Devas’ Stotra to Śiva after the Wedding (Brahma Purāṇa)

Brahmādikṛta Śiva Stuti · brahma-ādi-kṛta śiva stuti, “the praise of Śiva by Brahmā and the others”

The Devas’ Stotra to Śiva after the Wedding is the praise that the devas, led by Indra, offered to Bhagavān Śiva when his wedding with Devī Umā was complete. It is told in the Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 37, whose title calls it the praise of Śiva by Brahmā and the others at the wedding of Umā and Maheśvara, and Brahmā tells it to the munis as the close of his account of the wedding. The printed text says the devas began their praise, but it gives none of its words. Praised by them, Umāpati offered them a vara, which the devas asked him to keep in his own hands until the time of need. The chapter gives the phala of reading or hearing this Śiva-stuti: one dwells in all the puṇya-lokas and is worshipped by the devas like Devendra.

The setting

Brahmā tells the munis that Himavān, knowing his daughter’s mind was set on Hara, still proclaimed her svayaṃvara in all the worlds, as the custom of his line required, and the six ṛtus came to the mountain in their beauty for the festival of Gaurī‘s wedding. Brahmā himself adorned Śailaputrī and led her into the city. Standing in the place of the Brahmā priest, he asked Īśvara’s leave to perform the homa, and Bhagavān Śiva answered: “Whatever is to be done, do it as you wish.” Brahmā joined the hands of the Deva and the Devī with kuśa in yoga-bandha; the great mantras of the śruti were present in bodily form; Agni received his shares of havis with folded palms; and the eternal couple, ever new, walked hand in hand around the fire. All the devas, the mind-born sons of Brahmā and the siddhas bowed to Vṛshadhvaja at that hour.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 36

The stuti and the vara

When the wedding of Umā and Maheśa was complete, all the devas, led by Indra and filled with boundless bliss, bowed to Maheśvara and began to praise him. Thus praised by all the devas, Umāpati, Bhagavān Śiva, Jagatpati, the master of the world, said: “O devas, I am gracious towards you. Ask a vara quickly and I will grant it; there is no doubt.” The devas answered: “Let that vara remain in your own hands. Grant it at the time of need.” He agreed, and went to his own abode with the pramatha gaṇas.

The phala

• One who sings this wondrous festival of Śiva‘s wedding in the presence of devas and brāhmaṇas attains the state of a ruler of the gaṇas and is happy.
• One who reads or hears this Śiva-stuti dwells in all the puṇya-lokas and is worshipped by the devas like Devendra.

Source: Brahma Purāṇa, Chapter 37

Sources

• Brahma Purāṇa, Chapters 36–37