Aum Pinakine Namaha!

5

The Courtship of Sati

Young doe is she, or tender bud of a divine flower.

Or the early stage of fragrant honey,

Or the beautiful tendril of the young coral beneath the waves of the sea.

Or the early streaks of the rays of the moon.

Or the miniature bow on which Cupid practiced.

SEKKIZHAR IN THE PERIYA PURANAM

Daksha now retired to his own hermitage, and Brahma asked him to get married and beget progeny in order to increase the population of the world, which was woefully underpopulated in those times. He married two women, Asikni and Virini. By his second wife he begat many sons, all of whom he sent west with instructions to create. When they reached the famous holy lake known as Narayana Saras and touched the waters, they changed their minds and decided to perform austerities at that beautiful spot. Hearing of this resolve of the sons of Daksha, the sage Narada went to that place and advised them to abandon their desire for children and concentrate on the Lord, and thus enlighten themselves. The intelligent sons of Daksha, realizing the truth of his words, gave up their intentions to marry and instead wandered about as yogis in search of truth. Hearing of the fate of his sons, Daksha, undaunted, begat another thousand sons by his other wife. When they came of age they also went to the lake called Narayana Saras. As soon as they touched the holy waters of the lake, their minds changed. Once again Narada went to them and advised them to search for God rather than wives, and they went the way of their brothers and roamed about as yogis.

Daksha was grief stricken at the loss of all of his wonderful sons. Hearing of the dastardly trick Narada had played on him, he cursed Narada and said, “Since you have made my sons into homeless vagabonds roaming about in search of God, you, O Narada, will never have a proper home for yourself. If you stay longer than a few hours at any one place your head will burst. You are condemned to be a cosmic wanderer, never resting for long at any place, always on the move.”

Narada was not a whit disturbed by this curse, but thanked Daksha for his kindness in having cursed him thus. The curse ensured that he could always roam about the world singing the praises of Lord Vishnu on his lute, which was just what he liked to do. The devotees of Lord Vishnu are always peaceful of disposition and never given to violent outbursts of temper, even if they are abused.

Having lost all his sons, Daksha decided that he would try his hand at begetting daughters, who were not as likely to wander off as his sons had done. He then begat sixty daughters and as soon as they came of age, he arranged their marriages. Ten were married off to Dharma, Lord of righteousness; thirteen to the sage Kashyapa; and twenty-seven to the moon, Chandra. The rest were married off to various people, and the progeny of these daughters slowly started to fill the world.

It was at this time that Daksha had a quarrel with his son-in-law, the moon. It appears that Daksha made a habit of quarreling with all his sons-in-law, as we shall see. Chandra, the moon god, had married twenty-seven of Daksha’s daughters. These are the twenty-seven lunar asterisms (small groups of stars), but Chandra showed a marked preference for Rohini, the fairest amongst them. The others complained to their father, and Daksha cursed Chandra that his beautiful body would weaken and wither. As the curse took effect, the moon became weaker and weaker. He was terrified and went to Vishnu, who advised him to go to the supreme physician, Vaidyanatha, or Shiva, custodian of the sacred herb, soma, for which he is also known as Somnatha. Shiva cured Chandra, but each time Chandra returned to his own abode the dreaded malady struck again. At last Chandra begged Shiva to cure him completely. Shiva agreed to do so and gave him a place in his own tresses. The crescent moon, chandrakala, adorns the locks of Shiva, and thus Shiva acquired the name Chandrashekara. However, Daksha would not forgive Shiva for saving one whom he had cursed.

It was now that Daksha remembered the promise made to him by the goddess Durga, that she would be born as his daughter. Therefore, he and his wife prayed to the goddess and she appeared. She told them to do certain purification rites and she would soon take birth in the womb of Virini, Daksha’s wife. True to her word, the goddess Shivaa, also known as Durga, Kaali, and so on, was born to Daksha. At the time of her birth there was a gentle shower of rain and flowers from the sky. She showed her divine form to her parents, and they eulogized her with many hymns. She then became a baby once more and started to cry, as all newborn babes do. She was called Sati. As a child her favorite pastime was to sit in one place and draw portraits of Shiva, whom she had never seen in this birth. All her songs were of Shiva or Rudra.

One day Brahma, accompanied by the sage Narada, went to Daksha’s abode and told Sati that her desires would be fulfilled and she would secure Lord Shiva as her husband. She approached her mother and informed her that she was going on a year’s penance in order to secure Shiva as her husband.

She then started to do severe penance in order to propitiate Shiva. Every month she worshipped Shiva in various ways, undergoing rigorous tortures of her body until one full year had passed. At the end of the year she concluded her worship and sat concentrated on the three-eyed Lord, the all-merciful. Even the sages came to see Sati, for she had reached an exalted state that even they had failed to reach after many years of tapasya. The sages approached Lord Vishnu and begged him to intercede with Shiva on Sati’s behalf. Accompanied by Brahma and Vishnu, they went to Kailasa and praised Shiva. He was delighted and asked them to name their desire and he would fulfill it. They jointly begged him to accept a wife, just as Vishnu had accepted Lakshmi, and Brahma, Saraswati.

Hearing this Shiva spoke, “O Devas! Only a person of imperfect knowledge will desire marriage. It is a great bondage. I am a yogi, ever delighting in the bliss of the self. I’m always engaged in tapasya and totally detached from the world. What interest would I have in marriage? Moreover I’m the friend of ghosts and goblins. I visit the burning ghats and crematoriums. My body is covered with the ashes of cremated bodies. Serpents and reptiles are my ornaments. What woman would want to marry me?”

Again the gods begged him to reconsider their request, for it was imperative for the good of the world that he have a consort. Hearing their words, Shiva smiled and said, “All right. I can never refuse the requests of my devotees so I shall take a wife, but remember she will have to be a very special type of woman. When I am a yogi, she will have to be a yogini, and when I desire her she will have to be a wife. When I go into samadhi, she should not approach me for she will be burnt to ashes in the fire of my austerity. If she refuses to believe in what I say, I will abandon her. Consider all these factors, O Brahma, and then tell me if such a woman can be found amongst your creation!”

Brahma was delighted at these words and said, “Indeed, O Lord, such a woman has been born, as the daughter of Daksha. She is known as Sati and is a fitting mate for you. At present she is performing rigorous penance in order to secure you as her husband. She is the same mother Goddess who has taken on the form of Lakshmi and Saraswati.” Vishnu also spoke highly of Sati’s qualities and urged Shiva to grant their request and Sati’s wish. Shiva agreed.

On the eighth day of the bright half of the month of Asvini, Sati observed her final fast, which concluded her one-year worship of Shiva. She was sitting in the forest engrossed in meditation on his form when Shiva appeared before her. He showed her his incomparable form with five faces, three eyes, and crescent moon adorning his locks. He was holding the trident and drum. His face was brilliant, and Sati could hardly gaze at him. She lowered her eyes shyly and knelt at his feet.

Although he knew her desire, he asked her to choose a boon, for he wanted to hear her express her wish boldly to him without any reserve. But she was very shy and would not speak. Again he urged her to openly express her desire. At last she whispered, “O Lord, why do you play with me? You know my desire. Let me have the bridegroom of my choice.”

Hardly had she finished when he replied, “You shall indeed be my wife, O Sati!” Delighted to hear these words, she could not speak a word but could only smile sweetly at him. Looking at her fascinating form, even the stern, ascetic heart of Shiva melted with the emotion of love and he gazed tenderly at her. At last Sati spoke, “O Lord, be pleased to approach my father and ask him for my hand in the accepted mode of conduct.” Shiva agreed, and she bowed to him and returned to her parents’ palace with great joy. Her friends informed Virini that Shiva had granted Sati the boon for which she had been doing tapasya. Both Daksha and Virini were very happy to hear this. They were wondering how to proceed in this matter when Brahma appeared before them accompanied by his consort, Saraswati. Shiva had asked that he go to Daksha and formally ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage, for that was her wish. Brahma said, “O Daksha! That which we have all desired has now come to pass. He who could not be tempted by Kama’s arrows has now fallen prey to your daughter, Sati. The great Lord has now abandoned meditation on the self and is now thinking only of Sati. Therefore allow me to go and let Shiva know that you have given your consent.”

Daksha readily gave his consent, and Brahma went and reported the matter to Shiva, who was waiting in a fever of impatience about the outcome of his proposal. Shiva was delighted to get the news. When a devotee gives all her heart to him, the Lord in turn becomes equally impatient to give his love to her. Without further debate, Shiva collected his fearsome-looking attendants and told Brahma and the sages to accompany him.

On a Sunday in the bright half of the month of Chaitra, Shiva, accompanied by Brahma, Vishnu, and all the sages, as well as his own ganas, proceeded to the kingdom of Daksha. The bridegroom was clad in the hides of an elephant and tiger. He had matted locks with the crescent moon peeping from them, and serpents adorning his neck.

Daksha and his wife welcomed the party with great delight and asked Brahma to conduct the marriage rites. Brahma complied with the request and gave Sati to Shiva. It was a union of Shiva and Shakti, the ideal couple. Shiva firmly grasped her trembling hand in his and led her three times round the sacred fire, as was customary. The rest of the ceremonies were concluded, and Shiva left the place, seated on the bull Nandi, with Sati placed on his lap in front of him. All the gods accompanied the bridal party to a certain distance. Then Shiva and Sati, escorted by his ganas, proceeded to the Himalayan range, which was his abode.

Prostrations to you who are in the forms of carpenters and chariot-makers. Prostrations to you who are in the forms of hunters and fishermen. Prostrations to you who are in the forms of hounds and their keepers.

“SRI RUDRUM,” YAJUR VEDA

Prostrations to the resident of the mountains, who is present in all beings. Prostrations to the one with the bow, which rains heavily through the clouds. Prostrations to the short one, who is beautiful. Prostrations to the ancient one, who transcends time, space, and matter. Prostrations to the venerable old one, who expands through prayers.

“SRI RUDRUM,” YAJUR VEDA

Unattached, unattached, unattached am I (to the body, mind, and intellect).

I alone and changeless exist in the form of consciousness and bliss.

I am ever pure and free, without change of form and nature.

I am ever full . . . I alone exist, changeless.

I am eternal and without boundaries,

Immutable and unshakeable.

I alone exist,

Changeless in the form of consciousness and bliss.

“DASISLOKA” BY ADI SHANKARACHARYA

Aum Namashivaya!