103 - The glory of Shakti

Suta said:

1. Thereafter Brahma saluted Mahadeva with palms joined in reverence and said to Maheshvara “O lord, may the marriage be celebrated.”

2. On hearing these words of Brahma Parameshthin, the lord of the Bhutas said to Brahma “As you please.”

3. O sages of good holy rites, for the marriage of Mahesha, a divine splendid city full of jewels was created by Brahma instantaneously.

4-11. The following persons went to the place of marriage: — Aditi, Diti, Danu, Kadru, Sukalika, Puloma, Surama, Simhika, Vinata, Siddhi, Maya, Kriya, Durga, Sudha herself, Svadha, Savitri the mother of Devas, Rajani, Dakshina, Dyuti, Svaha, Svadha, Mati, Buddhi, Ruddhi, Vruddhi, Sarasvati, Raka, Kuhu, Sinivali, Anumati, Dharani, Dharani, Ila, Shachi, Narayani, and other mothers and wives of Devas — all of them went there joyously saying “O this is Shankara’s marriage.” Nagas, Ganujas, Yakshas, Gandharvas, Kinnaras, Ganas, oceans, mountains, clouds, months, years, Vedas, Mantras, Yajnas, Kriyas, Humkara, Pranava, thousands of Pratiharas (jugglers, porters), the crores of Apsarasas, the divine damsels and their female attendants — all these went to the place of marriage. The rivers in the continents and the worlds of Devas assumed the forms of women and proceeded there with delighted minds.

12. The highly blessed leaders of the Ganas bowed to by all the worlds went there joyously saying, “O this is Shankara’s marriage.”

13. Crores of Ganas and leaders of Ganas, having the colour of the conch came there. Kekaraksha came with ten crores         ; Vidyutas came with eight crores.

14. Vishakha came with sixtyfour crores; Parayatrika with nine crores; Sarvantaka with six crores; the glorious Vikrutanana too came with six crores.

15-16. The leading Gana, Jvalakesha came with twelve crores, the glorious Samada with seven crores; Dundubha with eight crores; Kapalisha with five crores; Sandaraka with six crores; Kandaka and Kumbhaka with several crores of followers.

17. O brahmins, Vishtambha the leading Gana and the most excellent of all came with eight crores; Pippala and Sannada with a thousand each.

18. Aveshtana was accompanied by eight crores. Chandratapana came with seven crores; Mahakesha the leader of the Ganas, with a thousand crores.

19. The heroic Kundi and the splendid Parvataka came with twelve crores; Kala, Kalaka and Mahakala with hundred crores each.

20. Agnika came with a hundred crores; Agnimukha with a crore. Similarly, Adityamurdha and Dhanavaha came with a crore each.

21. O sages of good Mantras, Sannama and Kumuda came with a hundred crores; Amogha and Kokila with a crore each.

22. Another Gaga-leader Kakapada came with six crores; lord Santanaka with six crores; Mahabala, Madhupinga and Pingala with nine crores each.

23. Nila, Devesha and Purnabhadra came with ninety crores; Chaturvaktra of great strength with seventy crores.

24. Devas came with hundreds and thousands of crores of followers.

25. The Bhutas came with a thousand crores; the Pramathas with three crores; Virabhadra with sixtyfour crores and the Romajas with crores.

26. Karana came with twenty crores; the auspicious Kevala with ninety crores. So also Panchaksha, Shatamanyu and Meghamanyu too came thus.

27. Kashthakuta, Sukesha and Vrushabha came with sixtyfour crores. The eternal lord Virupaksha also came with the same number.

28-31. Talaketu, Shadasya, Panchasya, Sanatana, Samvartaka, Chaitra, Lakulisha, Svayamprabhu, Lokantaka, Diptasya, lord Daityantaka, Mrutyuhrut, Kalaha, Kala, Mrutyunjayakara, Vishada, Vishad a, Vidyuta, lord Kantaka, the glorious lord Bhrungiriti who was a favourite of the lord of Devas, Ashani, Bhasaka and Sahasrapad came with sixtyfour crores. These and other leaders of the Ganas were innumerable and very powerful.

32. All of them had a thousand hands each; they wore matted hairs and crowns; they were embellished with the crescent moon; they were three-eyed and blue-necked.

33. They were adorned with necklaces, earrings, shoulderlets, crowns and other ornaments. They were on a par with Brahma, Indra and Vishnu. They were equipped with Anima and other siddhis.

34. The leading Gagas who usually roamed about in the nether regions, those who stayed in all the worlds and those who resembled crores of suns, came there.

35. Tumburu, Narada, Haha, Huhu and Samagas came to that city taking with them their musical instruments and jewels.

36. The sages and ascetics delighted in their minds and repeated holy mantras pertaining to the marriage and other divine songs.

37-38. Thus, when people from all places had assembled, Vishnu himself led the daughter of the lord of the mountains into that city. She was fully bedecked and had smiles on her face. Then Brahma spoke to Vishnu, Narayana the lord of Devas, in that assembly.

39. O lord, you were born at the outset from the left side of Rudra, along with Bhavani and other deities. I was born from his right side.

40. Indeed, Himavan the lord of the mountains was created for the purpose of sacrifice. He is my own form. This daughter of Himavan was born by the grace of Brahma’s power.

41. The lord has come here for the proper functioning of the rites laid down in the Vedas and the Smruti texts as well as for the sake of marriage rites. Hence, the goddess is the mother of the worlds. The lord is my creator as well as yours.

42. The universe is created by the cosmic forms of this lord Rudra since the lord has the eight forms of earth, fire, water, ether, wind, moon, sun and the hotru.

43-45. Still, at the instance of the lord of the mountains as well as at my instance this unborn Prakruti of white, black and red colour should be given to Shiva. You too are the Prakruti. The alliance with the king of the mountains is conducive to your welfare as well as mine. In the Padma Kalpa, I was born of your umbilical lotus. Hence, you are my father and an ancestor to this mountain who is a part of mine.

Suta said: —

Thereupon, Vishnu, the lord of Devas said to Brahma — “So be it.”

46-47. Then Devas, sages and Shankara the lord of Devas as well as scholars stood up. The lord Vishnu, the learned Padmanabha bowed to them and washed the feet of the lord with his own hands. He sprinkled the water thereof on his own head as well as those of Brahma and the lord of mountain Himavan.

48-51. “This daughter of Mena and my younger sister now belongs to you by matrimonial rite.” Saying thus, he dedicated the goddess to the lord of Devas along with water. Vishnu too offered himself to the lord along with water. Then the excellent sages who were masters of the Vedic texts said: — “On consideration, it is indeed this lord Shiva who is the giver, the receiver of the material offered and the benefit thereof. Of course, through his Maya has emanated the universe from him.” Saying this they bowed down to him. The hair on their skins stood on end due to pleasure. The heaven-walkers — Siddhas and Charanas — showered flowers on him.

52. The divine drums were sounded. The Apsarasas danced. The Vedas assumed physical forms and bowed down to the great lord.

53-54. Along with Brahma and the sages they bowed down to the lord of Uma and of Devas. The lord glanced at the bashful daughter of the snow-clad mountain. He was never satiated. She too of splendid and unblemished body was not satiated on seeing the bull-bannered lord. He spoke to Vishnu — “I am the bestower of boons.” He too then spoke to Shankara.

55-57. “Devotion to you. Be pleased.” He then gave him (Hari) the title Brahma 946 as well as instructions in Brahman (Eternal truth). Thereupon, Brahma again spoke to the lord: — “I now offer Havis to the holy fire, officiating as a priest at the sacrifice. If you give me permission, I shall proceed with the rituals, as yet not performed, but which are still to be observed. Shankara, the lord of Devas, the lord of the universe said to the lord “O excellent Deva, do as you please, whatever you like.

946, Brahmakhyam — the title of Brahma was bestowed upon Vishnu. Thus, Vishnu is sometimes designated as Brahma Cf. ST.

58-64. O Brahma, O lord of Devas, I shall act according to vour instructions.”

Thereupon, Brahma the grandfather of the world, became delighted in his mind. He bowed to the lord, and joined the hand of the goddess to the hand of the lord. The fire-god himself was present there with palms joined in reverence. Brahma performed the Homa duly chanting Mantras taken from the Vedic texts. The mantras had assumed physical forms and were present there. He offered the fried rice946a in the due order. After worshipping the brahmins brought by Vishnu he blessed them with different boons. He then made the lord circumambulate the holy fire thrice. 947 In the presence of Devas and men the joined hands were separated joyously. Lord Brahma then bowed to the husband of Uma, the lord of Devas. He offered Padya, Achamaniya, Madhuparka 948 and a cow to the couple. Again, Lord Brahma bowed down to Shiva and stood aside along with Devas headed by Indra.

946a. lajahoma — the brother of the bride pours out of his joined hands into her joined hands fried rice-grains mixed with Shami leaves. The bride sacrifices them with firmly joined hands, standing, while the bridegroom recites the verses. For detail, see P.G.S. 1.6. 1-2.

947. trih pradakshina —circumambulating the sacrificial fire thrice, from left to right so that the right side is turned towards the fire. But in the Hindu nuptial rites, as observed now-a-days, the bride and bridegroom circumambulate the fire, seven times.

948. madhuparka — It is a mixture of honey, butter, sugar, and curd offered to a guest when he first comes to the house.

65. The sages beginning with Bhrugu showered gingelly nseeds and whole rice grains. The sun and the rest of luminaries worshipped and eulogised the bull-bannered lord.

66. Shiva concluded the sacred Vedic rites, and imposed the fire on to the Atman. He was thus united with her for the wel- fare of the worlds.

67-69. He who reads or listens to this nuptial of Rudra, or he who smilingly narrates this to brahmins who have masteed the Vedas and the Vedangas, attains the chieftancy of the Ganas and rejoices with Shiva. Wherever this narrative is repeated and glorified by the brahmins, the lord occupies that place as long as the story continues. Hence, O brahmins, O excellent brahmins, in the course of the celebration of the marriage of leading brahmins and Kshatriyas, the lord should be duly glorified after the worship and not otherwise. Thus excellent detailed account of the marriage of Shiva-Uma should be glorified.

70-71. After the marital rites with the goddess the daughter of the lord of the Himavan, the bull-bannered lustrous lord went to the divine city Varanasi, accompanied by Devas, Ganas and also Nandin.

72. Uma whose face beamed with delight bowed down to the bull-bannered lord who was comfortably seated in Avimukta. She asked him about the glory of that holy centre.

73-74. The lord who bore the crescent moon on his forehead recounted the greatness of the holy centre: — “O goddess of Devas, the greatness of Avimukta cannot be recounted by me in detail. This holy centre is honoured by the sages. O fair lady, how shall I tell you in detail the merits of Avimukta?

75-81. Sinners who die here shall be liberated even in their very birth. A man dispels at Varanasi the sins he has committed elsewhere. The sins committed at Varanasi turn the sinner into a Pishacha and they lead him to hell.949 It is better for men to court Pishachahood after committing thousands of sins at Varanasi than to attain the position of Indra a thousand times in heaven without the pleasure of being in the city of Kashi. No living animal is reborn if it dies in this place where the lord Vishveshvara, the lord of Omkara, the lord clad in elephant's hides, is ever present. After recounting the glory of the holy centre briefly the moon-crested lord dismissed the leaders of Ganas and pointed out a garden to the goddess. It was here that lord Vinayaka, the deity with the face of an elephant, was born, for creating obstacles in the way of Daityas and for dispelling the same in the way of heaven-dwellers. Thus, the entire essence of the story has been narrated to you. It is a splendid story and I have narrated just as it had been heard by me by the grace of Vvasa.950

949. paishacya— according to ST. this hell is in preference to the rebirth. Varanasyam krutam papam paishchanarakavaham, na tu punar janmaprapakam ST.

950. prasadat — i.e. by the favour of the sage Veda Vyasa.