Mena's Boon

Narada said

Devi Durga vanished to her own abode and the immortals left. What came next? How did Mena and the lord of mountains torment themselves in great austerity, father? How did Mena get a daughter? Please tell me.

Brahma replied

Noble brahmana, best of sons, hear the great account. I bow first to Shankara, who always increases devotion, and then I will tell it. Son, when the host of gods had instructed them and gone, the lord of mountains and Menaka tormented themselves in supreme austerity. Day and night the couple thought of Shivaa and Shambhu, and with devotion in their minds worshipped them properly and constantly. The mountain's beloved, filled with great joy, worshipped Devi and Shiva, gave to brahmanas and kept them constantly satisfied. Wanting a child, she worshipped Shivaa for twenty-seven years, beginning in the month of Chaitra (the text speaks of worship 'for a month'). She fasted on ashtami and on navami gave sweetmeats, offerings, cakes, payasam and fragrant flowers. At Oushadhiprastha on the bank of the Ganga she made an earthen image of Uma and worshipped it with many kinds of objects. Some days she fasted, some days she kept vows, some days she lived on air, some on water alone. For twenty-seven years Menaka's mind was fixed on Shivaa, and she passed that time full of great joy and radiant. At the end of the twenty-seven years Uma, Shankara's beloved, mother of the universe who pervades the universe, was extremely pleased. Devi was satisfied with the great devotion, and to show her favour Parameshvari appeared before Mena. Her body had divine limbs and she stood in the midst of a circle of light. She smiled, showed herself to Mena and spoke.

Devi said

Most virtuous one, ask for the boon in your mind. Beloved of the mountain, I am extremely pleased with your austerities. Mena, you have taken to austerities and vows. I will give you what you ask for, everything you wish.

Brahma said

Menaka saw Devi Kalika before her, bowed, and spoke.

Mena said

Devi, I have now directly seen your form and I wish to extol you. Kalika, be pleased; Kalika confounds everyone.

Brahma said

When Mena spoke so, Devi was pleased and embraced her with her arms, and Menaka gained great knowledge. With eloquent words and devotion she praised the auspicious Kalika who stood before her.

Mena said

Mahamaya, Jagaddhatri, Chandika, bearer of the worlds, Mahadevi, giver of everything desired, I bow to you. You give eternal bliss. You are maya, Yoganidra, the mother who gives birth to the universe. Ever a siddha, wearing a garland of auspicious lotuses, I bow to you. Maternal grandmother, constant bliss, destroyer of devotees' grief, ideal of women, you take the form of intelligence in living beings and are the cause of the cutting of bonds for mendicants. How can one like me sing of your powers? You are the violence spoken of in the Atharva Veda. May you always give me all I desire. Though beings are joined with feelings temporary and permanent and with the tanmatras, you are beyond them, their power and always eternal in form. You are a woman who can be joined with yoga at the right time. You are mother of the earth, the universe itself, eternal Prakriti and beyond it. You bring everything under control. The brahman is your form and you are ever full of sattva. Mother, be pleased with me now. You are the fierce power in fire, the scorching power in the sun's rays, the many delights in the moon's beams. I extol you; I bow to Chandi, beloved of virtuous women. For those who hold their seed you are eternal. For the whole universe you are desire, and that is how Hara thinks of you. Devi, you are the effort behind creation, preservation and destruction, and take different forms accordingly. You are the reason Brahma, Achyuta and Sthanu take bodies. Be pleased with me now; I bow to you again.

Brahma said

So she praised Durga Kalika again. Thus addressed, Devi told Menaka to ask for the boon she wished.

Uma said

Beloved of Himachala, I love you more than my own life, and I will certainly give what you ask. There is nothing that cannot be given to you.

Brahma said

Menaka heard Maheshani's words, which were like nectar, and content she answered.

Mena said

Victory, victory to you, Shivaa, wise Maheshvari, mother of the world. If you think me worthy of a boon, I will ask, and then I will ask again. Mother of the universe, let my first boon be a hundred sons, valiant, long-lived, prosperous and successful. After that, let me have a single daughter, beautiful and virtuous, who gives joy to both families and is worshipped in the three worlds. Shivaa, to accomplish the gods' task, become my daughter. Mother of the world, become Rudra's wife and play your pastimes.

Brahma said

Hearing Menaka, Devi was pleased, smiled first, and fulfilled her wishes with words: "You will have a hundred sons full of valour, and the first born will be foremost in valour. Satisfied with your devotion, I will be born as your daughter. Since all the gods have served me, I will do the gods' work." So spoke Jagaddhatri Kalika Parameshvari, and as Menaka watched, Shivaa vanished.

Son, having won the boon she wanted from Maheshani, Menaka was filled with infinite delight and all the suffering of her austerities ended. Pleased, the virtuous woman bowed toward Sati, cried "Victory" and entered her house to tell her husband of the excellent boon. By good omens and his own understanding he already knew it, but her excellent words confirmed it. Hearing Mena, the lord of mountains was delighted and lovingly praised his beloved and her devotion to Shivaa. Sage, in time they came together, Mena conceived, and the child grew every day. She gave birth to the excellent son Mainaka, who deserved to be enjoyed by naga women. Later he was joined to the ocean in a wonderful pact of friendship. Devarshi, when Vritra's slayer grew angry and cut off the mountains' wings, his excellent wings stayed and his limbs could not be harmed. He was supreme among the hundred sons, immensely strong and valiant, foremost among mountains, and was installed as the Indra of mountains. Great and wonderful festivities were held in Himachala's city. The couple were filled with supreme joy and their sorrows were over. They gave to brahmanas and gave wealth to others, and for both of them love for Shiva and Shivaa grew greater.