Bestowing the Bride

Brahma said

Now, prompted by the acharya Garga, Himalaya and Mena began the arrangements for giving away the bride. The fortunate mountain wore excellent garments and ornaments, and he and Mena each held one side of a golden pot. With his own priest the delighted mountain offered padya and the other courtesies to the groom, receiving him with garments, sandal paste and ornaments. Himalaya had the brahmanas name the tithi, announcing that the hour for the gift had come, and the excellent brahmanas, who knew time well, agreed, named the tithi and declared that the excellent moment had arrived.

In his heart Himachala was full of affection for Shambhu, and moved by it he smiled and spoke to Paresha Shambhu: "Shambhu, please tell me your gotra, pravara, lineage, name and the branch of the Vedas you belong to. Do not delay." Hearing Himachala, Shankara at once turned his face aside. Though he never knows sorrow, he seemed sunk in grief. The best of the gods and sages, the noble gandharvas, yakshas and hosts of siddhas saw that no reply came from his mouth. Narada, you then did something that deserves laughter. You know the brahman and your mind is on Shambhu, but Shiva must have urged your mind: you picked up your veena and began to play. The intelligent Indra among mountains, Vishnu, I and all the gods and sages tried to stop you, but you were stubborn; since it was Shankara's will, you would not stop. The mountain said, "Please do not play the veena now." Devarshi, learned one, restrained in this way you still persisted, and, remembering Maheshvara, you answered the lord of mountains.

Narada said

You are foolish and know nothing. Your face is turned too much outward, and you have spoken of Mahesha as if he were an ordinary groom, asking Hara himself to state his gotra. On this occasion such words deserve a great deal of laughter. Mountain, Vishnu, Brahma and the others do not know his gotra, lineage and name, to say nothing of others. Mountain, in a single day of his a crore Brahmas are destroyed. By the strength of her austerities Kali saw this Shankara. He is the supreme brahman, formless, without qualities, superior to Prakriti, unchanging, lord of maya, greater than the greatest. He has no gotra, lineage or name. He rules himself and is kind to his devotees. When he wishes to have qualities he takes many bodies and names. He has an excellent gotra yet has no gotra; he is of noble lineage yet has no lineage. Without doubt he has become your son-in-law now through Parvati's austerities. By his pleasures and pastimes everything moving and still is deluded. Supreme among mountains, not even the wise know Shiva. When Mahesha took the form of a lingam, Brahma could not see the head and Vishnu went to the nether regions and was astounded at not finding the feet. Best of mountains, why say more? Shiva's maya cannot be understood; the three worlds, Hari, Brahma and the rest, are subject to it. Father of Shivaa, so reflect on this properly. You should have not the slightest doubt about the groom chosen.

Brahma said

Sage, you know and carry out Shiva's wishes. Having said this, you spoke again to the Indra among mountains, delighting him.

Narada said

Son, great mountain, father of Shivaa, listen to my words, and having heard them give your daughter Devi to Shankara. In his play Mahesha takes a form with qualities. Know that nada is his gotra and lineage. It is true that Shiva is full of nada and nada of Shiva; there is no difference between nada and Shiva. Indra among mountains, at the beginning of creation nada came forth first, and only later in play he took the form with qualities. So nada is higher than that form of Shiva. Himalaya, it was Sarveshvara Shankara who urged my mind; moved by him I played the veena then.

Brahma said

Sage, hearing you, Himalaya, the lord of mountains, was content, and his bewilderment left him. Vishnu, the other gods and the sages also lost their wonder and praised those words. All those discerning beings grasped Maheshvara's depth. Amazed and delighted, they said to each other: "This whole vast universe was made by his will. He is greater than the greatest and alone can understand his form. Sharva rules over his own progress and can be approached only through supreme feelings. He is lord of the three worlds; we have seen it now."

Meru and the other fine mountains were fearful. With one voice they said to Himalaya, lord of mountains: "Lord of mountains, do not step back from the decision you announced of giving your daughter. Do not undo your deeds. We speak the truth; there is no need to hesitate. Give your daughter to Ishvara." Himalaya heard his well-wishers, and, urged by Vidhatri, resolved to give his daughter to Shiva. "Parameshvara, I give you this maiden. Lord of everything, be pleased and take her as wife." With the mantra "tasmai Rudraya mahate" Himalaya gave his daughter Parvati, the origin of the three worlds. The mountain placed Shivaa's hand on Shiva's. His heart was glad, like that of one whose wish to cross a great ocean is fulfilled. Parameshvara was pleased. Reciting Vedic mantras, Girisha quickly took Girija's lotus hand in his own. Sage, he touched the ground and chanted "kamasya kodat", showing the world the path to follow. There were great festivities everywhere, conducive to happiness. Cries of "Victory" rose from earth, sky and heaven. Everyone called out applause and greetings in delight. Gandharvas sang gladly and hosts of apsaras danced. The people of Himachala's city were delighted. There were great and most auspicious celebrations. I, Vishnu, Shakra, the immortals and all the sages were delighted, our glad faces like blooming lotuses. Himachala, supreme among mountains, extremely happy, gave not only his daughter but suitable gifts to Shiva. His relatives worshipped Shivaa devotedly and, by the rules, gave Shiva and Shivaa many things. Lord among sages, Himalaya, content, gave them many gifts for the pleasure of Parvati and Shiva: things for amusement, many kinds of jewels, wonderful gems and many kinds of vessels; a hundred thousand cows and a hundred harnessed horses; a hundred thousand devoted serving maids with articles and ornaments; and a hundred thousand each of elephants and chariots inlaid with gold and set with jewels. So by the rules Himalaya gave his daughter Girija Shivaa to Shiva Paramesha and succeeded in his aim. The best of mountains joined his hands and happily praised Paramesha with fine words and the madhyandina hymns. At his instruction the many Vedic sages cheerfully sprinkled Shivaa's head with water and, uttering the divinity's names, performed the paryukshana rites. Sage, there were great festivities and they brought great joy.