Kumara Sambhavam- The Unexpected Visitor- Part VI

AN    UNEXPECTED    VISITOR

A sudden whiff of cold air startled Parvati out of her meditation. Surprised, she opened her eyes. The tapasya that she had been performing for such a long time had made her immune to the Nature’s moods. She was neither affected by cold- nor by heat. 

Her body had overcome hunger and thirst. It was not just a physical transformation- but a mental one too. In the course of her tapasya, she had travelled through several realms- each successively higher than the other- till it all culminated in the highest state- the state where the body, mind and intellect dissolve into the Supreme Brahman.

Seasons had come and gone but Parvati remained undisturbed – not willing to descend to the mundane physical world.

But what was it that had caused her to open her eyes today, she wondered. She did not have long to wait. Footsteps were heard round the corner and Parvati craned her neck to see who it was. She was surprised that someone would actually come that way- the icy treacherous Himalayan slopes were not easy to negotiate. Parvati wondered who could it be.

It turned out to be an old Brahmin- sandals on his feet, hair tied in a tuft and carrying a wooden staff for support. His body was wrinkled but his eyes were bright. He stared at Parvati for a long time and his gaze fell on the Shiva linga in front of her.

Without waiting for an invitation, he seated himself on a boulder. “You must be Himavan’s daughter – Parvati”, he began without preamble.

Parvati nodded – not sure of the old man’s intentions. Evidently he knew who she was and had come all  the way to meet her. But why?

“You must be wondering why I am here”, he began in a pompous voice. “The truth is I have come to give you some sound advice. No….don’t give me that look….after you have heard me out, you will accept that my advice was for the best”

Parvati tried to look interested. She knew what was coming. In the early days of her tapsya, she had been inundated with hordes ‘well wishers’ -all of the advising her that the path she had chosen was futile and that she abandon her tapsya and seek domestic felicity. To dissuade such people, Parvati had then moved on to a higher, more isolated place to continue her tapasya.

But apparently even this place was not isolated enough for this old man, determined as he seemed to be.

“Lady- ascetic life does not suit a woman. Your place should be beside a man- proving him with the comforts and pleasures which only a wife can give.”

Parvati rolled her eyes.

The old man continued “Now I have the perfect match for you here.” He fished out an old parchment from a bag tied around his waist and peered at it intently.

“Here, see….Vindhya Raj is looking for a fourth wife for his third son. Or.. wait…” His voice trailed off as he held the parchment closer to his eyes.   “No… I think Vindhya Raj wants a third wife for his fourth son…. Either way – as the third or the fourth wife… Vindhya Raj will be most happy to welcome you into his household”.

Parvati gaped at him in amazement . Could he be serious?

“I am serious,” replied the old man, as if reading her mind. “What are you going to achieve with all your devotion to Shiva? Do you even know what kind of life he leads?”

Parvati gritted her teeth and muttered under her breath “Cremation grounds…. ash smeared body…as if I didn’t know….” She wished she could tell him to shut up-but how does one do that without sounding rude?

The prospect of lecturing to such a charming young lady must have appealed to the old man, since, he began to sit more comfortably on the rocky ledge. He leaned back against a boulder and folded one leg over another.

Parvati sighed. It looked like she would have to endure the old man for some time now. She watched him as he began massaging his foot slowly with his palm. Parvati narrowed her eyes and looked the old man’s foot. Something began to stir in depths of her memory.

Then she smiled.

“Venerable Sir, what was it that you were telling me about Shiva?” asked Parvati

“Interested now, eh? replied the old man, in a cocky voice. “Listen- the Shiva that you worship, lives in cremation grounds, carries a skull and has ash smeared on his body. To top it all, he  wears a snake around his neck”

“I feel sorry for him” sighed Parvati

“You feel sorry for Shiva?” questioned the old man

“I meant the snake.” clarified Parvati. ‘I feel sorry for the snake”

She continued “Yes, imagine the existence it must be leading- not able to raise its hood, not able to bare its fangs. Poor snake indeed”

The old man gaped at her.

"When I get married to Mahadev”  - the old man flinched – “when I get married to Mahadev, the first thing I will do is release it into the wild” finished Parvati self righteously.

“Release it into the wild!” The old man laughed uproariously  “ Ha…ha… he won’t last a day. 

He has got used to an easy cushy life at Kailash – food, security… No… he won’t ever leave me. “ the old man finished, rubbing his neck.

Seeing Parvati eyeing him curiously, the old man hastily corrected “… Shiva, I mean. The snake won’t ever leave …Shiva”

Parvati then  asked  “Since you seem to know so much about Mahadev, can you tell me something about the  moon that  he carries on his head?”

The old man replied “Chandra Dev provides the most illuminating of experiences to Shiva – illuminating in more ways than one.

“How’s that?” asked Parvati, very interested

“With 27 wives, even on the best of days, Chandra Dev’s household cannot be said to be the most peaceful one. Hence Chandra prefers to spend most of his time on Shiva’s head. His wives visit him in turns and he enjoys their conversations- especially their romantic ones.” The old man closed his eyes and his shoulders shook in silent laughter.

Parvati asked pointedly “Er….who enjoys the conversations? It is Chandra, isn’t it?

“Of course, Chandra,….. and …..Shiva too” answered the old man, relapsing into a mirth of silent laughter again.

Parvati was indignant. She stood up and arms on her hips and almost shrieked  “Mahadev eavesdrops on the private conversations of Chandra and his wives?”

She began pacing and down and spoke agitatedly “This will not do. When I get married to Mahadev” – the old man flinched again- “I will ensure Chandra dev is released into the sky permanently. Surely, there’s something called privacy”

“Privacy  for Chandra Dev?”

No” replied Paravti slyly, “For Mahadev….after we are married.”  The old man winced again.

“And there’s another thing” continued Parvati, “the tiger skin that he wears…”

The old man became alarmed and got up in a hurry, clutching the dhoti around his waist.  “Lady, give it a break…You have stripped Shiva of his snake, of his moon… at least leave his tiger skin alone….”

Parvati tried to suppress her laughter. The old man seem rattled.

He stuffed the parchment into his bundle and prepared to leave. He said “Princess, It seemed I have failed in my mission. You seem to have set your heart on Shiva. I better leave.” 

The old man gripped the ledge with both his hands, and for a moment, sat with his head sunk to his chest.

He thought to himself, “I better leave , Parvati. I am so close to you and yet you have not been able to recognize me. Has your tapasya not been forceful enough?”

The old man sighed, his eyes still closed. He was so close..yet so far. Something wet was tickling his feet. He opened his eyes and looked down.

Parvati was on her knees – her hands clutching his feet. With tears streaming down her face she looked up at the face above her and asked, ”Lord, did you really think I had not recognized you?”

Kumara Sambhavam- The Path Ahead Part V

PART V – The Path Ahead

Parvati sat forlornly staring into the still waters of a lotus pond. “Gone, he’s gone, Devarishi” spoke Parvati dejectedly to Narada who was seated opposite her.

“Why should that perturb you so much, Princess?” asked Narada

“Why? why will I not be perturbed Devarishi?” Parvati got up and started pacing up and down agitatedly. “You predicted long ago, by looking at the lines on my palm, I was destined for Shiva. Now,  he has vanished…When he first came here I thought…”

“….he had come with a marriage proposal” Narada finished Parvati’s sentence

Parvati could sense her face reddening and she quickly looked down. “Well…yes…sort of…..”

“If devotion and service only counted, by now, Nandi would have become Mahadev’s wife” guffawed Narada.

Seeing the look of incredulity on Parvati’s face Narada stopped in mid laughter.

“So what of your prediction, Narada Muni?” asked Parvati

“I still stand by what I said, Princess.”

“Then why did he have to vanish?” Parvati persisted.

Narada sighed. “I said you were destined for Shiva. I did not say Shiva was destined for you”

“There’s a difference?”

“Most certainly, yes”

Parvati was confused.

Narada asked “What is that you want, Parvati?”

“I want to be accepted by Mahadev as his consort” replied Parvati.

“Who is that ‘I’? asked Narada

 Parvati was surprised “I….means…me…. Parvati”

“Who are you, Parvati?” questioned Narada

“Who am I? I ….am …Parvati, …er…um…Himavan’s daughter” replied Parvati hesitantly.

“Tomorrow, if you were to be known as someone’s wife or someone’s mother, your identity will change. Does it mean you are not the same Parvati anymore?”

Parvati shook her head slowly.

Narada continued, “Your true self, Parvati is not based on relations, because relationships are transient. Your true self is not your body, because the body perishes. Your true self is not defined by your mind or your intellect because these are binding.”

Parvati asked  “What then, O maharishi, is my true self?”

“I can only tell what your true self is not. What it is, you have to find it out yourself.” Narada replied evenly.

“And how is that done, Devarishi?”

Narada replied “Through the practice of self inquiry.  Let the sacred mantra “Om” be your bow, your aatma be the arrow. Let the five senses be the string of the bow. By pulling back / controlling the senses, release the arrow and see if it hits the target- that is, the Brahman- the Ultimate Truth which you are in search of.

“Awaken the latent consciousness within you and arise it till you realize that you and the Ultimate are one. Just as when a small pot breaks and the space inside it gets dissolved into the greater space outside, similarly allow your consciousness to expand till it merges with the Supreme Consciousness- the Chitananda.

“AtmA vA are drashTavya: Srotavya: mantavya: nididhyAsitavya. It is the Atman that is to be beheld; it is the Atman that is to be known; it is the Atman that is to be searched for; it is the Atman which is to be heard about; it is the Atman which is to be thought in the mind; it is the Atman which is to be meditated upon. There is nothing else worthwhile thinking, nothing else worthwhile possessing, because nothing worthwhile exists, other than this."

“And when you have succeeded in realizing your true self, you will reach the state where the knowledege , the knower and the known all merge into one. No difference remains between the kshetra and the kshetrajna. All sense of duality is lost and you realize that you are “Chitananda Roopa ….Shivoham …Shivaoham”

An awestruck Parvati asked “How will I know I have reached that state?”

“Brahmavid Brahmaiva Bhavati. The knower of Brahman is Brahman himself” Narada replied gravely.

“And if I reach that state, will I be able to attain Shiva ?” Parvati asked imploringly

“No, answered Narada with a smile “you would have become Shiva”.

“Princess Parvati, I take leave of you now. I have shown you the path ahead- the path which leads to Shiva. May you be successful” said Narada, placing his hand on Parvati’s head. “This 

is the last time I will have the privilege of blessing you, Parvati” added Narada.

“Why do you say so, Devarishi?”

“Because the next time we meet, I will be folding my hands in salutation in front of you….” 

Narada stopped and after a pause added “….In Kailash”

Kumara Sambhavam- Part IV- The Fury and the Flame

Part IV- The Fury and The Flame

He looked into the quiver which held the five arrows and picked the first one – the Harshana arrow - which was silver in colour and tipped with a bunch of white kumuda flowers. This was the first arrow which Kamadeva always shot. Against lesser beings, this missile would create a feeling of sudden excitement, a rush of joyous emotions, a feeling of heightened expectation. Would it have the same effect on Shiva?

Kamadeva stretched out his bow and placing the arrow, pulled the bow string back upto his ear. He turned his face away and closing his eyes, released the arrow, hoping it would miss its mark.

The arrow landed squarely on Shiva’s chest.

His heart beating violently against his chest, Kamadeva ventured to open his eyes. Was it his imagination that he thought he saw Shiva shudder ever so slightly, when the arrow touched him?

Kamadeva waited for a few moments to pass and composing himself, picked the second arrow- Rochana. Golden hued, the arrow had orange suvarna asoka flowers on its head. Nervously, he shot the second arrow – which- as expected found its mark.

This time, it was no imagination. Shiva’s body shook visibly and along with it his mind. Even without Mahadev’s knowledge, certain new thoughts were forming in his mind. Suddenly he became aware of the cuckoo’ call- which he would dismiss earlier-, but now opened new vistas of thought for him. And was that the clinking of a woman’s anklet? He had forgotten how melodic it could sound. But… a… woman…here? Is it possible……

But before such thoughts could engulf him, he became conscious of his concentration wavering and controlling in mind, absorbed himself in Samadhi.

Behind the bushes, Rati handed the third arrow to Kamadeva – the Mohana astra. He looked at it carefully. The most important arsenal in his armory, this arrow was pale green in colour and had a bunch of sahakaara (mango) flowers at its tip. This was his favourite flower and he fondly called it ‘kama vallabha’- the favourite of Kama. Even as he drew it from the quiver, a bunch of bees swarmed towards it, attracted by the fragrance of the flowers. Breathing deeply, he released it.

The clinking of anklets pierced Mahadeva's concentration once again. It was not just the anklets, but sound of the bangles and a host of ornaments which adorn a woman’s body. Mahadev’s mind began weaving pictures of golden necklaces nestling on a woman’s pale white skin. Lips, hips and other curves began coming in his focus. Feelings of desire and yearning began to pervade through his body.  But he was an ascetic. He had renounced all worldly emotions. Such thoughts were wholly inappropriate. With a power of will possible only by the greatest, Shiva repelled all thoughts and went into meditation.

Kamadeva waited with a bated breath. Things were still quiet, except for the pair of swans who were pecking each other noisily. He would have liked it had Shiva ideally opened his eyes now, his glance falling on Parvati who was offering flowers at his feet.

But never mind, he had two more arrows. He picked the fourth one – the Shoshana arrow – decorated with white mallika flowers- and shot it. Shiva’s body visibly trembled. His head shook as his heart began to raise strange questions. Why had he renounced all worldly emotions? There was so much pleasure in a woman’s company. The delights a woman could give with her touch, her embrace… Why had he shunned all that?

Enough. Mahadev’s will power- thundered. His mind lapsed into silence. Mahadev began thinking hard. Something strange was surely happening. Why was his Samadhi being constantly violated and by whom? Eyes still closed, he stayed alert

Buoyed by what he thought was his success, Kamadeva came out of his hiding place and stood directly in front of Mahadev. There was only one arrow left now – the Marana astra.

Kamadeva picked it and observed its deep purple colour and the bunch of neelotpala flowers on it. Without hesitation, he placed it on the bow and confidently released it. Was his mission successful? Had he succeeded in taming the greatest of Gods?

Those were the last thoughts Kamadeva would ever have before being blinded by an intense brilliant light.

Indra and other devas who were expecting something dramatic to happen were not disappointed too. Barely had Kamadeva’s fifth arrow touched Shiva’s body, when there began to blaze forth a stream of white light. Light -which was of  blinding intensity and searing heat and was reducing to ashes everything that was in its way. It did not take long for them to understand what was happening.

Mahadev had opened his Third Eye.

Petrified, the Devas scurried for cover and safety. It took a while for the river of fire to subside and when it did, there was no sign of Shiva –or – Kamadeva. A handful of ashes remained where Kamadeva had been standing moments earlier. Absolute silence prevailed- until Rati’s wail of agony rent the air. 

Kumara Sambhavam- Part III - Purusha

PURUSHA

“He is not even aware of her presence, that’s the problem” cried a vexed Indra, slamming a fist into his palm. Being deprived of heaven’s pleasures had made Indra extremely short tempered. 

The prospect of Shiva’s son making his appearance now seemed more distant than ever.

“If only Shiva could be made to open his eyes just for a fraction of second… if only he would glimpse at Parvati…Surely no one could fail to fall in love with the beautiful princess…” Indra muttered to himself. Suddenly, he thought he had found the answer “Love, -that’s it. Call Kama Deva”

Indra mentally summoned Kama Deva, who promptly appeared, with his wife, Rati. They were still lost in each others’ eyes, their arms entwined around each other. Indra cleared his throat loudly. Kamadeva, disengaged himself from Rati and folded his hands in front of Indra.

“Kamadev”, said Indra coming to the point immediately, “I need your help.”

‘Ah, who doesn’t?” grinned Kamadev. “Who is beautiful maiden you have set your eyes on, Devendra?. My arrows will not fail” Kamdeva stretched out his sugarcane and pointed to his flower tipped arrows.

“It is not a maiden” grunted Indra. “It is a man, that too an ascetic”

“A man?” sputtered Kamadev. “Has the king of Devas lost his heart to… a …Man?” Kamadeva was confounded. Rati, by his side, tittered.

Seeing the alarmed expression on Kamadev’s face, Indra got even more wild

“Fool,” shouted Indra. “I am not talking about myself. Falling in love is the last thing I want to do now, Kamdev. You have to stir the feelings of love in someone else’s heart.”

“Who is it, O king?” asked Kamadeva, already picking an arrow from his quiver.

“ Lord Shiva. Mahadev”

“Impossible, my Lord,” replied kamdeva, keeping the arrow back in its quiver.

“Aren’t you confident of your powers, Kamadeva?” asked Indra agitatedly

“My Lord, I am confident….” replied Kamadeva

Indra breathed easy

“….Of failing” finished Kamadev

“Why is it so?” questioned Indra

“My Lord, it is not easy to explain. I work with feelings, emotions. Where there are emotions, I convert them into feelings. Where there are feelings, I can transform them into thoughts and words. But Lord Shiva….” Kamadeva’s voice trailed off.

“Yes, what of Shiva?” asked Indra eagerly “Doesn’t he have feelings, emotions thoughts or words?”

“Mahadev is Pure Conciousness. All thoughts and emotions dissolve into the absolute silence that is within Him. Kama, krodha, lobha, moha cease to exist when they enter his mind. He is not made up of the pancha koshas or the sapta dhatus. He has risen above intellect and ego. He has only one existence and that is his Sat-chit-Ananda form. His mind roams in the realms where there only exists Truth, Knowledge and bliss. Do you really think, Devaraj, that my feeble flower tipped arrows will have any effect on Mahadev?” asked Kamadeva.

But Indra was in no mood to listen to such explanations. He brushed aside Kamadeva’s objections and ordered him to try his best.

Kama deva left the place muttering something about being caught between frying pan and fire.

Vayu, who had been observing all this said to Indra, “He is not going to like this”

“Who? Kamadev?” asked Indra

“No, Mahadev” replied Vayu.

The grove which had become Mahadev’s abode suddenly acquired a new look and became, if possible even more beautiful. The radiance which the grove had gained through Shiva’s tapas was heightened by the intoxicating fragrance of fresh flowers which had sprung overnight.

The blissful peace of the place was now broken by the call of a lovelorn cuckoo. A pair of swans appeared from nowhere and decided that this would be the best place for them to mate. 

Parvati on entering the grove, sensed the new developments and looked around furtively. Kamadeva stationed himself behind a bush. 

Kumara Sambhavam -Part 2- Prakriti

PRAKRITI

Around this time, Shiva decided he wanted a change of place. Perhaps he got tired of Indra and other devas appearing there and disturbing him with their litany of problems. Or perhaps the place still reminded him too much of Sati. Whatever be the reason, when one day, the ganas woke up, Shiva, their Lord and Master, had vanished and along with him, his trusted aide Nandi.

The ganas were distraught; they felt orphaned. When an hour later the devas arrived there with their usual complaint about Tarakasur, they were greeted with an empty Kailash. “Vanished, O Devendra, vanished”, cried an anguished gana. “Where could he have gone?” tried to think Indra, scratching his head.

Himavan’s capital, Oushadhiprastha was a charming place, nestled in a valley between two Himalayan peaks. It derived its name from the thousands of medicinal plants and creepers that grew over there. The fragrance of the flowers and shoots made the air fresh, pure and invigorating. It was to such a place that Shiva decided to migrate and accordingly sent his aide Nandi as his messenger to formally seek permission from King Himavan.

“It would be an honour, Nandi “ replied Himavan.

“There is one more request my Lord wants to make to you, King” said Nandi

“We will comply with every request of his, Nandi Dev”, replied Himavan, overwhelmed by the thought that he would be able to have Shivji’s darshan everyday.

“Lord Shiva’s request is – he should be allowed total privacy. No one should come anywhere near him- on pretext of darshan, audience or whatever. He should be allowed to meditate in peace.” said Nandi

“Very well Nandi Maharaj” replied Himavan, crestfallen.

Thus Shiva took up his abode in a grove in Oushadhiprastha, undisturbed by anyone, his needs looked after by Nandi. Nandi’s duties were very simple- to sweep the place and keep it neat, to ensure that fresh fruits were available, should his master ask for them and - above all  to make sure no being, mortal, or otherwise, comes anywhere near the grove.

It was clear to Nandi he was failing miserably in his last duty.

Someone was visiting his master’s sanctuary, that too before daybreak, when Nandi was still asleep. And the mysterious visitor, Nandi noted, would not only sweep and clean the place but decorate with colourful rangoli patterns. Exotic flowers –jati, champaka, vilva patra were also placed at his master’s feet. This would not do, thought Nandi. If his master came to know, he would be severely reprimanded. Nandi decided to remain awake the whole night to catch the intruder.

It was in the wee hours of the morning when Nandi espied some coming through the entrance of the grove. Nandi hid himself in the bushes. The visitors turned out to be Parvati, the royal princess with her two attendants and a few soldiers. The soldiers remained outside the entrance while the Princess and her companions began sweeping and cleaning the place with a quiet feminine efficiency. One of her attendants held forth a basket of flowers out of which Parvati chose a few and placed it near Shiva’s feet. After doing pradakshina and namaskara ,the trio left the place- as quietly as they had come. Nandi shook himself and ran after them.

“Princess” he called out.

Parvati turned around and placed a finger on her lips, indicating with her eyes, the meditating Shiva. “Shoo, softly, the Lord’s Samadhi will be disturbed.”,she said.

Nandi was mortified. He was his Lord’s trusted aide and who was she to advise him? He drew himself up to his full height and explained that she had to stop coming since Mahadev himself had forbidden anyone to come in his presence.

Parvati smiled sweetly and said simply,“this injunction is not for me”. She turned to leave adding, “Don’t worry, he will not know I am here. He is not even aware of my presence, there won’t be any problem”

Kumarasambhavam -Part 1- The Ascent of the Asura

PART 1 –The Ascent of the Asura

It was the hour before the Gods awoke. It was that hour of night which is the darkest, the hour when the powers of evil are at their strongest.

Brahma, the creator stirred in his meditative reverie.  In some distant world, someone was repeatedly chanting his name- he had been doing so for the past thousand years. Brahma sighed- an asura, no doubt, practicing severe austerities. 

Brahma looked around, The Devas had slipped into a life of easy contentment. The call of the asura became louder, Brahma could not put him off longer. As he prepared to descend into the nether worlds, Brahma knew exactly what was going to happen. The wheels of karma and destiny were already in motion.

It had not been easy- standing on one leg, subjecting his body to intense heat and cold, with not even as much as a thought about food or water, but Tarakasur persisted. It would only be a matter of time before Brahma appeared in front of him.

“Open your eyes, son”

Tarakasur smiled. He had not been wrong. Lord Brahma was indeed standing in front of him.  

Tarakasur made a perfunctory bow, and waited confidently. He knew what  Brahmaji’s next words would be.

“You are worthy of a boon, Tarakasur. What is it that you seek?” asked Brahma, fully aware what Tarakasur’s answer would be.

“Invincibility and immortality” replied the asura, confidently

“The first one, I grant you, but not your second demand. Mortals cannot be immortal, Tarakasur. Whoever is born must eventually….” Brahma ‘s  voice trailed off.  

He realized the futility of trying to explain the subtle intricacies of life and death to an asura- that too one who had been fasting for thousand years.

But  Tarakasur was quick to latch on. “In that case, Oh Lord, let me be killed by the son born to Shiva and his wife” he said.

“Tathastu” replied Brahma.

On his way back, Brahma admitted to himself that Tarakasur had indeed chosen well. Ever since Sati had left him, Shiva had assumed the form of Dakshinamoorthy- facing the direction South, the abode of Yama, where his beloved Sati had gone. Renouncing everything  that represents the sansarik world, Shiva had lost himself in yogic meditation. He had become a complete mauni  - the embodiment of silence. His abode was the icy, inhospitable Kailash, now even more desolate, since the disappearance of Shiva’s Shakti .

There was as much chance of Shiva marrying and begetting a son , thought Brahma wryly, as there was of Tarakasur doing good in the world.

Not unsurprisingly, Tarakasur, after trouncing the kings of  bhu- lok and the patal lok, soon reached the gates of Swarga leading a huge army. The devas, immersed in the intoxicating effects of Varuni and the apsaras, were caught unawares and preferred to flee rather than face the asuric onslaught. 

A vacant throne awaited Tarakasur at Indra’s durbar which he occupied promptly, declaring himself the ruler of three worlds. All of swarga’s delights – the wine, the music and the dancers were now at his service, which after years of abstinence, Tarakasur found irresistible.

Meanwhile, unceremoniously shunted out of their homes, and finding themselves at the receiving end of the asuras’ harassment, the devas, led by Indra approached Brahma with their woes.

“None of us can stand up to him, Oh Lord. If his atrocities continue, the three worlds will perish. Who is going to be the one to vanquish Tarakasur, Brahma Dev? asked Indra.

“The son of Shiva and his wife” replied Brahma, somberly.

“The son of who?” sputtered Indra.

“Shiva and his wife” repeated Brahma.

“But how is it going to be possible …Now that Sati has immolated herself….” interjected Varuna

“Sati has been reborn as Himavan and Mena Devi’s daughter” replied Brahma.”  If all goes well she will succeed in winning Shiva’s affections and he will accept her as his consort.

“And till then?”  questioned Indra.

It was Devi Saraswati who spoke.“Engage yourself in prayer, penance and tapasya. Every sincere prayer is heard, every sincere call answered.”

Indra and his companions began doing as instructed. 

Meanwhile Prakriti’s bounty  was overflowing at Himavan’s palace where the Adi Shakti incarnate, Parvati was growing up. In course of time Devarishi Narada visited Himavan’s palace and like any concerned mother, Mena Devi sked him about her daughter’s marriage and future husband. Narada, studied the lines on Parvati’s palm and hinted that Parvati’s future was linked with Kailashapati Shiva. 

As he was leaving the palace, Parvati cornered him and requested him to initiate her in the sacred panchakshari mantra. Narada whispered the mystic five syllabled mantra “Om namah Sivaya” into Parvati’s right ear as if giving her deeksha. Every fibre in her body tingled with joy as she repeated the sacred chant.