Chapter 77 - Importance of Harāśraya Vedikā

[Sanskrit text for this chapter is available]

The sages said:

1-4. O Sūta, with reference to the installation of Umā and Maheśvara performed by King Hariścandra you say that they resorted to the middle of the Vedi (Altar). Is it so? Or another set was installed at Camatkārapura? This is what is heard by us always that they are in the middle of the altar as their marriage took place in Oṣadhīprastha, the favourite spot of Himālaya. Here we are in doubt. In fact your words deserve credence. Are we confused even after hearing your words? Or you have committed a slip? Clarify this kindly.

Sūta said:

5. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, there is no confusion in me (my speech) but it is yours. However know the reason of it as I explain to you fully.

6-7. Formerly it was in the Vaivasvata Manvantara^[1] that the fascinating marriage of Umā and Trinetra (Śiva) took place in Oṣadhīprastha delighting all the Devas. O excellent Brāhmaṇas, this seventh Manu is well known and you all know the same.

8. But their marriage which took place in Hāṭakeśvara Kṣetra was celebrated with great fanfare in the Svāyaṃbhuva Manvantara of the first Manu.

The sages said:

9. O Sūta, the marriage of Pārvatī and Hara that took place earlier in Oṣadhīprastha has been heard by us in detail.

10-11. The marriage of the Bull-vehicled One which took place in the holy spot of Hāṭakeśvara during the charming Yajña of Dakṣa occurred in the Svāyaṃbhuva Manvantara^[1]. O scion of the family of Sūta, that should be duly narrated to us by you in detail just in the way it had occurred. This is our great curiosity.

Sūta said:

12. Here I shall completely narrate the sin-destroying marital function of the Trident-bearing Lord of Devas.

13. O Brāhmaṇas, Dakṣa, the Prācetasa, was born from the right thumb of Brahmā. A hundred and five daughters were born to him.

14. The eldest of those daughters was Satī by name. The chaste lady of splendid smiles and long eyes was endowed with all good qualities.

15. No girl either from Deva or Gandharvas or Asura or Nāga clans was as beautiful as that girl of excellent waist.

16. Dakṣa gave her to the Trident-bearing Lord as his wife. She had been repeatedly requested by him. He was desirous of her and she of him.

17. He thought of the holiest of holy spots befitting the rite of Kanyādāna (marriage) and came there along with his daughter, ministers and servants.

18. Then he brought in great quantity different kinds of articles all highly auspicious and especially befitting marriage celebrations.

19. Maheśvara came there on the thirteenth lunar day in the bright half of Caitra coinciding with a Sunday and the constellation Pūrvāphālgunī.

20. He was accompanied by all the groups of Suras with Lord Viṣṇu at their head, Ādityas, Vasus, Rudras, Āśvins and others.

21. Groups of Sādhyas, Siddhas, Bhūtas, Pretas, Vināyakas, Gandharvas, groups of Cāraṇas, Guhyakas, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas were also with him.

22. In the meanwhile, Dakṣa whose, hair stood on end due to excessive joy, accompanied by his friends and relative came forward to receive him personally.

23. Great musical instruments were being played by Sūtas, Māgadhas and Bandins (all different kinds of bards). Many people recited Mantras. Many musicians sang songs.

24. All the Suras were duly honoured by Dakṣa himself in accordance with their seniority and importance. They were seated in due order all round the Vedi erected within the pavilion.

25-26. Dakṣa bowed down to Pitāmaha with great pleasure and requested: “O Lord, all the rites in connection with the celebration of the marriage should be performed by you. Bless her yourself so that my daughter shall be fortunate, beautiful, loyal, well-behaved, dear to her husband and blessed with sons and grandsons.”

27. “So be it,” said he with a delighted mind. Getting up he performed all the rites beginning with the honouring (of the elders).

28. He performed the rite of Saṃpradāna (giving away the daughter in marriage) there itself in accordance with the injunctions. In front of Mātṛs (Mothers) Vedhas (Brahmā) made Satī and íśa grasp each other’s hands in the proper manner.

29. Then he came to the Vedi (Altar) and performed all the rites in the fire as mentioned in the Gṛhya Sūtra texts in full detail.

30. As he eagerly and enthusiastically looked at the beautiful limbs of Satī, Pitāmaha became delighted and distressed with lust

31. Excepting her face hidden behind the veil, all the other limbs were glanced at by that lascivious one in a manner unknown to anyone else.

32. He did not look directly at Śaṃbhu’s face out of shame. She too was very bashful and hence did not reveal her face.

53. Then Brahmā began to look for ways and means to see the face (of Satī). He thought of doing so through smoke as he became more and more distressed with lust.

54. He put many wet sacrificial twigs into the fire repeatedly. The clarified butter was reduced in quantity when poured. Thus the wet things became prominently used.

35. In the meantime columns of smoke enveloped the place all round. The foot of the Altar became completely enveloped in darkness.

30. With eyes distressed with smoke Tripurāntaka (Śiva) and all members present covered their eyes with hands.

37. The lascivious Brahmā lifted the veil of Satī and looked at her face delightedly.

38. As a result thereof there was an emission of the semen of Brahmā which fell on the ground like a man of snow drops.

99. The Lotus-born One (Brahmā) immediately covered that man of semen with sand-particles lest anyone should see it

40. Lord Śaṃbhu knew it through his divine perception. Being angry at the emission of semen, he said:

4144a. “O sinner, what a despicable act has been committed by you! It does not behove you to look at my wife’s face lustfully. You seem to think that all these activities were not noticed by Śaṅkara. O Vidhi, is there anything concealed from me in all the three world? How can they be?

O foolish one, I am in the interior of everything in all the three worlds whether it u mobile or immobile, like oil latent in a gingely seed. Hence give up this your head, O Brahmā, undoubtedly.”

44b. As this transpired, Brahmā touched his head with his hand (The root √spṛś means ‘to touch’, ‘to give up’ etc.). Presently the Bull-vehicled One stood there in his own form.

45. Then, O Brāhmaṇas, he was completely overwhelmed with shame and stood there with face cast down. Further, all the Devas beginning with India were standing around.

46-17. The bashful Pitāmaha bowed down to Maheśvara, eulogized and said, “Do forgive. Do forgive. Do tell me, O Lord, what shall be the expiation for this sin? Mete out to me the punishment befitting it so that the sin may be quelled.”

Śrī Bhagavān said:

48. With this form held on your head perform penance. Meditate on me with eagerness to propitiate me.

49. You will become well-known under the name Rudraśiras all over the earth. You will be the accomplisher of all tasks of the Brāhmaṇas endowed with refulgence.

50. Since this act has been perpetrated by you—on act befitting only human beings—you will become a man and roam about on the earth.

51-52. One who sees you in this form and enquires: “What is this? Lord Tripurāntaka over the head of Brahmā?” and eagerly hears about your act, shall become rid of the sin of cohabiting with another man’s wife.

53. The more people go on narrating this act of yours, the more your sin will get dissolved and you will become purified.

54. O Brahmā, this alone is spoken as the atonement for you, as people of the earth will laugh at you and ridicule you very much.

55. Your semen that dropped down in the middle of the Vedī as you were distressed with lust, has been noticed, by me. It shall not go in vain.

56. As many particles of sand came into contact with the semen so many sages of esteemed holy vows will arise from it.

57. All of them will be of the size of a thumb and be famous as Vālakhilyas. They will be capable of cursing and blessing. They will be endowed with the power of penance.

58. In the meantime, O excellent Brāhmaṇas, eighty-eight thousand sages of sanctified souls, all of the size of a thumb, came out of the centre of the Vedī.

59. They bowed down to Lord Pitāmaha and spoke to him loudly, “O father, show us a place devoid of Kali (quarrel) for performing austerities.”

Pitāmaha said:

60. O dear sons, perform penance in this holy spot along with me. Thereby you will attain the greatest Siddhi rare in the world.

61. All those Vālakhilyas promised to do so. They erected a splendid hermitage, performed penance and attained the greatest Siddhi.

62. Brahmā too duly completed himself the rites of the marriage in the way in which it has been enjoined in the Śruti.

63. Showers of flowers fell around from the sky. Musical instruments were played and songs were Sung.

64. Eminent Brāhmaṇas chanted the Vedic Mantras. The celestial damsels beginning with Raṃbhā began to dance passionately fascinating the eyes of the Devas.

65. Thus a great festival went on there even as Tuṃburu and others sang in the manner they used to sing in heaven earlier.

66-67. At the conclusion of the celebration of marriage, Lord Tripurāntaka devoutly said to the Lotus-born One: “O excellent one among Suras, what monetary fee shall I give you for this celebration of marriage? Tell me quickly, even if it be too high, O highly esteemed one, there is nothing which cannot be given my me.”

Pitāmaha said:

68. O Lord of Suras, you should stay in this Vedī in this very form always, for the purification of the sins of men.

69. O Moon-crested Lord, I shall make my hermitage in your vicinity and perform the penance for the destruction of this sin.

70. A man who visits the deity devoutly on the thirteenth lunar day in the bright half of Caitra coinciding with Sunday and the constellation Pūrvāphālgunī, will find his sins dissolved at the very same time.

71. A woman who is unlucky, barren, squint-eyed and ugly shall become beautiful by visiting you. Undoubtedly she shall become fortunate, enjoying excellent pleasures and giving birth to good children.

Maheśvara said:

72. O Vidhi, at your true instance I shall remain in the Vedī accompanied by my wife for the welfare of all the worlds.

Sūta said:

73. Thus the Bull-bannered Lord stands in the centre of the Vedī along with his wife, destroying the sins of all people.

74. Thus, O Brāhmaṇas, it has been fully narrated to you how formerly in the Svāyaṃbhuva Manvantara the marriage of Vṛṣanātha took place.

75-76. If on the occasion of a marriage or at the beginning, anyone listens to this narrative after adoring calmly the Bull-bannered Lord, all the rites of the marriage celebration shall become unhindered. The bride shall become endowed with happiness, conjugal felicity, good qualitic [quality/qualites?] and conduct; she shall be chaste and loyal and give birth to sons.

Footnotes and references:

[1]:

This is the usual Puraṇic way of resolving contradictions by referring the matter to different Manvantara when certain different happening took place.