Chapter 29 - Sati or Parvati’s marriage with Siva

Suka said,

“I have already mentioned that Vidya^[1] is one of the three kinds of Nature^[2]. This Vidya was divided into many parts, out of some of which were evolved Dakshayani Sati, Savitri, Lakshmi and Sarasvati. Sati, as has already been said, was married to Siva (or Sankara). Hearing her husband abused by her father at a sacrifice, she died, and was subsequently reborn in two parts, as the daughters of Himalaya, under the names of Ganga and Uma”.

Jaimini requested Suka to give him a detailed account of Sati’s death and re-birth, and Suka narrated as follows:—

When Daksha saw that his beautiful daughter, Sati, was of a marriageable age, he convened a meeting of gods, and other eligible suitors to -enable his daughter to select a husband from among them. He invited all others except Siva. Sati, had, however, formed a determination in her mind that she would marry no one else except Siva, and used to worship him secretly.

When the auspicious time came, the gods and others took their respective seats in the meeting, and Sati. was brought there.

All were struck by her heavenly form and beauty, and held their breath in admiration, when Daksha addressing her, said,

“Sati, my child, select your partner from among those present here. All the Devas^[3], Danavas^[4] and Munis are seated here, and you have a vast field for selection”.

Sati cast a searching glance at the meeting but could not find Siva therein. It looked like a wilderness to her, and her sorrow was great.

She said in her mind,

“My father is a hater of Siva, and has not, therefore, invited him, but I shall have no one else for my husband. She addressed a secret prayer to that god, and made a vow that if he would not accept her as his partner she would give up her life.”

Then she threw the garland on the ground and exclaimed. “Lord, I offer this garland and myself to you”.

No sooner had she said so than she saw the great and mighty Siva, in all his grandeur and magnificence, coming out of the ground bedecked with her garland. She bowed down to him and he disappeared. No one else but she had seen him.

When Daksha came to know the real facts, he was very much grieved at what she had done, and asked her why she wanted to have Siva for her husband.

He said,

“As my daughter you could have selected Indra, Varuna, Agni, Vayu, Kuvera or any other great god, but instead of doing so, you have offered yourself to a beggar whodelights in rubbing the ashes of the cremation ground on his body. Out upon thee, O Creator, for having given such heavenly beauty to.this misguided girl. Didst thou create this flower to be thrown away on the burning ground? Sati, thou hast marred all my plans. Would thou hadst never been born, because thou hast brought my family to disgrace. Hast thou not seen the eleven Rudra slaves at my house that thou hast offered thyself to a similar Rudra?”.

There was a great Muni, Dadhichi by name, who was present in the meeting at that time.

He expostulated with Daksha, saying,

“Why are you falling foul of Siva who is one with Brahma and Vishnu, and as'ancient and eternal as they. You do not realize your good fortune. Your daughter is Prakriti^[5] herself and Siva the Parama^[6] Purusha, but you do not know them.”

Daksha said,

“I know Siva very well. He is a beggar who lives on burning grounds and is the ruler of ghosts and goblins. Air is the only covering of his body^[7], and he talks like a mad man. He is known all over the world as devoid of sense, refined qualities and good looks How can he be fit to be my daughter’s partner? Brahma creates all beings and Vishnu supports them. Both of them have supremacy, but what supremacy can Siva boast of? Probably his supremacy lies in the art of begging and like occupations”.

Dadhichi said,

“Your accusations are based on hearsay evidence merely. Have you seen Siva begging or living on burning grounds? We see men of good, bad and indifferent natures, and people like you think that the natures of gods also are such. Gods do not disclose true facts to men like you, but show them their perverted natures only. I tell you for a fact that Siva is the noblest of all. Desist, therefore, from vilifying him? That your wise and noble daughter has offered herself to him is evidence enough to prove his superiority.”

Daksha did not believe what Dadhichi said, and refused to invite Siva, saying that to him Sati was henceforth dead. The meeting was then dissolved and Daksha went into his house. Sati was very glad at having been accepted by Siva, and did not care what other people said to her, or thought about her.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See footnote 9 at page 91.

[2]:

Prakriti.

[3]:

Gods.

[4]:

a class of demons.

[5]:

Nature.

[6]:

Supreme Being.

[7]:

i.e., he goes stark naked.