The Gautami Mahatmya

by G. P. Bhatt | 1955 | 127,137 words

This is the English translation of the Gautami-Mahatmya, which forms the fourth part of the Brahma-purana. The Gautamimahatmya narrates the legends and merits of the various holy places (tirthas) situated around the bank of the Godavari river in 105 chapters. It can be seen as distinct work by itself, and was declared as a “highly meritorious puran...

Chapter 2 - Śiva’s Marriage

Nārada said:

1. The holy centre that is presided over by three deities is the most excellent of all holy centres. Kindly recount to me its form and different types in detail.

Brahmā said:

2. The other holy centres or sacred regions and sacrifice or other holy rites are effective only as long as the holy centre presided over by three deities, is not visited.

3-5. Resorting to Gaṅgā yields greater benefit than holy rites, fasts and Kṛcchra rites. Kṛcchra[1] rites should be performed in holy centres. O sage, holy centres purify all objects, oneself, mother, father etc. Except in holy centre presided over by the three deities there cannot be any remission in sins. Remembered, seen or touched it yields all desired objects. This Gaṅgā is the most excellent of all rivers. It bestows all desired things. It is presided over by three deities, O excellent sage. Listen to its origin.

6. Ten thousand years before, when Devas were ascendant Tāraka[2] became very powerful. He became very arrogant due to the boons granted by me.

7-8. The great glory as well as wealth of Devas was taken away by that powerful demon. Thereafter, Devas along with their leader Indra sought shelter in the lord of the worlds, the great grandfather of the Universe, who was lying in the milk-ocean. With their palms joined in reverence Devas who had none else to approach said to Viṣṇu:

Devas said:

9. O lord, you are the saviour of the worlds. You increase the fame of Devas. O lord of all, O source of origin of the Universe, O lord with the three Vedas for your form, obeisance to you.

10. You alone are the creator of the world, destroyer of Asuras and lord of the worlds. O Jaganmaya (who are identical with the Universe), you are the cause of creation, sustenance, and destruction.

11. In the whole of the three worlds, there is no other saviour to the embodied beings under the storm and stress of adversities. O lotus-eyed one, excepting you there is none to quell the three kinds of distress.[3]

12. You are the father and mother of the universe. O lord, you are easily accessible through service. Be pleased, O lord, save us from great dangers. Say, who is the destroyer of our distress excepting you?

13. You are the primordial maker. You are the Boar, Fish and Tortoise.[4] When fear overwhelms us you protect us by assuming different forms.

14. O lord Hari, we have no other refuge. Our lordship has been taken away. Our women have been disgraced. We have been rendered homeless. O lord, why don’t you protect us?

15. Then the lord of Lakṣmī, who lies on the serpent Śeṣa, said to them: “Whence has this danger and fear come over to you? Please speak out without any tension.” Then they said to the lord of Lakṣmī in regard to the Asura Tāraka.

Devas said:

16-17. A terrible danger from Tāraka has overwhelmed us. It causes hairs to stand on end. We are not capable of killing him in battles or by curses or austerities. He will meet death from a child who is not yet ten days old. Hence, O lord, let action be taken with regard to him.

Brahmā said:

18-20. Again Nārāyaṇa said: “O Devas, I am not very powerful. He cannot be killed by me or by my child or by Devas. Tāraka, the scorcher of the worlds, will meet death from that extremely powerful child who may be born of lord Śiva. Hence, let us all go, O Devas, along with sages in order to strive for the marriage of lord Śiva. This is the first attempt that should be made by us who are powerful enough for that.”

21-22. After saying “So be it” Devas went to the excellent mountain Himavān full of jewels and to Menā the beloved wife of Himavān. All of them said this to Himavān and his wife:

23-25. “Dakṣa’s daughter who is the mother of the worlds, who is Śiva stationed as Śakti, who has various forms in the world such as Buddhi (intellect), Prajñā (intelligence), Dhṛti (courage), Medhā (faculty of comprehension), Lajjā (bash-fulness), Puṣṭi (nourishment) and Sarasvatī (Speech) and who sanctifies the worlds shall enter Menā’s womb in order to achieve success in the affairs of Devas. On being born that mother of the Universe will become Śiva’s wife. She will protect all of us as well as you.”

Brahmā said:

26. Himavān approved of the scheme of Devas. Mena became extremely enthusiastic and said “Let it be so”.

27. Then the mother of the Universe was born as Gaurī in the abode of Himavān. She was engaged in meditation of Śiva. She was his beloved. She considered him as her ultimate resort.

28. Devas said to her: “Enter penance for Īśa”. Then Gaurī performed penance on the ridge of the mountain Himalaya.

29-30. Again Devas took counsel with one another. They said: “How can Īśa meditate on her? Does he meditate on the Ātman or anything else? We do not know. How can the lord of Devas be made to fix his mind on the daughter of Menā? Some means should be employed in regard to this. Thence you will derive excellence.”

Then the highly intelligent Bṛhaspati of liberal intellect said:

Bṛhaspati said:

31. The intelligent Cupid who wields the flowery bow and excites people must hit the quiescent Śiva by means of splendid flowery arrows.

32. Pierced by the arrows the three-eyed lord may fix his mind on her. Then the lord will certainly marry her.

33. The arrows of the victorious Cupid have never been ineffective anywhere. So when the mother of the Universe gets married a son will be born to her.

34-35. That son born to the three-eyed lord will kill Tāraka. Give unto Kāma, Vasanta the storehouse of flowers as an assistant. He delights the minds of everyone.

Brahmā said:

36. Saying “So be it” Devas, the suppressors of their enemies felt relieved. They sent Cupid and Spring to Śiva.

37. Holding his bow and accompanied by Spring and his consort Rati, Cupid hurried to perform that very difficult task.

38-39. Holding the bow and arrows he stood in front of Śiva and began to think “Shall the lord Śiva, the preceptor of the worlds, be pierced? I am the conqueror of universe. But are my arrows firm in regard to him?”

He was reduced to ashes by Śiva by his fiery eyes.

40-44. In order to watch the same activity steadily Devas came there. Listen to the surprising event that happened then. Devas looked at Śiva. Even as they glanced at Cupid, they saw him reduced to ashes and they were frightened. With the palms joined together Devas eulogised the lord.

Devas said:

Great fear of Tāraka has overwhelmed us. Make the daughter of Himavān your wife.

Brahmā said:

Lord Śiva whose mind had been pierced, immediately acted according to the entreaties of Devas. It is the nature of noble souls that they do not consider their own welfare while they make sacrifices for the sake of others.

Devas sent Arundhatī, Vasiṣṭha, the discus-bearing Viṣṇu and me for the arrangement of the wedding.

In this manner the alliance between Himavān and Śiva, the lord of the Universe, was effected.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

A common word for several types of austerities involving bathing, fasting, worship and other prescribed religious observances.

[2]:

A demon who after propitiating Śiva by his penance became a great terror to the world and was ultimately killed by Skanda.

[3]:

The three kinds are ādhyātmika, ādhidaivika and ādhibhautika or those due to diseases and other bodily causes, those due to super-natural agencies and those caused by natural calamities.

[4]:

Three well known incarnations of god Viṣṇu.

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