Prayer to Devi

Narada said

Wise Vidhatri, great and virtuous guru, best of speakers, what happened after this? You have told an extraordinary account of what befell auspicious Mena earlier, and I have heard the whole account of the excellent marriage. After marrying Mena, what did the mountain do next? How was Parvati, mother of the universe, born? How did she undertake intolerable austerities and win Hara as husband? Tell me all this, and Shankara's fame in detail.

Brahma replied

Listen lovingly to Shankara's excellent, auspicious fame, Narada. Hearing it purifies even one who has killed a brahmana, and brings whatever he desires. After marrying Mena, when the mountain went home, there were great festivities in the three worlds. Himachala was greatly pleased too and arranged supreme festivities. With a virtuous mind he honoured brahmanas and many kinds of relatives. All the brahmanas were satisfied and pronounced excellent blessings, and went to their homes, as did the relatives and others. With Mena bringing happiness to the house, Himachala was very happy and amused himself in Nandana and other groves and fine spots.

Meanwhile the gods, Vishnu and the others, and the great-souled sages approached the mountain. Seeing the gods come, he bowed gladly, praised them greatly and properly, devotedly, with bowed head and joined hands. The great mountain's hair stood on end and he wept tears of joy. Extremely happy and pleased at heart, he bowed to Vishnu and the other gods and said: "Today my birth has been made successful, and my great austerities, my knowledge and all my rites. I am blessed today, my whole dominion is blessed, my family is blessed, and without doubt my wife and everyone else. All of you have come together. Take me as your own servant and tell me your command with affection." Hearing the great mountain, the gods, Hari and the others, were pleased, thinking their own task would be accomplished, and spoke. The gods said: "Himachala, wise one, hear our beneficial words. We will gladly tell you why we have come. Mountain, the mother of the universe was earlier Daksha's daughter. As Rudra's wife she played on earth for a very long time. When her father dishonoured her, Sati remembered her own pledge, gave up her body and returned to her own abode. Himalaya, this is known in the world and you know it too. A great gain will come from it to the host of gods, and the gods will in every way be under your control." Hearing Hari and the other gods, the lord of mountains was pleased in mind and agreed, speaking to them affectionately. With much love they instructed him in the proper method.

They themselves went and took refuge with Uma, Shankara's wife. They stayed in an excellent spot and with controlled minds remembered the mother of the universe. The gods bowed and devotedly praised her in many ways.

The devas said

Devi Uma, mother of the universe, dweller in Shiva's world, beloved of Sadashiva, Durga, Maheshvari, we bow to you. You are Shri, Shakti, the purifier, serene, supreme nourishment, pure, Mahat, of unmanifest form; we bow to you with devotion. Shivaa, giver of auspiciousness, pure, gross, subtle, refuge, you rejoice in inner learning and good learning; we bow to you. You are faith, fortitude, prosperity, inside everything. Your radiance enters the sun, and you yourself illumine the universe. All that exists in the universe, every moving living thing from Brahma to a blade of grass, is pervaded by you; we bow to you. You are gayatri, mother of the Vedas, savitri and Sarasvati, the conduct of the entire universe. You take the form of the three kinds of dharma. In all beings you are sleep, hunger, satisfaction, thirst, beauty, complexion and contentment, and you always bring every joy. For those who do good deeds you are Lakshmi; for the wicked you are always Jyeshtha. For the whole universe you are peace, the mother who nurtures lives. Your form is inside all beings and you are the essence of the five elements, upholding justice. Your forms are in good policy and in dealings. You are the songs of the Sama Veda, the chords of the Yajur Veda, the oblations of the Rig Veda, the measures of the Atharva Veda, the final objective, the power of tamas in all the gods and the power of rajas in Vidhatri's qualities. The universe is your form, and we have heard of you as the creator; we praise you. Cruel samsara is like an ocean and you counter its miseries; you are the sacred thread that lets us cross. You are skilled in play and you protect ashtanga yoga, and you love to dwell in the Vindhya mountains; we bow to you. She holds up the nose, eyes, face, arms, chest and mind of living beings and extends happiness. The very fortunate one puts the universe to sleep for its preservation and protection. May she be pleased with us.

Brahma said

So all of them praised Maheshani Uma Sati, mother of the universe, and with glad minds they waited, longing to see her.