Chapter 47 - The ceremonious entry of Śiva

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

Summary: The ceremonious entry of Śiva into the inner apartments of the palace of Himavat.

Brahmā said:—

1. Then the chief of mountains caused the investiture rite with the sacred thread for Pārvatī and Śiva with the Vedic hymns recited enthusiastically.

2. Then Viṣṇu, the other gods and the sages entered the inner apartments of the palace of the mountain enthusiastically at the request of Himācala.

3. After performing the conventional rites in accordance with the Vedic injunctions and the social customs they decorated Pārvatī with the ornaments provided by Śiva.

4. First of all she was bathed, then bedecked with the ornaments. The Nīrājana rites too were also performed by the maids and brahmin women.

5. The daughter of the mountain and the beloved of Śiva, the lovely lady shone with the pair of fresh clothes.

6. O sage, an exquisite divine jacket studded with various gems was worn by the goddess who shone all the more.

7. She wore a necklace studded with divine gems. Costly bangles of pure gold were worn by her.

8. The lovely lady, the daughter of the great mountain, the mother of the three worlds staying there itself meditated on Śiva and shone thereby.

9. Then there was great jubilation delighting both the sides. Different kinds of charitable gifts were distributed among the brahmins.

10. Monetary gifts were distributed among others. They were diverse. Many songs were sung jubilantly.

11. Then Viṣṇu, I the creator, Indra and other gods as well as the sages joined in jubilation with great pleasure.

12. Then after bowing humbly to Pārvatī with devotion and remembering the lotus-like feet of Śiva they returned to their camps obtaining the permission of Himavat.

13. In the meantime Garga, a great expert in the science of astrology, spoke to Himavat, the lord of mountains.

Garga said:—

14. O Himavat, O lord, O father of Pārvatī, now fetch Śiva to your palace for the marriage rites.

Brahmā said:—

15. On realising that the auspicious time for the marriage rites had been intimated by Garga, the mountain rejoiced much.

16. With the desire to bring Śiva there, the mountain gladly sent mountains, brahmins and others.

17. The mountains and brahmins with auspicious holy objects in their hands jubilantly went to the place where lord Śiva stood.

18. Then the sound of the Vedic chants, musical instruments, songs and dances jubilantly arose there.

19. On hearing the loud sound of musical instruments trumpets etc. the attendants of Śiva simultaneously got up joyously along with the gods and sages.

20. With great joy m their minds they said to one another—“O here come the mountains to take Śiva over there!

21. The auspicious hour for marriage rites has come. We consider that our fortune is imminent.

22. Indeed we are highly blessed as to witness the marriage ceremony of Śiva and Pārvatī, highly portentous of the good fortune of all the worlds.”

Brahmā said:—

23. Even as these confabulations were going on, the ministers of the lord of mountains came there.

24. They approached Śiva, Viṣṇu and others and made their submission that the time for the celebration of marriage had arrived and that they would please hasten to the palace.

25. On hearing that, O sage, Viṣṇu and others rejoiced much and cried shouts of victory to the mountain.

26. Śiva too rejoiced much eager that he was approaching Pārvatī but kept the signs of joy within his mind alone in a wonderfully serene manner.

27. Then the ceremonial ablution with the sacred articles of toilet, was performed by the delighted tridentbearing lord eager to bless the worlds.

28. The bath being over He wore fine clothes. He was attended upon by the guardians of the quarters and surrounded by several others. He was then seated on the shoulders of the Bull.

29. With the lord in front, all of them entered the palace of Himavat playing on various musical instruments and exhibiting their eagerness.

30. The brahmins sent by Himavat and the excellent mountains enthusiastically went ahead of Śiva.

31. The great royal umbrella was held aloft over the great lord. He was fanned by chowries and a canopy was spread over Him.

32. Viṣṇu, Indra, the other guardians of the quarters and I going ahead shone with great brilliance and splendour.

33. In that great festivity conches were blown, drums were beaten and the musical instruments, paṭaha, Ānaka and Gomukha were played on, repeatedly.

34. Musicians sang auspicious songs. Dancing girls danced to the tune.

35. Accompanied by these, attended upon by all important gods and with flowers showered on Him delightedly, the sole kinsman of the universe walked ahead shedding lordly splendour.

36. Lord Śiva, eulogised with many hymns of praise, entered the sacrificial altar. He was duly worshipped.

37. The excellent mountains jubilantly made Śiva dismount the bull and lovingly took Him within.

38. After duly bowing to Śiva who arrived there with the gods and Gaṇas, Himavat performed the Nīrājana with great devotion.

39. Praising his own good luck and bowing to all the gods, sages and others jubilantly he honoured them suitably.

40. The mountain, after offering Pādya and Arghya to them, took Śiva along with Viṣṇu and the important gods, within.

41. In the quadrangle inside he made us, Viṣṇu, Śiva and other important persons sit on gemset thrones.

42. The Nīrājana rites was then performed by Mena, her maids and the brahmin women as well as other ladies of the city with joy.

43. The necessary rites such as offering of Madhuparka etc. to Śiva, the supreme soul, were joyously performed by the priest who knew his duties.

44-45. O sage, urged by me, the priest carried out

the auspicious rites relevant to the context after entering the enclosure where the altar had been built along with Himavat. Pārvatī. bedecked in all her ornaments was seated as the bride.

46. She was seated over the raised platform and Śiva was led along with Viṣṇu and me.

47. Waiting for the auspicious Lagna befitting marriage, Bṛhaspati and others became jubilant.

48. Garga was seated in the place where the chronometer^[1] had been kept. The Oṃkāra Mantra was repeated during the interval before the Lagna.

49. Repeating the Puṇyāha mantras, Garga lifted the handful of rice-grains and handing them over to Pārvatī he made her shower it on Śiva.

50. Śiva was duly worshipped by the joyful and sweetfaced Pārvatī with the rice-grains mixed with curd and Darbha water.

51. Gazing at Śiva for whom great penance had been performed by her formerly, Pārvatī shone beaming with pleasure.

52. Requested by me and the sages Garga and others, Śiva, following the worldly conventions worshipped her.

53. Thus, worshipping each other Śiva and Pārvatī identifying themselves with the universe, shone well.

54. Both of them, enveloped by the glory of the three worlds and gazing at each other, were offered the Nīrājana by Lakṣmī and other ladies particularly.

55. The brahmin ladies and the citizen ladies performed the Nīrājana rites. All of them derived great pleasure and gaiety on seeing Śiva and Pārvatī.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

Ghaṭikā or a water clock was not only useful for carrying the nuptial programme at proper times but was also symbolical of time that ruled over the entire universe.