Chapter 38 - History of Ganga (continued, 2)

All the gods occupied their respective seats in the assembly, and the goddess Ganga sat in their midst, like the soul in the body, shedding her lustre on every side. They were overpowered with her beauty, and Siva gazed at her for a long time with unabated admiration.

Then the gods gave her a garland of the purest white lotus-like flowers, and she rose up and placed it on the head of Siva, whereupon the gods shouted for joy.

Siva addressed the assembly and said,

“Take notice, ye gods, that by wearing on my head the garland offered by Ganga, I mean to indicate that her place will be on my head. In fact, this place was assigned to her long ago, when I bore the dead body of Sati on it^[1]. Moreover, my heart is occupied by Yoga, and my left side by Sakti^[2]. The right side belonging to sons and daughters, I have no other place available for her except the head. I tell you this in order that there may be no misunderstanding oh the subject in future.”

Seeing Siva anxious to take away his bride with him, Brahma entreated him to leave her with him for a short time. Siva protested saying that a wife’s place was with her husband, but left the final decision of the matter to Ganga herself.

Ganga said,

“Brahma, since you have given me away to Siva, it is not meet for me to be away from him. However, as you and the other gods are much devoted to me, I shall not desert your water-pot. I shall live with my husband in my own form, but shall leave my Antardhana^[3] portion behind in that jar to live there forever, and I shall be with you whenever you want me.”

Saying this she went away with Siva, and Brahma returned to his own realm with his water-jar.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

See page 116.

[2]:

Literally, energy. One of the names of Siva’s consort. The Hindu theory is that Siva by himself has no energy or actiyity, but is supplied with that quality by his wife. It is the matter and force theory allegorically expressed.

[3]:

Inner or mental.