨(du)能為萬物(wu)之始,故名元始。
昆(kun)侖山(shan)(shan)(shan)被譽為“萬(wan)山(shan)(shan)(shan)之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)祖”,也是“萬(wan)神之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)鄉”,是中國第一神山(shan)(shan)(shan)。事實上(shang),關于昆(kun)侖山(shan)(shan)(shan)的真實地(di)理位(wei)置(zhi),目前都還沒(mei)有(you)定論,只知道(dao)《山(shan)(shan)(shan)海經(jing)·大荒西經(jing)第十六》說:“西海之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)南(nan),流沙之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)濱,赤水之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)后(hou),黑水之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)前,有(you)大山(shan)(shan)(shan),有(you)曰昆(kun)侖之(zhi)(zhi)(zhi)丘。
而昆侖山(shan)上,最神秘的就是(shi)玉(yu)虛宮(gong)(gong),傳(chuan)說昆侖山(shan)玉(yu)虛宮(gong)(gong)乃是(shi)元始天(tian)尊的道場(在封(feng)神原文中明確寫出始天(tian)尊的道場是(shi)玉(yu)虛宮(gong)(gong))。與碧游宮(gong)(gong),八景宮(gong)(gong)并列的道教圣(sheng)地。
陶(tao)弘景編定之《真靈位業圖》稱(cheng)元(yuan)始(shi)天尊位居(ju)三十六(liu)天的最(zui)上層“大羅天”中(zhong),所(suo)居(ju)仙(xian)(xian)府(fu)稱(cheng)為(wei)(wei)“玄都玉(yu)京”。玉(yu)京之中(zhong),黃金鋪地,玉(yu)石為(wei)(wei)階(jie),宮中(zhong)有七寶、珍玉(yu),仙(xian)(xian)王、仙(xian)(xian)公、仙(xian)(xian)卿、仙(xian)(xian)伯、仙(xian)(xian)大夫等居(ju)于中(zhong)央和兩旁的仙(xian)(xian)殿中(zhong),眾神(shen)仙(xian)(xian)都要按時上玉(yu)清境朝拜(bai)元(yuan)始(shi)天尊。
據《歷(li)代神仙通鑒(jian)》記載(zai),元(yuan)始(shi)天尊“頂(ding)負圓(yuan)光,身披(pi)七(qi)十(shi)二(er)色”,故供奉(feng)在道教三清大殿中的(de)(de)元(yuan)始(shi)天尊一(yi)般都頭罩神光,手執黍(shu)珠(zhu),或者(zhe)左手虛拈,右手虛捧,象征“天地未(wei)(wei)(wei)形,混沌(dun)未(wei)(wei)(wei)開(kai),萬物(wu)未(wei)(wei)(wei)生”時的(de)(de)“無極狀(zhuang)態”和“混沌(dun)之時,陰(yin)陽(yang)未(wei)(wei)(wei)判(pan)”的(de)(de)第一(yi)大世紀,故以陽(yang)生陰(yin)降(jiang)、晝(zhou)短夜(ye)長的(de)(de)冬(dong)至日(ri)為元(yuan)始(shi)天尊的(de)(de)圣誕。
上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)(qing)派認為(wei)太上(shang)(shang)(shang)老君、靈(ling)寶天(tian)尊(zun)、天(tian)真(zhen)皇(huang)人、五方天(tian)帝(di)等神(shen)(shen)仙皆是元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)尊(zun)所(suo)度。上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)(qing)派宗師(shi)陶弘景所(suo)著《真(zhen)靈(ling)位(wei)業圖》將天(tian)地(di)宇宙中(zhong)的(de)神(shen)(shen)靈(ling)共分七階,第一階玉清(qing)(qing)境的(de)中(zhong)位(wei)即最(zui)高位(wei):“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛皇(huang)道(dao)君,應號元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)尊(zun)”,從而正(zheng)式確立了元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)尊(zun)在茅山上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)(qing)派乃至整個道(dao)教體系中(zhong)的(de)獨尊(zun)地(di)位(wei),又通(tong)過稱元始(shi)(shi)天(tian)尊(zun)“上(shang)(shang)(shang)合虛皇(huang)道(dao)君”,使得早(zao)期上(shang)(shang)(shang)清(qing)(qing)尊(zun)神(shen)(shen)高上(shang)(shang)(shang)虛皇(huang)道(dao)君等的(de)地(di)位(wei)得到保(bao)證。