Description of Sati's Marriage

Narada said

Brahma, you have let me hear Shambhu's wonderful deeds, which secure everything auspicious. Please tell me what came next. The conduct of Sati and the moon-crested lord is divine and destroys heaps of sins.

Brahma replied

Shankara, kind to his devotees, did not kill me, and everyone was relieved and glad. The sages bowed their shoulders, joined hands and cried "Victory." I too lost my fear and praised Shankara in many hymns. Shambhu, who plays in many ways, was pleased and said in everyone's hearing: "Brahma, my son, I am pleased with you. Put your fear aside and obey me without fear. Touch your head with your hand." I touched the head, "Kah", and bowed to Vrishadhvaja in that posture; the moment my hand touched it I took the form of his mount, the bull. Ashamed in every limb, I stood with my face turned down while Indra and the other immortals stood around and saw me so. I bowed to Maheshvara in shame and said: "Forgive me, lord. Tell me a prayashchitta to purge this sin, and punish me properly so that it leaves me." Sarvesha, kind to his devotees, was very pleased and said: "Worship me in this form, with me riding on you. Do austerity cheerfully and be devoted to my worship, and you will be known on earth as Rudrashira. Full of energy, you will perform every rite for brahmanas. Discharge of semen is what humans do, and since you did it you will become human and roam the earth. If anyone sees you roaming in that form and asks, 'What is that on Brahma's head?', you will answer, 'It is the destroyer.' If a man has committed the sin of outraging another's wife, as soon as he eagerly hears all that you did he will be freed at once. As you go on telling people what you did, you will gradually be purified. This is the prayashchitta I have decided for you. People will laugh at your shameful deed. When desire overcame you, I saw your semen fall in the middle of the altar. It will not stay there. The four drops that fell on the ground will become the clouds of dissolution." Then, before the gods and rishis, clouds at once rose from the semen: Samvartaka, Avarta, Pushkara and Drona, the four great clouds of dissolution, which thunder and pour torrents as soon as Shiva wishes. They spread across the sky and roar. After this, Shankara and Devi Dakshayani were soothed and became very calm.

Following Shiva's order, I lost my fear and finished the remaining marriage rites. Flowers rained on Shiva and Shivaa's heads; gods and ganas rejoiced; there was singing and music; noble brahmanas chanted the Vedas with devotion, and Rambha and other celestial women danced lovingly. There were great festivities and loud cries from the gods' wives. Parameshvara, lord of sacrifice, was pleased. As I stood with joined hands, following the practices of ordinary people, Ishvara said: "Brahma, you have conducted all the marriage rites very well and I am pleased. What dakshina shall I give you, the acharya? Eldest of the gods, ask for it, even if it is very hard to obtain. Tell me quickly; there is nothing I will not give you." Hearing Shankara I joined my hands, bowed again and again and said: "Lord of the gods, Mahesha, if you are pleased and I deserve a boon, then do cheerfully what I ask. To purify men of their sins, always stay established in this altar in your present form. Shashishekhara, Shankara, to destroy my own sins I will set up a hermitage near it and perform austerities. Hara, if any man on earth comes here and devotedly visits on a Sunday in the bright fortnight of Chaitra when the nakshatra is Uttara Phalguni, let all his sins be destroyed, his store of merit grow large, and all his ailments go. If any woman is unfortunate, barren, one-eyed or ugly, let her be freed of those faults as soon as she sees this." Shiva, giver of every happiness, was pleased and agreed: "For the welfare of the worlds, I will stay established in this altar with my wife Sati. I will act on your request." Having said this, with his wife Bhagavan Vrishadhvaja made an image from his own portion and established himself in the altar.

Parameshvara Shankara, affectionate to his own, then wanted to go with Sati and asked Daksha's leave. Daksha bowed humbly with joined hands and praised Vrishadhvaja gladly. Vishnu and the other gods, sages and ganas bowed and praised him in many ways, crying "Victory." Taking leave of Daksha, Shambhu seated Sati on the bull, sat on it himself and set out for the Himalayan slopes. With her fine teeth and lovely smile, sitting on the bull with Shankara she shone like the dark mark on the moon. Vishnu, the gods, Marichi and the other rishis, Daksha and all the rest were entranced and stood still. Some played instruments, some sang; they sang the pure fame of Shiva and Shivaa and followed Shiva gladly. Midway Daksha, full of pleasure, took Shambhu's leave. Shambhu, full of love, reached his abode with his ganas. Though Shambhu had released Vishnu and the others, they followed him in joy and devotion. With all his ganas and with Sati, Shambhu reached his own abode and saw the beautiful Himalayas. There he honoured all the gods, sages and others warmly and cheerfully let them go; Vishnu and the rest bowed, praised him and went to their abodes. Shiva, delighted with Daksha's daughter, played on the Himalayan slopes as the world does. Then with Sati and his ganas he came to his own residence and saw Kailasa, best of mountains.

I have thus told you all that happened of the marriage of the bull-rider, toward the end of the Svayambhuva manvantara. After worshipping Vrishadhvaja, a person who eagerly hears this at the time of a marriage or before beginning a sacrifice will have all obstacles to marriage and every rite removed. Rites are always free of hindrance from hearing this auspicious account. A bride who listens to it lovingly is happy, fortunate, well-conducted, chaste and has sons.