2 - Siva's Marriage 

Narada 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 Ganga yields greater benefit than holy rites, fasts and Krucchra rites. Krucchra¹ 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 Ganga 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. 

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

 6. Ten thousand years before, when Devas were ascendant Täraka¹ became very powerful. He became very arrogant due to the boons granted by me. 

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

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 Vişhņu:

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.² 

2. The three kinds, are adhyatmika, adhidaivika and adhibhautika or those due to diseases and other bodily causes, those due to super-natural agencies and those caused by natural calamities.

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.³ When fear overwhelms us you protect us by assuming different forms. 

3. Three well known incarnations of god Vişhnu.

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 Lakşmi, who lies on the serpent Sesa, 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 Lakshmi in regard to the Asura Taraka. 

Devas said: 

16-17. A terrible danger from Taraka 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 Narayana 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 Siva. Hence, let us all go, O Devas, along with sages in order to strive for the marriage of lord Siva. 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 Himaván full of jewels and to Mena the beloved wife of Himaván. All of them said this to Himavan and his wife: 

23-25. "Dakşhas's daughter who is the mother of the worlds, who is Siva stationed as Sakti, who has various forms in the world such as Buddhi (intellect), Prajñā (intelligence), Dhruti (courage), Medhā (faculty of comprehension), Lajjā (bashfulness), Pusti (nourishment) and Sarasvati (Speech) and who sanctifies the worlds shall enter Mena's womb in order to achieve success in the affairs of Devas. On being born that mother of the Universe will become Siva's wife. She will protect all of us as well as you."

 Brahmå said: 

26. Himavān approved of the scheme of Devas. Menā  became extremely enthusiastic and said "Let it be so". 

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

28. Devas said to her: "Enter penance for Isa". Then Gauri performed penance on the ridge of the mountain Himalaya. 

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

Then the highly intelligent Bruhaspati of liberal intellect said: Bruhaspati said: 

31. The intelligent Cupid who wields the flowery bow and excites people must hit the quiescent Siva 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 Taraka. 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 Siva. 

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 Siva and began to think "Shall the lord Siva, 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 Siva 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 Siva. 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 Himaván your wife.

 Brahmā said: 

Lord Siva 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 Arundhati, Vasistha, the discus-bearing Vişhnu and me for the arrangement of the wedding. 

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