Śiva and Gaurī’s Marriage

This account is from the Kaumārika Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa. It tells the marriage of Parameśvara Śiva and Pārvatī, daughter of Himavān, the king of mountains. The Seven Ṛshis carry the letter of confirmation to Himavān. Brahmā creates a divine city for the wedding. The whole universe, every deva, ṛshi, ocean, river and power of creation, gathers to see the marriage.

The preparation

Both sides had agreed. Brahmā then made a divine city at once, set with gems and jewels. It was a hundred yojanas wide and beautiful with hundreds of mansions. Parameśvara Śiva stayed in that city while the preparations were made.

He then called the Seven Ṛshis (the Saptarshis). They went to Himavān with Arundhatī to carry the formal letter of confirmation (pratijñāpatra). They spoke of Śiva’s glorious qualities to Himavān and his wife Menā. Himavān welcomed them with full honour, and the Ṛshis came back with his glad acceptance.

After that, Śiva invited the whole universe to the marriage, all except the wicked Daityas.

Śiva is dressed as the bridegroom

The devas who had gathered dressed Parameśvara Śiva as a bridegroom, as is right for the master of all beings.

• Brahmā, full of deep love, tied the crescent moon to Śiva’s jaṭā (matted hair).
• Vishṇu himself made the matted locks shine.
• Camuṇḍā put a great garland of skulls on his head and said: “Beget a son, O Śaṅkara, who will kill the family of the chief Daitya and give me offerings of blood.”
• Sūrya fixed a blazing red jewel to his top-knot.
• Śesha and Vāsuki, shining with their jewelled hoods, gave themselves as ornaments.
• The Vāyus decorated the bull with many gem fittings.
• Śakra held the elephant’s hide before him.
• Pretanātha put a garland of silver-bright human bones on his body.
• Vahni (Agni) gave a divine deer hide.

So dressed by all the powers of creation, Śiva shone with a light beyond this world. The Seven Oceans held up the mirror, and Parameśvara saw his own form, which is one with the whole universe. Then Keśava looked at him in wonder and said: “O Mahādeva, O destroyer of Tripura, you shine in this form that delights the whole universe.”

The great procession

There was the sound of divine dundubhi drums, a rain of flowers, music, the dances of the apsarās, and a great shout of “Victory!” Śiva moved forward. Brahmā on his swan rode on his left, and Vishṇu on Garuḍa rode on his right. In the great procession behind Śiva came these.

The devīs: Aditi, Diti, Dānu, Kadrū, Suparṇajā, Paulomī, Surasā, Siṃhikā, Surabhī, Muni, Siddhi, Māyā, Kshamā, Durgā, Svāhā, Svadhā, Sudhā, Sāvitrī, Gāyatrī, Lakshmī, Dakshiṇā, Dyuti, Spṛhā, Mati, Dhṛti, Buddhi, Ṛddhi, Sarasvatī, Rākā, Kuhū, Sinīvālī, Rohiṇī, and the wives and mothers of all the devas.

The witnesses of creation: Serpents, Garuḍas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, human beings, the Oceans, the Mountains, the Clouds, the Months, the Years, the Vedas, the Mantras, the Yajñas, all the Vedic Dharmas, the Huṃkāras, the Praṇavas, the thousands of Itihāsas, and crores of devas with their vehicles. All followed Parameśvara Śiva.

The Gaṇas: The text lists the chief gaṇa-leaders with their armies. They are Vishākhas (sixty-four crore), Sāmada (seven crore), Dundubha (eight crore), Kāpāliśa (five crore), Vishṭambha (eight crore), Mahākeśa (a thousand), Nandī (twelve crore), Mahākāla (a hundred), Agnimukha (a crore), Amogha, Kokila, Vīrabhadra, Pañcāksha, Bhṛṅgiriṭi, and countless others. All had a thousand hands, wore crowns and jaṭā, and held the eight siddhis (powers).

Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, Hūhū and the Sāmagas played their instruments. All the ṛshis and ascetics sang Vedic wedding hymns. Gaṅgā and Yamunā fanned Śiva. The master of the waters held the umbrella over him.

The wedding

The procession entered Himavān’s palace. It had golden domes and hundreds of arched gateways. Its floors were paved with lapis lazuli, and it was set with mansions of gems and jewels.

Himavān washed Śiva’s feet himself, with deep joy, and sprinkled the water on himself and on all who were there. He offered pādya (water for the feet), ācamana (water for sipping), madhuparka (a honey offering) and a cow.

Then a problem came up. Himavān did not know Śiva’s gotra (family line), which was needed for the formal pradāna (giving of the bride). He asked others, and none knew.

Vishṇu solved it with a joke. He said: “The serpent alone knows the feet of serpents. Ask him himself. And if he does not name his gotra, then my sister should not be given.” All laughed. Then, while Parameśvara Śiva stayed shy and silent, Vishṇu spoke: “O Śambhu, son of Ātman, grandson of Ātman.” All cried “Well done!” The gotra of Śiva was declared to be Ātman itself.

Himavān then made the pradāna, the gift of his daughter. Parameśvara Śiva took the devī’s hand amid the hymns of the ṛshis and a shower of flowers from the sky. Agni, the deva of fire, was there in bodily form. Hara (Śiva) made the homa (fire offering) and walked three times round the fire with Pārvatī, and so completed the lājāhoma (the offering of parched grain).

Vishṇu acted as the bride’s brother, since Mainaka was inside the sea, and finished the wedding rites with a smile. Śiva asked Vishṇu for a vara: “Let my devotion to you be firm.” Śiva gave it. As dakshiṇā (the priest’s gift), Śiva and Vishṇu gave Brahmā the protection of creation. They gave Agni his shares in all yajñas. They gave Bhṛgu and the ṛshis the protection of the Vedas.

After feasting, music and celebration, Śiva said farewell to the gathered worlds. He comforted Himavān and Menā with sweet words. Then he left with Pārvatī for Mandara mountain.

Phalaśruti

Whoever hears or studies this account of the marriage of the daughter of the king of mountains, especially at the time of a wedding festival, gains good fortune and lasting prosperity.

Sources

• Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Māheśvara Khaṇḍa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa, Chapter 26