Arrival of the Groom

Brahma said

Shambhu was content, and with the bhutas, his ganas and the gods he went eagerly toward the mountain's house. Mena, the supreme mountain's beloved, went in ahead with a crowd of women and made ready vessels of lamps to perform nirajana for Shambhu. With all the rishis' wives she came lovingly to the gate, just as Mahesha Shankara, Girija's groom, arrived there attended by every god, and she was glad at the sight of him.

His colour was as lovely as a champaka flower. He had a single face, three-eyed, calm and faintly smiling. Gold and jewels adorned him, a garland of malati flowers hung on him and a blazing jewelled crown sat on his head, with a fine necklace, handsome bracelets and bangles. He wore two delicate, priceless garments cleansed in fire. Sandal paste, aguru, kasturi and kumkuma made his body charming; a jewelled mirror was in his hand and collyrium brightened his eyes. Utterly enchanting, he spread his radiance on every side, very young and beautiful, the best of all whom women love. His lotus face was like a crore of moons and every limb was handsome, his image beyond a crore of Smaras. Mena saw this excellent divinity standing at her door, and seeing her son-in-law she forgot her grief and was full of joy. She praised her own fortune and that of the families of Girija and the mountain, thought herself fulfilled and rejoiced again and again. With a glad face the virtuous lady performed the nirajana. Then she gazed on him happily, remembering what Girija had told her, and wondered: her face opened like a lotus as she thought, "I see Paramesha's beauty before me, and it is far greater than what Parvati told me then; Mahesha's present charm cannot be put into words." Amazed, Mena went back into her house.

Some of the maidens called him blessed; some called the mountain's daughter blessed; some said Durga had now truly become Bhagavati. "Such a groom has never been seen, as far as we know," others said, and some, "Devi Girija is fortunate." The best gandharvas sang and bands of apsaras danced. Seeing Shankara's form, every god was delighted. Many instruments sounded sweetly, played lovingly by many kinds of musicians. Himachala was glad and carried out the rites that belong at the door. Mena and all the women held great celebrations, and after asking after the others' welfare she went gladly into her house. With the ganas and immortals Shiva went to the place set aside for him.

Meanwhile the women of the mountain's inner rooms led Durga out of the house to worship the family deity. The gods gazed at her happily without blinking. She was dark as blue collyrium and every limb was adorned. The steady looks of others meant nothing to her; her eyes were on the three-eyed one. With a sidelong glance and a faint smile on her happy face, her lovely hair in a heavy bun with flowers, a kasturi mark and a sindura mark on her brow, a jewelled necklace over her breasts, jewelled armlets and bangles, the shine of her jewelled earrings lighting her cheeks, her teeth fine, gems gleaming on her hands, red lac on her lips and her lower lip like a ripe bimba, a jewelled mirror in one hand and a lotus playfully in the other, her body smeared with sandal paste and kumkuma, anklets sounding on her red-soled feet: so she looked. Seeing Devi, the source of the universe and the one from whom it springs, the gods and the rest were filled with devotion and bowed their heads to her and to Menaka. The three-eyed one saw her from the corner of his eye and was delighted. Seeing Sati's form again, Shiva dropped the anxiety of separation. With his eyes on Shivaa he forgot everything else, and his body hair stood up in joy as he glanced happily at Gouri. Kali went outside the city and worshipped Ambika, the family deity, and then with the brahmana women entered her father's lovely house. Shankara too, with the gods, Hari and the brahmanas, went happily to the place Himachala had shown him. Everyone there served Shankara gladly, and the lord of mountains honoured them with many riches.