Chapter 34 - Pārvatī weds Śiva

Brahmā said:

1 -6 In due course, the Svayaṃvara of the daughter of the mountain was celebrated on the lofty peak of the Himavān filled with hundreds of lofty chambers. The Himavān, the king of the mountains, an expert in meditation came to know of the secret talk of bis daughter with the lord of Devas. Even after knowing it, with a desire to conform to the traditional procedure he proclaimed the Svayaṃvara celebration of his daughter all over the world. He thought thus—“If my daughter woos Śiva in the presence of Devas, Dānavas and Siddhas, residing in all parts of the world, that alone will be proper, praiseworthy and suitable to my dignity”. After thinking thus and keeping lord Śiva in heart, the king of mountains announced Svayaṃvara amongst Devas ending with Brahma. The most excellent king of the mountains littered his land with precious gems and organized the Svayaṃvara ceremony very carefully.

7. Immediately after the Svayaṃvara of his daughter had been announced, Devas and others, the residents of all the worlds came there assuming divine forms and dresses.

8. Informed by the king of mountains I went there accompanied by Devas. I was seated on my full blown lotus seat and surrounded by Siddhas and Yogins of immeasurable spiritual power.

9-12. Riding on his Airāvata, the chief of the leading elephants, which exuded profuse currents of ichor, the lord of immortal beings (Indra) came there at the head of Devas holding his thunderbolt. The lord of Devas had a thousand eyes and his features were elegant by viture of his divine unguents and garlands.

Seated on his golden chariot with waving flags the son-god came there hurriedly. He brightened the quarters so that he appeared to be equal in lustre to them though he was superior to them in refulgence and power.

One of the sons of Kaśyapa viz. Āditya came there in his chariot equal in lustre to fire and solar splendour. His rays were those of the midday. His ear-rings brightened up by jewels, dazzled all.

Riding on his terrible buffalo, the god of Death Yama hastened to that place. He was holding his sceptre (rod of chastisement). His physical body was yellow in colour. In prowess he was comparable to none. He was unparalleled in brilliance, strength and power of demanding obedience. His limbs were well developed and he wore garlands.

13-16. Riding in his chariot, wind god who sustains the world, came there, beautiful in dress and demeanour. Gold and jewels enhanced his elegance. In height and stoutness his body vied with great mountains.

Coming in the centre of the leading Devas, the fire-god wearing grand apparel, stood there, blazing. Superior to all in splendour, and steeped in excessive brilliance he warmed the leaders of Devas and Asuras.

Riding in an excellent divine aerial chariot, the most excellent in the universe, Kubera the lord of all chiefs of wealth came there in a hurry with his slender staff-like body brightened by different sorts of jewels.

Riding in an aerial chariot of wonderful form studded with great shining precious gems the Moon god arrived there instilling enthusiasm in the leaders of Devas and Asuras by means of his splendour and grand apparel. He was elegant in form and dress.

17-21. Riding on Garuḍa who resembled a mountain, the macebearing lord Viṣṇu hurried to that place. Garlands of sweet scent were tied round his limbs; his dress was wonderful and his slender body was dark-complexioned.

Aśvins, the excellent physicians were seated in the same aerial chariot. Charming in their brilliant and elegant apparel, the two bold and excellent Devas hastened to the venue of the marriage rites.

The noble-souled Nāga king of fiery solar splendour rode in an aerial chariot along with the other Nāgas and arrived there. He had the colour of fire-emitting sparks.

The sons of Diti the great Asuras, refulgent like fire, sun, Indra and the wind-god came there even before Devas clad in nice apparel befitting their excellent features.

At the bidding of Indra the king of Gandharvas arrived there along with Gandharvas and Apsaras. Bedecked in shoul-derlets and riding in a divine chariot he had a handsome form wonderful to behold.

22-26. Several other Devas, Gandharvas, Yakṣas, Serpents and Kinnaras too came there, riding in aerial chariots. They were clad in different sorts of beautiful apparel.

The overlord of mountain kings, Himālaya shone amidst the leading Devas, superior to some, equal to-others in beauty of form. Delighted himself and delighting others by his power of command and prosperity he beautified the spot of Svayaṃvara ceremony.

It was for accomplishing the task of heaven-dwellers that Satī protested against Dakṣa, died of herself and was reborn in the abode of Himavān. Being the cause of worlds, she gave birth to the universe. She was the mother of Devas and Asuras. She had formerly been the wife of Śiva, the intelligent Puruṣa and she had been praised as the great Prakṛti in the Purāṇas.

Now as Umā she was seated in an aerial chariot covered with gold and studded with jewels. She was fanned (on either side) by the waving chowries. She held a garland of sweet-scented flowers of all seasons. She stood ready to proceed ahead quickly.

Brahmā said:

27-28. As the Umā stood there in the assembly of Devas, holding the divine garland, as Indra and other Devas had come there ready for Svayṃvara, Śiva assumed the form of an infant (with five tufts of hair) with a desire to test her again. The lord of great lustre lay asleep in the lap of Umā.

29. All of a sudden, Umā saw the infant lying (asleep in her lap). By means of meditation she understood who it was and took him up with great delight.

30. She of pure thoughts attained a husband of her choice. Holding him to his bosom she turned round and sat down.

31. On seeing the infant lying in the lap of Umā Devas were completely deluded. “Who is this infant?” They muttered to one another and then shouted loudly.

32-33. This slayer of Vṛtra (Indra) seized his thunderbolt and lifted up his hand against the infant. The raised hand of Indra remained in that position stunned by Śiva the lord of Devas in the form of the infant. The slayer of Vṛtra could not hurl his thunderbolt. He could not even move.

34. Then the powerful son of Aditi and Kaśyapa named Bhaga, who too was deluded, lifted up his bright weapon, desirous of cutting up the infant.

35. His hand too was stunned; his strength, splendour and yogic power became ineffective.

36-37. Viṣṇu looked at Śiva shaking his head. When those angry Devas stood thus, I was extremely agitated. By means of meditation I understood that it was Śiva, the lord of the chiefs of Devas who was lying on the lap of Umā.

38-44. On realising that it was lord Śiva, I stood up immediately with reverence. I saluted the feet of Śiva. O brahmins, then I eulogised him with ancient songs and secret names conducive to merit. “You are the unborn lord. You are never old. You are the lord who created the greater and smaller beings. You are the primordial Nature (Prakṛti) as well as Puruṣa. You are the Brahman worthy of meditation. You are the imperishable and undying Being. You are the supreme soul. You are the lord and great cause. You are the creator of Brahmā. You are the maker of Prakṛti. You are beyond Prakṛti. This gentle lady is Prakṛti the permanent instrument unto you in the process of creation. She has assumed the form of your wife and has come to you as the cause of the universe.

O lord, obeisance to you as well as to your glorious consort. O lord of Devas, it was at your bidding and by your favour that these Devas and subjects had been created by me. They are now deluded by your Yogic Māyā. Be pleased with them. May they be as they were before.

O brahmins, after submitting this to the lord I spoke at this occurrence to all those Devas who were stunned.

45-49. “O ye deities, you are confounded. You don’t understand lord Śiva. You immediately seek refuge in lord and his divine consort. He is the unchanging great Soul.”

Then all those heaven-dwellers who were stunned, bowed to lord Śiva with their minds purified by emotional fervour.

Śiva, the lord of Devas was pleased with them. He immediately restored Devas to their former self. When this process of reviving Devas was going on, the lord of Devas assumed a wonderful body possessed of three eyes.

50-56. Devas, eclipsed and dazzled by the brilliance of Śiva closed their eyes. The lord granted them powerful eyes competent to behold him. Then they looked at the lord of Devas. On seeing the third eye Indra and other Devas recognized him as Śiva.

In the presence of heaven-dwellers the delighted goddess placed garland at the feet of the lord of unmeasured lustre. Saying “Well done, Well done.” Devas, once again, bowed to the lord along with the goddess, with their heads resting on the ground.

In the meantime O brahmins, I spoke to Himavān the great mountain of massive splendour. I was accompanied by Devas.

You are worthy of being praised and honoured by all. You are really great. Since you have the alliance with Śiva your prosperity will be great. Let the auspicious marriage rite be performed. There shall be no delay in this matter?

Then after bowing to me Himavān replied:

Himavān said:

57. O lord, you alone are the cause of my all-round rise and prosperity. The favour has come about suddenly and the reason thereof can be you alone. O sire, conduct celebration of marriage after fixing up the programme.

Brahmā said:

58. On hearing the words of the king of mountains, O brahmins, I said thus to the lord—“O lord, let the marriage rite be celebrated”.

59-63. Śiva, the lord of the worlds said to me—“As you like”. O brahmins, instantaneously I created a city for the marriage. It was made splendid by different sorts of jewels, precious stones and gems of various colours; gold and pearls came in their embodied form and decorated that excellent city. The ground was wonderfully paved with Emerald. It was adorned with columns of gold. Shining crystals constituted the walls. Pearl necklaces were suspended from them. At the entrance to that beautiful city, raised platform was constructed for the marital rites. That place of noble Śiva, lord of Devas, shone well. The moon and the sun (assumed the form of) two brilliant gems and rendered the place warm and cool.

64. Wafting sweet fragrant smell, very pleasing to the mind, the wind-god came there, evincing his devotion to lord Śiva. He was gentle to the touch.

65-68. The four oceans, Indra and other Devas, the celestial rivers, the great terrestrial rivers, Siddhas, sages, Gandharvas, Apsaras, Nāgas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas, aquatic and Sky-bound birds and animals, Kinnaras, Cāraṇas, Turabaru, Nārada Hāhā, Hūhū and the singers of Sāman hymns brought with them other sorts of gems and came to the city. Ascetics and sages, experts in singing vedic Mantras chanted holy Mantras of marriage rites with delighted minds.

69. Mothers of the universe and the celestial virgins began to sing joyously in the course of that wedding ceremony of the lord.

70. The six seasons were simultaneously present in their embodied forms at the marriage function. They spread pleasing scents everywhere.

71-79. In the course of marriage celebration of the daughter of the mountain, the rainy season was present with the following characteristics:—

The Rainy Season:

Resembling the blue clouds, delighted at the chanting sound of the Mantras, the peacocks danced about everywhere producing their crowing notes called ‘Kekā’.

It was highly elegant with dangling, rolling tawny, clear like lightning streaks. It was made splendid by the white cranes with lilies for their crest-jewel.

It became refulgent as the freshly grown mushrooms, plantain trees an d trees and creepers of other sorts had sprouts coming out. It was rendered noisy by countless frogs that woke up longing for flourishing currents of clear water and that were rendered lethargic by intoxication.

It was accompanied by the delightful crowing Kekā sounds of the peacocks that brought about a break in the haughty anger excited by jealousy in lovely maidens, though lofty-minded. These maidens bore a grudge against their lovers and their anger made them haughty in their minds.

The rainy season shone with the rainbow that was present very near the rainy clouds. The beautiful form of the crooked rainbow shone with various colours. It spread golden splendour everywhere.

In the rainy season the pleasing winds shook the splendid forelocks of celestial damsels. The winds were fragrant because they were blowing against flowers of diverse colours. They were cool by their contact with the waters of fresh and dense clouds.

The disc of the moon was concealed by the rumbling cloud. The beautiful Durvā grass near water-logged spots was sprinkled with fresh water. The rainy season that arrived with such traits was respectfully looked at by the yearning and pining harlot maidens who had been heaving deep sighs rendering the atmosphere as it were filled with smoke.

The rainy season was like a maiden. The cackling sound of the swans was like that of the anklets. The clouds were lifted up and raised. The rolling lightning streaks were the necklaces. The clear lotuses were the eyes.

The black layers of clouds supported the swans in the waters of different colours. The downpour of water made the lilies bend down, the lilies that served the purpose of eyes. Their beauty was enhanced by the fragrant pollen dust.

The Autumn

80-88. The season of autumn was present at the marriage function of Pārvatī, the daughter of lord Himavān.

The quarters looked very beautiful. The autumn was like a lady who had taken out her bodice in the form of a cloud. Buds of lotuses that resemble the breasts made their appearance. The cackling sound of swans was like the tinkling of anklets.

The banks of rivers were like buttocks ample and extensive. The chirping Sārasas served as the girdle. The blue lotuses in full bloom were charming like the dark-coloured eyes.

The ripe red Bimba fruits were like the lower lips. She smiled with Kunda flowers appearing like teeth. The lady of autumn had dark-coloured curly umbilical hairs with the spreading fresh green creepers.

The lady of autumn was sweet-voiced with the humming sound of intoxicated swarms of bees. The rolling clusters of lilies were the charming earrings that heightened her beauty. The lady of autumn had the sprouts growing from the branches of red Aśoka tree for her fingers. She was embellished in garments constituted by its bunches of ñowers.

The red lotuses were the tips of her feet. The Jasmine Jāti flowers were her nails. The stems of the plantain trees were her thighs. The moon was her face.

The lady of autumn appeared like a charming beloved full of love. She was richly endowed with all characteristics. She was bedecked in all ornaments.

Divested of her bodice covering, in the form of black cloud, the full moon represented her lovely face; the blue lotuses were her eyes; the lotuses, which blossomed by the rays of the sun, acted as her breasts delighting the mind through the soft winds, rendered fragrant by the pollen dust of different flowers. With the sweet cackling sounds for her tinkling anklets the lady of Autumn was present at the wedding function of Umā.

Hemanta and Śiśira

89. The two seasons Hemanta and Śiśira (the early winter and the later winter) of great lustre came there flooding the quarters with excessively chill waters.

90. The Himavān the most excellent of mountains was approached by the two seasons. They are showering flakes of snow in quick succession. Enveloped by a shower of flakes Himavān appeared to be as it were an attendant.

91. With the dense shower of snow flakes that fell deep below, the Himālaya shone like the ocean of milk.

92. That great mountain was approached by successive seasons, like a prejudiced person who is gratified by the service of the great.

93. With his peaks covered with layers of snow the mountain shone like a ruler of the Earth with large and white umbrellas.

94. The winds frequently enhanced the passionate love of Devas and their maidens. The lotus ponds were filled with clear water. The lotuses and lilies grew in abundance. With these they appeared to be charming like women who reveal the tips of their breasts slightly.

The Spring season:

95-117. At the marriage of the daughter of the mountain lord Spring was also present.

The celestial elephants full of delight entered the lake filled with waters which were neither too hot nor too cold. They were rendered tawny by the particles of pollen. With the cackling of ruddy geese the atmosphere became resonant. The mango and the Priyaṅgu trees were in full bloom vying with each other. With their bunches of flowers one appeared to threaten the other. Both of them looked admirably splendid.

On the white snow-clad peaks, the Tilaka trees with their blossoms appeared like elderly guests accompanied by infants. They appeared as though they had come for some specific purpose.

The Aśoka creepers in full bloom supported by the big Śāla trees shone like loving maidens with their arms twined round the necks of their lovers.

The following trees were laden with fruits and flowers: They were the mango, Kadamha, Nīpa, Tāla, Tamāla, Sarala, Kapittha (Wood apple), Aśoka, Sarja, Arjuna, Kovidāra, Punnāga, Nāgeśvara, Karṇikāra, Lavaṅga, Kālāguru (Agalschum), Saptaparṇa, Nyagrodha, Śobhāñjana and Cocoanut. There were other trees also. They were seen everywhere. There were beautiful water reservoirs with waters sparkling like gold. They were filled with blue lilies and fishes. Aquatic birds and animals like ruddy geese, Kāraṇḍavas, swans, Koyaṣṭis, Dātyūhas (water crows) and cranes abounded in them. Birds were seen on the tops of trees with wings of diverse colours and the limbs of various forms. They appeared to be embellished as it were.

Birds and animals with their passion roused and their bodies excited produced cries and sounds as if they were threatening those engaged in amorous sports.

On that mountain, in the course of marriage celebration of the daughter of the mountain-lord winds blew making the limbs delighted and cool. The winds originating from the Malaya mountain slowly blew down the white flowers from the trees.

All reasons of meritorious nature shone with their respective traits intermingled. Those seasons whose special traits have been recounted looked very charming at that place.

The Mālatī creepers shone with their bunches of flowers. Intoxicated swarms of bees were humming amongst them. These creepers appeared as if they were terrifying one another.

The petals of flowers were resorted to by the intoxicated swarms of bees. The waters were rendered blue by the blue lotuses, white by the white lotuses and red by the red lotus, stalks.

There were clusters of golden lotuses in lakes of extensive water surface, in some, beautiful flowers grew continuously; in some there were lotuses with stalks like lapis lazuli.

The ponds were very beautiful with lotuses, lilies and other flowers. The rows of golden steps were rendered resonant by various birds O brahmins, the lofty peaks of that mountain, thickly overgrown with Karṇīkāra trees in full blooms shone like golden peaks.

The quarters shone pink in colour on account of the Pāṭala trees with their flowers slightly opened. They were gently shaken by the wind.

There were Kṛṣṇārjuna trees and the blue Aśoka trees an that mountain, ten times their number. They were in full bloom. They appeared to compete with one another in their growth.

Forests of Kiṃśuka trees resonant with sweet sounds shone on all ridges of that mountain.

With groves of Tamāla trees, the Himavān had a special beauty as though groups of clouds were lying hidden in its joints.

With tall sandal and Campaka trees with their branches spreading extensively, and profusely laden with flowers, and with the cooing sounds of intoxicated cuckoos the Himālaya shone very well.

On hearing the low sweet intoxicating cooing sound of the cuckoos the peacocks fluttered their wings and grew sweetly. Lord Kāma found his strength enhanced by their sounds. He stood ready to pierce the celestial maidens in their limbs, keeping his hands fixed to the bow and arrow.

The summer:

118-124. At the time of marriage the summer season came to the Himālaya with the power of sunshine melting water. There remained very little water in the reservoirs.

The summer season too brightened the peaks of the snow-clad mountain all round by means of many trees profusely in bloom.

During that season the winds were very pleasant. They blew and wafted the fragrance of (the flowers of) Pāṭala, Kadamba and Arjuna that grew extensively.

The tanks were made pink in colour due to the pollen dust full blown lotuses. The banks were resonant due to the cackling of swans.

The Kurabaka trees were covered with flowers on the peaks. They were resorted to by swarms of bees.

On the wide side-valleys and ridges of the mountain the Bakula trees put forth lovely flowers all round.

Excellent sages accompanied by various seasons came there to increase the prosperity of the marital rites of Umā and Śiva. The trees abounded in flowers of various sorts. The lands were beautiful by virtue of sweet sounds of different sorts of birds.

125-126. When the living beings had begun to assemble thus, when hundreds of musical instruments were played, I got the daughter of the mountain embellished with befitting ornaments and led her myself into the city, O brahmins.

127-128. Thereafter, I spoke thus to the lord Īśa. “I am present in the capacity of the preceptor. I shall pour the holy ghee into the fire. If you grant permission, holy rites can be carried out immediately.”

Śaṅkara, the lord of Devas, the lord of the universe said to me.

Śiva said:

129. “O lord of Devas, O Brahmā, whatever has been thought of, whatever is desired, do it. I shall carry out your directions, O lord of the universe.”

130-135. Thereafter, delighted in my mind I took up Kuśas immediately and bound the hands of Śiva and Pārvatī together in the Yogic knot. The fire-god stood there with palms joined in reverence. The auspicious Mantras of Vedas assumed physical forms and were present at the marriage. I performed sacrifice in the maimer laid down. The ghee-like necter was poured as offering. I made the lord (and the goddess) circumambulate the fire. The binding knot was untied. Along with Devas, my mental sons and Siddhas, I was delighted within myself. As the marriage rites were over I bowed to the bull-bannered lord. O brahmins it was due to their Yogic power that the marriage of Umā and Śiva was effected.

That great marriage was concluded in this way. Devas did not know how it happened at all.

Thus the details of marriage have been recounted to you. Listen further about the marriage of the lord. It is very wonderful.