22 - The Marriage of Gauri

Mahätapas said:

l. While they were thus living there, Gauri got angry towards Rudra, thinking of the enmity between him and her father.

2. She thought of the place¹ taken away by him and his smashing the sacrifice and decided to give up her body.

1. Kailäsa.

3. She thought: “Being born in his house, ² I shall attain the lord by penance. How can I go to my father Daksha who has nothing with him now?

2. In the house of Himavän.

4. Thinking thus, the beautiful wife of Rudra, went for penance in the great mountain Himälaya.

5. Then she allowed her body to gradually emaciate and finally burnt it by the fire from within, and then she became the daughter of Himavän by name Umä, also called Krishna.

6. Thus born with a beautiful and auspicious body in the house of Himavän, she again performed penance meditating on the three-eyed Rudra. 

7. She remained in penance for a long time with the resolve: “This (Rudra) is my husband”.

8. When she was thus performing severe penance in the great mountain Himavän, god Mahešhvara felt propitiated and appeared in her hermitage in the form of a Brahmin.

9. The Brahmin was very old with crippled limbs and was faltering at every step. He came near her with difficulty and told her: “O gracious lady, I am extremely hungry, please give me some food”.

10. Asked thus, Umä, the daughter of the mountain told him: “O Brahmin, I shall give you fruits to eat. Please take your bath and then eat well”.

11. At this, the Brahmin got down for bath in the river Gañgä which was flowing close by.

12. While bathing there, he created in it an illusory shark, big and fierce, and that caught him.

13. He then told Umä showing her the shark that had caught him.

14. “O girl, a great mishap has happened. Save me from this shark before I am mutilated by it”.

15. Hearing this Pärvati thought: “I touch Himavän as my father and Shiva as my husband. In this state of mind, purified by penance, how can I touch this Brahmin?

16. If I don’t hold him by the hand and drag him out of the water, no doubt the sin of being responsible for the death of a Brahmin will befall me.

17. Any other transgression of righteousness can be atoned for, but never being the cause of a Brahmin’s death”. So saying she hastened towards him.

18. Going there quickly she held the Brahmin by the hand and dragged him out of the water. He then assumed his real form. 

19. The same lord Rudra to please whom Pärvati was performing penance was now holding her hand.

20. Seeing him she was bashful, and remembering her act of giving up her body, did not speak.

21. Seeing Gauri silent, Rudra said with smile: “Having held me by the hand, how can you give me up?

22. If you are going to make this vain for wedlock, then I ask you, the daughter of Brahma, to give me food (for which I came).

23. O lady, I am not joking; I have told you what I should”. She then said with a smile:

24. “O great lord of the three worlds, all my endeavour has been to attain you. I worshipped you as my husband in my previous life.

25. Now too you are my husband, and none else can be so. But my master is now my lather, the lord of mountains. I shall go to him.

26. Duly getting his consent. you will marry me”.

27. So saying, she went to her father Himavän and with palms joined in reverence she told him thus.

28. “Rudra, the smasher of Daksha’s sacrifice, who was my husband in my former life, has now become, as a result of my penance, full of love for me.

29. He came to me in my hermitage in the guise of an old Brahmin and asked me food.

30. I asked him to have his bath (before the meal), and accordingly he descended into the Ganges for the purpose. He was then caught by a shark and he cried for help.

31. Being afraid of incurring the sin of killing a Brahmin (if I did not help him), I pulled him out by the hand, and then he showed me his real form.

32. He then told me that our hands have been mutually held together (and thus the marriage has been effected), and that I should not have any hesitation.

33. Being thus told by the great Shañkara, I have now come to tell you.

34. Whatever is proper now, you may kindly do quickly”.

35. Hearing these words, the king of mountains was much pleased, and he told his daughter:

36. “O daughter, I am indeed blessed in this world in that Rudra has by himself chosen to become my son-in-law. I have become the father of a worthy daughter.

37. I have now been placed at the head of Devas by you, my daughter. Please wait for a while till I return”.

38. So saying, the king of the mountains went to Brahma, the grandfather of all Devas.

39. Bowing to him in reverence, he said that he proposed to give his daughter Umä in marriage to Rudra.

40. Brahma, the grandfather of Devas and progenitor of the world, gave his consent.

41. Then the king of mountains rushed back to his home. He then invited Tumburu, Närada, Hähà, Hühü, Kinnaras, Asuras and Rakshasas.

42. The mountains, rivers, hills, trees and plants all came in their personal forms to see Himavän’s daughter and her marriage with Shañkara.

43. The earth became the altar for the marriage, the seven seas the ritual pots, the sun and the moon the lamps, and the rivers the carriers of water.

44. Making thus the materials for the marriage, the king of mountains sent mount Mandara to Rudra.

45. Called by Mandara, Shañkara came quickly and he took the hand of Umä in marriage according to the rites.

46. In that ceremony Parvata and Närada sang, the Siddhas danced, the trees showered flowers and celestial damsels danced in joy.

47. In that marriage wherein holy water was flowing, Brahma, in consideration of the world, told Umä, “O daughter, you will be a model for other women in the world”, and told Rudra “you will be a model for other men”.

48. So saying to Uma and Rudra, Brahmä went to his abode.

49. Thus said sage Mahätapas to Prajäpäla who asked him. (He continued).

50. “The origin of Gaurî as well as the account of her marriage has been thus said to you.”

51. All this happened on Trtiyä tithi. Therefore, on tithi day give up salt in your food.

52. A man or a woman who fasts on that day gets prosperity.

53-54. A man or woman in utter misery, if he or she gives up salt and listens t0 this, attains all desires, acquires great wealth and gains health, brilliance and opulence.