[Advaita-l] Stories from the Shiva Purana - 10 (Parvati’s birth and Shiva’s Test of Her Devotion)

[S Jayanarayanan]

(Continued from the previous post. One of the most charming events to have occurred in ancient times is that of Shiva visiting Parvati during
Her intense Meditation of Him, culminating in their wedding:
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226070.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226090.html
https://www.wisdomlib.org/hinduism/book/shiva-purana-english/d/doc226092.html
Section 2.3, Chapters 6-28)
 
 
Then the Goddess who formerly had cast off Her body to spite Her father, by means of Her Yogic powers, desired to be born of the wife of the mountain.
At the time of Her birth, riches and prosperity flourished in the city of Himavat. All miseries perished. Vishnu and other gods reached there in time
and saw the Mother of the universe. They were delighted and happy. They eulogised Shivaa, the Mother of the universe, the beloved of Shiva, of great
illusory power, of divine features and resident of Shiva’s region.
 
The Goddess of great brilliance assumed the form of her baby child in front of Mena and began to cry in accordance with the ways of the world. There in
the palace of the lord of mountains, the Goddess Shivaa grew up like Ganga in the rainy season and like the moon-light in the autumn. During Her childhood,
the Goddess played frequently on the sandy banks of the Ganga in the middle of Her playmates with balls and dolls. The Goddess Shivaa, when the suitable
time for Her education arrived, learnt all the lores from a good preceptor, with concentrated mind and great pleasure.
 
Convinced that Shiva could be achieved by means of penance, Parvati became glad and decided to perform penance. The first year she spent in taking fruits,
the second in taking leaves, in the course of Her penance. She spent many years thus. Then the daughter of Himavat eschewed even the leaves. Since She
eschewed leaves from Her diet, She was called Aparna by the gods. Then Parvati performed great penance standing on one leg and remembering Shiva,
She continued muttering the five-syllabled mantra. Clad in barks of trees, wearing matted hair and eager in the meditation of Shiva, She surpassed even
sages by Her penance. Parvati thus spent three thousand years in the penance-grove performing penance and meditating on Lord Shiva. The entire forest
became comparable to Kailasa as it were the achievement of Her penance.
 
Lord Shiva, the cause of great enjoyment and protection wanted to test the penance of the Goddess Parvati. With a delighted mind He assumed the form of
a Jatila (an ascetic with matted hair) and went to the forest of penance of Parvati. His brilliance shone. He was delighted in mind. He had an umbrella
and a staff (to support Him). There He saw the Goddess surrounded by Her maids on the platform, as pure as the digit of the moon.
 
On seeing that Brahmin of wonderful refulgence come, Goddess Parvati worshipped Him with all the articles of worship. Parvati said, “Who are you and whence
have you come in the guise of a Brahmacharin? You are making this forest refulgent by your splendour. Please speak, O foremost among Vedic scholars.”
 
The Brahmin said, “I am an aged Brahmin roaming about as I please. I am an intelligent ascetic bestowing happiness and helping others. Who are you?
What is your parentage? Why do You perform penance in this isolated forest? Your penance cannot be surpassed even by the sages of eminent status.”
 
Parvati said, “Previously I had been born as Sati, the daughter of Daksha. By Yogic means, I cast off my body since my husband was insulted by my father.
Even in this life, Shiva came to me but due to ill luck, He reduced Kama to ashes, left me and went away. O Brahmin, when Shiva went away, I came out of
my father’s house, being greatly dejected, to perform this steady penance on the banks of the celestial river. Even after performing this severe penance
for a long time, I could not attain Him. I was just to consign myself to fire but on seeing you, I have stopped for a while.”
 
The Brahmin said, “I wish to ask you now. O gentle lady, whom do you wish to have as your husband? It is in you that the fruit of penance is seen.
If your penance is for others or for the supreme object, wherefore should you perform it at all? You had a jewel in your hand, you cast it off and have
taken up a base metal instead. Why have you rendered your beauty in vain by taking recourse to this penance that eschewing different sorts of fine clothes
hide is worn by you.”
 
Parvati said, “I am telling you the truth and not a lie. Shiva has been wooed by me, by mind, speech and action as well as by means of ascetic feelings.
I know that it is an inaccessible object. How can I attain it? Still out of my eagerness I am performing this penance.”
 
The Brahmin said, “I know Shiva through and through with all His weighty attributes. I shall tell you the truth. Listen with attention. The Great Lord
is bull-bannered. His body is smeared with ashes. His hair is matted. He is clad in the hide of a tiger. He has covered His body with the hide of an elephant.
He holds the skull. Serpents twine round His limbs. Poison has left a mark on his neck. He eats even forbidden stuffs. He has odd eyes and is definitely awful.
His birth and pedigree cannot be traced. He is devoid of the enjoyment of a householder. He has ten arms. He is mostly naked and is ever accompanied by ghosts
and goblins. You are a jewel among women. Your father is the king of all mountains. Why do you crave for a husband like this and that too by means of a severe
penance? Handing over a gold coin you wish to buy a piece of glass. Setting aside the pure sandal paste you wish to smear mud over your body. Where your necklace
and where the garland of skulls that he wears? Where your rich divine unguent and where the ash from the funeral pyre that He has on His body?”
 
On hearing these words of that Brahmin, Parvati said angrily to the Brahmin who discredited Shiva, “O Lord, what has been said by you is known. Sometimes
Lord Shiva is seen in that guise. But He is the Supreme Brahman who, out of His own accord, takes up bodies in His own sports. You have now come in the
form of a student ascetic for the sake of deceiving me. Using false arguments, you have spoken fraudulent words. I know the real form of Shiva very particularly.
I shall therefore explain Shiva’s reality in the proper perspective after careful consideration. He is in fact devoid of attributes, but for some reasons
He takes up attributes. How can He have a birth, He who is really attributeless but takes up attributes? At the beginning of the Kalpa, all the Vedas were
given by Shiva to Vishnu in the form of breath. Who can be a good Lord equal to Him? With the threefold Energies, Shiva blesses those who worship Him always
as the Lord of Energies. Every individual soul becomes fearless and conquers death by worshipping Him. Hence His designation ‘the conqueror of death’ is
famous in all the three worlds. Vishnu attains and retains his Vishnuhood by His favour. Similarly Brahma his Brahmahood and the gods their godhood.
Although Shiva resorts to inauspicious things yet by thinking on Him everything becomes auspicious. His worship fulfils all desires. My ambition is to attain
the Supreme Lord who is favourably disposed to His devotees and who blesses the distressed.”
 
Parvati, whose mind was fixed on Shiva and who was averse to hear any disparaging remarks about Shiva spoke immediately to Vijaya, Her maid. Parvati said,
“This base Brahmin must be prevented strenuously. He is inclined to say something again. He will surely censure Shiva. Not only does he who disparages
Shiva incur sin but also he who hears the same. Let there be no more talk with this ignorant man.”
 
Saying this, even as Parvati was about to step ahead, the Brahmin manifesting as Shiva clasped His beloved. After assuming the handsome form in the manner
Parvati had meditated upon and manifesting it to Parvati, Shiva addressed Her while she stood with Her lowered head.
 
Shiva said, “Where will You go, leaving Me? You are not to be discarded again by Me. I am delighted. Tell Me what boon shall I grant You. There is nothing
that cannot be given to You. From today I am Your slave bought by You by performing penance. I have been bought by Your beauty. Even a moment appears like a Yuga.
O Parvati, O Great Goddess, You are My eternal Wife. I am Your Bridegroom. I shall immediately go to My abode — the excellent mountain, along with You.”
 
When the Lord of the gods spoke in this way, Parvati rejoiced. Whatever distress She had felt during penance She cast off as something old. Her weariness subsided.
In fact, when the fruit is realised, the exertion felt during the process of undertaking perishes.
 
 
(To be Continued)