43 - Shiva Relieved of the Grief 

Narayana said- on looking at the body of Parvati Mahadeva which looked as sleeping, the lustre of whose face was still illumining and had not faded out. She was clad in white garment, holding a rosary in her hand, was illumining with the divine lustre and the charming rays of her body which looked like the molten gold were spreading everywhere. At the sight of the image Shiva's mind started burning with separation. Though he happened to be well-versed in all the tattvas, still he fainted and fell down on the ground. 

Shiva who had been valorous, felt painful with the separation of his wife. He is the one who always roams about is the best among the best, the seed of the Vedas, the teacher of the yogic practices, he also felt painful with the death of Sati. 

After regaining consciousness, immovable Shiva looked like the fallen trunk of the tree. Looking at the lotus-like face of Sati he spoke. 

At that point of time his eyes were filled with tears. Though he happens to be the refuge of downtrodden and removes the miseries of the miserable people, still his condition became miserable, and he started lamenting. 

Shiva said- О beautiful one, О chaste lady of my life, get up I happen to be Shiva, your husband. You look at me since I have come to you. 

Though I possess the form of welfare, bestow welfare and the form of all the riches, bestow success, the soul all and the lord of all but in spite of that I happen to be like a dead body without you. 

You possess all the prowess, I become competent only when you are with me. Without you I lose my shakti and become still in all the performance. 

О dear, you possess the special knowledge, the one who is not aware of the importance of shakti, such a person devoid of knowledge and denounce her. It is not proper for you to leave me. But why are you disowning me? 

Myself Brahma and Vishnu adore you always.  Now you speak smilingly nectar-like words casting side glances. 

You supply water to the like the rainwater who has been burnt out by your separation, you always smiled at me looking from a distance and talked to me lovingly, why are you so much annoyed with me and are not talking to me when I am so lamenting. О lady of my life, get up why don't you look at me.  

О beautiful one it is not proper for you to leave me after death like this. О best lady of my life you are beyond everyone, О mother of the universe, get up. О chaste damsel, why don't you serve me today? You are the mother of the Vedas. What is all this being done by you breaking the vrata? 

Thus, speaking Shiva infested with the separation of Sati, lifted up the body of his beloved and embraced her, kissing at again and again. He placed his lips over her lips and the chest over her breasts. Thus, he embraced her again and again while lamenting. 

After regaining consciousness, he got up with force infatuated with grief. Inspire of his being the teacher of the intellectuals, he started wandering like an intoxicated person. Carrying the body of Sati, he wandered in the seven islands, seven oceans various countries and mountains. He started wandering in the fallacy. 

While so wandering he went at Shatashrungagiri in Bharata in Jambudvipa, Akshayavata, in the deserted land on the bank of Ganga. 

Не started crying, "О Sati, О chaste women".  Thus, crying he started shouting loudly. At that point of time the tears flowing from the eyes of Shiva were turned into a lake which was given the name of Netrasara. In due course of time, it became the place for performing tapas by the sages. This auspicious and holy place was spread over an area of two yojanas. О mountain, while taking a bath in that sacred place, the humans do not have to be reborn. Having a dip into that water all the sins of the people disappear. 

Discarding the human body, the people achieve the place of Vishnu. Then stopping crying he again started wandering on the earth.

Shiva the great yogi was badly infested with separation and for a full one year he kept on wandering. О king of the mountains, wherever the limbs from the body of Sati fell the place was known Siddhapitha. Thereafter, Shiva cremating the remaining parts of the body of Sati, prepared a garland of her bones and wore it around his neck. The ashes of the body of Sati were applied by Shiva on his body. 

Then reciting the name of Sati, the lady of his life, Shiva again fainted. The one who was always roaming in his own soul, even forgot Brahman. Thus, the one who fulfilled the desires of others became lifeless with the grief of the separation of Sati and was seated under the banyan tree. He was lying their unconsciousness and finding him in that condition, all the gods were surprised. All of them than went to Shiva Lord Narayana also accompanied with his attendants reached at the place. His feet were adorned by Kamala with the ornaments of gems. He was wearing a pitambara had four arms, wore a smile on his face, was delightful and adorned with long garland of forest flowers. Dharma accompanied by gods and the sages arrived there and bowed in reverence to the lord of Laksmi. All of them were seated in an assembly there. Thereafter lord Hari took Shiva in his lap, who happen to be the teacher of the intellectuals and was crying. He than started consoling him. 

The lord said- О lord, you are the one who roams about in his own soul, you listen to my words which are beneficial, divine, essence of the Vedas and destroy the grief. 

Though you yourself happen to be the seed of the divine knowledge, possess supreme knowledge, are all knowledgeable and happen to be the creator of the creators, still I am imparting you the divine knowledge. When the life is in danger, even and unwise parson can render advise to a learned person. This is the tradition that the people try to convince one and other at appropriate time. All the virtues are controlled by Maya which result into the pleasure and the pain for the humans. Therefore, the powerful illusion of Vishnu causes more pain to the virtuous person. 

О Shambhu, О Isvara, during the bad times one has to face pain, grief and fear. When the bad time is over and the good time arrives, everything could be achieved. During that time the pleasure and fortunes go on increasing. Therefore, the intellectuals considered it to be like a dream. 

  О Mahadeva, you receive the knowledge. You are the seed of the knowledge and are eternal.  Regain your consciousness. You will meet with welfare. You will surely get back Sati. 

O Shiva as the coolness never leaves the waters the power of burning never leaves the fire, the lustre never leaves the sun, the fragrance never leaves the earth, similarly Sati cannot be separated from you. О mountain, on hearing this Shiva opened his eyes and looking at Hari he spoke. Whatever he spoke to him, you listen from me. 

Shiva said- О form of lustre, who are you? Who are all the people surrounding you? What is Sati?  Who am I? Who are you all talking with me where are these attendants going? You please tell me. 

O mountain, on hearing this Hari started robbing with his attendants. He made Shiva to bathe with his tears. With the combination of the tears of Shiva and Narayana, a pleasant lake was formed which was known by the name of Bhuvanapavana-Tirtha. It is located in the land of Bharata, beyond the Ashtacala-mountain, close to the Aksayata tree which is a sacred place and provides salvation to the ascetics for performing tapas there. Thereafter Hari spoke in the presence of the gods and the chaste sages to Shiva, the words which were quite divine in nature. 

The lord said- О Shiva you are knowledgeable and blissful beside being eternal. You listen to me whatever I speak. О ocean of knowledge, you and the one who is beyond everything, you have forgotten the divine knowledge and are infested in grief. The good and bad days come and go during everyone is life, they happen to be the cause of pleasure and pain for the people. One gets delighted with his pleasure and arrogance, prowess and pride, love and the desire for possession, jealousy, always appear on earth.  One gets only feels because of the pain, grief and anger. 

О Mahesvara, with the destruction of the seed all these get automatically destroyed. О Shiva the good days and bad days are achieved because of the past deeds. 

The actions are successful by tapas and one gets the good and bad reward because of his own actions. The tapas can be attained by nature and the nature is the result of the constant practice. 

The practice is achieved by noble company and while coming across with noble people, one achieves the merits. The unstable mind is the cause of merit or the sin. О Shambhu, the mind as well as all the organ of senses or my ams'has, you are the creator of all and you happen to be the supreme knowledge and Brahma is the lord of intelligence. The eternal Brahman and the great soul are one. Because of the difference in qualities, they achieved different forms. The Brahmatattva happens to be the one but appears in various forms. О Shiva, it is with qualities and without qualities as well. 

The one who takes shelter under the illusion is called Shaguna and the one who is devoid of illusion is called Nirguna. The lord always moves at will he appears of his own will in various form. 

His willpower is given the name of Prakruti which is eternal and is the creator of all. All the people describe the eternal Brahman in the form of lustre, but some other intellectuals taking him to be associated with Prakruti call him Dvividha. Those who call him one, you listen to their argument. Brahma, Maya and Jivatama is beyond both. Both of them (Maya and Jivatama) emerged from the Brahman. Therefore, Brahman happens to be the cause of all, the same Brahman in spite of his being one, by his own will is divided into two. His will power is described as Prakruti who happens to be the mother of all the s'haktis. Because of the combination of all, the same great soul is described as Saguna. Indeed, it happens to be the foundation of all, being eternal, the lord of all, the witness of all and the one who bestows the reward to all. О Shambhu, the body also is of two types, one is eternal and other is Prakruta. 

The eternal body never perishes but the Prakruta body is perishable. О lord, the bodies of both of us are eternal. Such of the creatures who are our ams'has or born out of the Trigunatmika Prakruti and therefore they are called Prakruta. The Prakruta body is always perishable. Rudra and all other happen to be your ams'has and those who are in the form of Vishnu happen to be my ams'ha. 

I have two forms one having two arms and other having four arms. In my four-armed form I live in Vaikuntha with Laksmi and other courtiers. In my two-armed form I am known by the name of Krishna and reside in Goloka together with the cowherdesses and Radha. Such of the people who consider Brahma Dvividha, there are two main tattvas according to their opinion which include eternal Purusha and eternal Prakruti Ishvari. О Shiva, both of them are united together and they happen to be the parents of all. 

Both of them take to definite form or remain formless according to their will, both of them have the form of all. As the Purusha has the eternal importance, similarly the Prakruti also enjoys the same position О Shiva, if you intend to achieve Sati then adore Prakruti. In the earlier times, whatever stotra you had delightfully given to Durvasa, it is indeed divine and has been described in the Kanvasakha. You adore the mother of the universe with that stotra. О Shiva with my blessings you will get rid of the grief. 

Your welfare would increase, and you will be deprived of the ocean of the grief caused by the separation of your wife from you very soon. О king of the mountains, thus speaking lord Vishnu, the husband of Kamala, kept quiet and lord Shiva started adoring Prakruti at the same time. He took his bath and with his mind filled with devotion and overwhelmed he bowed in reverence to Krishna and Brahma. 

Mahes'vara said I bow in reverence to Prakruti. О Brahmi, you are the from of Brahman and are eternal, be pleased with me. You are the form of great soul and extremely blissful. О Durga, you are the form of welfare, provide welfare and are the destroyer of the demons Durga, besides removing all the dangers. You happen to be the boat for crossing the ocean of the universe. Be pleased with me. 

O form of all, the goddess of all, the form of all the seeds, the foundation of all, the knowledge of all and bestower of victory be pleased with me. 

О Sarvamangala, you are the form of welfare, bestow welfare and are the base of all the welfares, be pleased with me. О grace of the devotees, you are sleep drowsiness, you are forgiveness, faith, satisfaction, the preserver, shyness, illustrious and the form of intelligence, be places with me. You are the creator of the Vedas, the form of Vedas, the cause of the Vedas, bestower of the Vedas and the form of all the Vedic literature, be pleased with me. 

О mother of the universe, you are merciful, victory, Mahamaya, patience, peace, the destroyer of all and the form of hunger and thirst.  You be pleased with me. О Illusion of Vishnu, you are Laksmi in the lap of Narayana, Bharati with Brahma and Mahamaya in my lap. Be pleased with me. 

О lover of the down-trodden, you are the form of all the directions day and night and bestow the reward for the deeds performed by people, you be happy with me. You are the cause of all the shaktis, you are Radha in the heart of Sri Krishna and dearer to him than his own life. You are adored by Krishna. О virtuous one, be pleased with me. 

You are the form of glory, the cause of glory, bestower of glory and the form of all the goddesses. You created the form of women and with your rays you take to the form of damsels.  Be pleased with me. You are the form of all the treasures, bestower of all the riches, quite auspicious, extremely blissful and bestower of all the riches and also are the cause for the same. You are adored by all the women you are the treasure of all the glories, be happy with me. 

You are the base of the entire earth and the diamonds, known as Vasundhara. You have the form of moveable and immovable. You be pleased with me without delay. 

O Siddhayogini, you are the form of yoga, the goddess of yoga, the bestower of yoga, the cause of all the yoga and the great goddess of yoga besides being the great goddess of all the goddesses. By pleased with me. 

O Siddhesvari, you are the form of all success, bestow success, you are the cause of all the success, be happy with me. 

О Mahes'vari, you happen to be the commentary of all the religious scriptures. You are Parmesvari in the form of knowledge. In case I have spoken anything undesirable, I beg to be forgiven to the same. 

Some people consider Prakruti to be the biggest force and some of them describe Purusha to be like that. Some of the intellectuals consider that the twotheory emerged from the difference in the descriptive details. 

In the earlier times Brahma who was seated on the lotus which had emerged out of the navel of Vishnu and the demon named Madhu and Kaitabha got ready to kill him. At that point of time Brahma adored you seeking protection from the demon and in order to save Brahma you woke up Narayana from his sleep. 

Thereafter, Narayana with the help of your s'hakti killed both the demons. With your co operation he is known as the lord of all and without you he feels helpless. 

О greet goddess, protect me. 

О Ishvari presently I am burning in the fire of separation from you. You protect me. O Parmesvari you purchase me by paying the price of appearing before me. 

After thus speaking Shiva kept quiet. He than looked towards the sky and found the goddess Prakruti present there. She was mounted on a chariot of gems, having hundred arms, with a delightful face, having the lustre of the molten gold, adorned with the gem-studded ornaments wearing a serene smile on the delightful face.  She was mother of the universe in the form of Sati. Shiva who was suffering because of the separation again started offering prayer to her while sobbing and spoke to her the about pain of his separation. 

He displayed the garland of bones worn by him and also the ashes applied by him on his body and satisfied the beautiful Sati. 

At that point of time Narayana, Dharma, Brahma, Sesa, the gods and the sages spoke, "O Is'hvari protect Shiva". Thus, speaking they offered prayer to the goddess. 

With the reciting of the stotra, by all of them, she was at once pleased and she spoke to Shiva who was dearer to her than her life. 

Prakruti said- О Mahadeva, you keep patience. О lord you are dearer to me than my life. О Yogisvara, you are my soul and my lord in every birth. О Mahes'vara, I would be born from the womb of Mena the wife of Himalaya the king of the mountains and shall become your wife.  Therefore, you shed away the grief of my separation. 

Thus, speaking assuring Shiva, the goddess disappeared. Thereafter, the gods bowing in shame before Shiva assured him variously and left for their respective abodes. 

Shiva than left for the Kailasa mountain and freeing himself from the flames of separation, he started dancing with his ganas. 

Whosoever recites this stotra of Prakruti, composed by Shiva, would never have to face separation from his wife in any birth. 

After enjoying all the worldly pleasures during the present life he would achieve the abode of Shiva and enjoys dharma, artha, kama and moksha, there is no doubt about it.