45 - Marriage of Shiva 

Sri Krishna said- Thereafter, Shiva made Parvati to sit to his left side and performed the yajna according to the Vedic rites. О damsel of the pleasure of Vrundavana, after the completion of the yajna Shiva gave away to the Brahmanas a hundred gold coins in daksina. 

Thereafter, the wives of the lord of mountains performed the welfare ceremonies took the newly wedded couple in the inner apartment.

All of them recited the slogan of victory of Shiva and sprinkling divine water on the couple smilingly looked at Shiva with side-glances. All of them became emotional at that time. After getting into the palace, all the damsels looked at the face of Shiva who was looking with side glances. He looked quite graceful. 

His costumes and ornaments were quite fine; he was decorated with the spots of vermilion; his fair complexion was putting to shame the lustre of the champaka flowers he appeared youthful from all his limbs and could attract even the minds of the ascetics. The sixteen chaste damsels including Sarasvati, Laksmi, Savitri, Ganga, Rati, Aditi, Indrani, Lopamudra, Arundhati, Ahalaya, Tulasi, Svaha, Rohini, Vasundhara, Satarupa and Sanjna were present there. Besides them several daughters, of gods, Nagas and the ascetics also reached there, who could count the number of damsels present there at that time?  Shiva took his seat on the gem-studded lion throne delightfully and all the goddesses started offering prayer to Shiva. 

Savitri said- О Mahadeva we have got back Sati who is dearer to you than your life delightfully at this time. Therefore, О passionate one, you relieve the suffering of your mind while looking at the beauty of your beloved. 

О lord of the death, you spend your time in union with her and with my blessing you will never be separated from her at any time. 

Laksmi said- О lord of the gods, now shedding away shyness you embrace Sati. She is the one without whom, one feels deprived of his life, why should one feel shy in getting her. 

Savitri said- О Shiva you make Sati to take her food first and than you take your food. Don't worry; thereafter, sipping achamana you chew betel with camphor with great devotion. 

Jahnavi said- using the comb of gold you arrange the hair of Sati; there is no other pleasure greater than looking at the face of charming Sati. 

Rati said- "O god why did you burn out kama my husband without any reason? О virtuous one, for your own purpose you revive kama back to life and remove my mental agony. О ocean of mercy, you are well-aware of the pain of separation of a couple. You had reduced to ashes my husband in anger." 

Thus, speaking she handed over the bundle of the ashes of kama before him and spoke to Shiva. "O lord" Thus speaking she started crying.  

On hearing her cries Vishnu, the ocean of mercy and Brahma beside other gods reached the palace and stood besides Shiva. 

Finding Shiva, Brahma and Dharma there besides other gods present before him. Shiva got up with force and said, "Give me the command." 

On hearing the words of Shiva lord Vishnu, himself said, "O Rudra revive kama back to life". Thus, speaking he left that place the damsels present there also made several types of prayers to Shiva in this regard. Thereafter Shiva looked at the bundle of ashes gracefully and with the nectar-like sight of Shiva, Kamadeva emerged from the bundle of ashes. 

Finding kama having been revived she bowed in reverence to her husband as well as Mahesvara. At that point of time Kamadeva had the same beauty which he had possessed earlier, and he wore a serene smile on his face, holding the bow and arrow in his hand. 

He offered his prayer to lord Shiva according to the scriptures. Then he came out and bowed in reverence to other gods. 

The gods talked to him and then blessed him. Who can prevent the destruction or the protection as destined? 

Thereafter, Himalaya served food to all the gods including Narayana with great devotion and offered them the beds to sleep. 

In the pleasure house Shiva made Parvati to be seated on his left and he took food with sweets in her company. 

О Radha at that point of time Aditi the mother of gods talked to Shiva and Parvati in sweet words who had already taken their food. 

Aditi said- О Indrani serve water to Shiva for washing his hands and rinsing his mouth. Because of my affection for the newly wedded couple, you presently supply water to them. 

Saci said- The purpose for which you had lamented embracing the body of Sati and had wandered in the entire universe, you have achieved back the same Sati.

Arundhati said- Mena was not prepared to give away Parvati in marriage. I tried to convince her variously and have got you Sati, now you should enjoy the conjugal pleasures with her. 

Ahalaya said- О lord, now disowning the old age, you have taken to the youthful form.  Therefore, Mena had agreed to give her daughter to you. 

Tulasi said- О lord, you had disowned Sati earlier and also reduced to ashes, kama then why did you send again Vasistha here. 

Svaha said- О Mahadeva whatever is being told by the damsels at present you please listen to me attentively, it is quite common for the ladies to indulge in such loose talk. 

Rohini said- О well-versed in the scriptures on love, fulfils the desire of Parvati. Becoming yourself passionate you cross over the ocean of passion by means of the damsel Parvati. 

Vasundhara said- О Shiva, a hungry or a passionate person cannot be satisfied without the articles of pleasures. You satisfy the damsel in anyway you like. 

Sanjna said- О all knowledgeable Shiva you are well-aware of the sentiments of the passionate damsels. But Sati is unaware of enjoying the love-sports with her husband. 

Satarupa said- In secluded chamber placing the betel and the comfortable bed, both Parvati and Shiva should be sent delightfully. 

Sri Krishna said- On listening to the pleasant and jovial words of the damsels, Shiva who happens to be the teacher of the yogis himself said. 

Shiva said- О goddesses you should not talk to me like that because all of you are pretty chaste and the mothers of the universe; than why do you become so talkative with the son. 

On hearing the words of Shiva all the damsels of the gods felt ashamed and getting upset kept quiet. 

Thereafter, lord Shiva delightfully consumed the sweets rinsed his mouth and started chewing the betel with camphor. 

He was then seated on the gem-studded lion throne provided to him by Mena and started looking at the bedroom which was illumining like hundreds of burning lamps. It had enough of vases of gems and pitchers filled with water, the mirrors studded with various types of gems and diamonds besides the white flywhisks. It had enough of sandal-paste, aguru and flower spread on the beds. 

The house was constructed by Visvakarma himself in which several types of paintings were decorated. It was built in the best of gems and was inlaid with precious gems. 

In that house the abodes of the gods, charming Vaikuntha, Vrundavana, Kunjavana and Rasamandala had been painted. 

At places Kailasa, the abode of Indra and several other astonishing scene were painted, looking at which Shiva was immensely pleased. 

О lady of my life, at the time of down various types of musical instrument were played upon.

Then all the gods abruptly got up and decorating themselves with best of costumes and ornaments, mounted over their vehicles and got ready to depart for Kailasa. 

At that point of time with the command of Narayana, Yogis and Dharma, went to the dwelling place and addressing Shiva spoke to him. 

Dharma said- "O lord of the Pramathas you meet with welfare. Get up and reciting the name of Hari you move on with Parvati for a journey."

О beloved of Vrundavana, on hearing the words of Dharma, Shiva started his journey with Parvati in Mahendra-yoga. 

When Parvati started on her journey with Shiva. Mena while sobbing spoke to compassionate Shiva. 

Mena said- О merciful one, kindly maintain my daughter carefully, you are the lord who is easily pleased; therefore, you forgive her for her follies. This daughter of mine is devoted at your feet for many births. Except Mahadeva as her lord, she does not think of anyone else even in dream. 

Hearing about your devotion she becomes overwhelmed, and the tears start flowing from her eyes. О conqueror of the death at your denouncement, she keeps mum like a dead person. 

When Mena was so speaking Himalaya also reached there and embracing his daughter started crying aloud. He said- "O daughter, where are you going deserting the house of Himalaya? I am reminded of your qualities again and again and my heart feels shattered at the moment Thus speaking Himalaya entrusted the care of Parvati to Shiva and started weeping loudly. At that point of time the merciful lord Narayana with the quoting of Adhyatma-vidya consoled everybody. Parvati bowed in reverence to the parents and the teacher with devotion, she is the form of illusion and therefore influenced with Parvati also started crying aloud, when Parvati was crying all other ladies followed her. All the gods and the sages also started crying with their wives. Thereafter the gods who moved with the speed of the mind at ones left for Kailasa and in two ghadis (forty-four minutes) and reached the place of Shiva delightfully. 

On their arrival at Kailasa the wives of the gods and the sages performed all the welfare ceremonies and holding burning lamps in their hands they welcomed them. 

The spouse of Vayu, the spouse of Kubera, the beloved of Shukra, the wife of Deva-guru, Bruhaspati known as Tara, the wife of Durvasa, Anasuya the wife of Atri and the wife of Candrama besides other daughters of the gods, the Nagas and the sages also were present there

No one was able to count the number of damsels present there. All those ladies made the newly added couple to enter the pleasure-house. 

Parvati was made to sit on the gem-studded lion-throne. Shiva than took round Parvati in the earlier house of Sati and asked her. О Sati, are you remembering when you come here from the house of your father at this place. At that point of time you are the daughter of Daksha and presently you are the daughter of the king of the mountains. You remember the happening of the earlier birth. In case you remember them all, then tell me. On hearing the words of Shiva, Parvati spoke with a serene smile on her face. "O lord of my life, I am well-aware of the past happenings but presently you better, keep quiet and do not discuss about the past." Thereafter Himalaya collecting all the food stuffs prepared the foods for gods and served them all including Narayana. After taking food all the gods getting adored with the gems proceeded on to their respective places with their wives and attendants, bowing in reverence to Shiva. Shiva himself bowed in reverence to Narayana and Brahma. 

Both of them embraced him and blessing him left the place. Thereafter Mena and Himalaya summoned their son Mainaka and said, "O son you will meet with welfare, you go to Shiva and get back Shiva and Parvati again." On hearing the words of both of them Mainaka went to Kailasa and brought with him Shiva and Parvati leaning about the arrival of Shiva and Parvati, all the old ladies, girls’ damsels and the mountains rushed to the abode of Himalaya to meet them. Mena on the other hand, accompanied with her son and daughter-in-law rushed towards Parvati smilingly.

Himalaya also came running to welcome his daughter, Parvati descended from the chariot and bowed in reverence to her parents and teachers. All of them were feeling delighted. With her mind filled with delight, Mena embraced Parvati. Himalaya was also filled with delight as if life had come back in his body. Keeping the daughter in her palace, he offered the gem-studded lion-throne to her.

He offered madhuparka to Shiva together with his attendants and welcomed them all. Chandrasekhara Shiva continued to live in the house of his father-in-law together with his ganas where he was adored Parvati with sixteen types of offerings. О Radha thus I have spoken to you about the marriage of Shiva which removes all the griefs and provides happiness, what else do you want to listen from me.