Sight of Shiva

Narada said

Wise Vidhatri, you who show the path of Shiva's tattva, you have let me hear an astonishing account of his pastimes. Brave Virabhadra wrecked Daksha's sacrifice and went to Kailasa. What came after?

Brahma replied

The gods and sages, all beaten and their limbs mangled by Rudra's soldiers, came to my world. They bowed to me, Svayambhu, praised me over and over, and told me in particular of the hardships they had suffered. Hearing it I grieved for my son, and with an afflicted mind I wondered anxiously: what must be done, and quickly, for the gods' happiness? How can Daksha be brought back to life? How can the gods' sacrifice be finished? I turned it over in many ways and found no peace. Then in devotion I remembered Vishnu, and the right understanding came to me. So with the gods and sages I went to Vishnu's world. We bowed, praised him in many ways and laid our trouble before him: "Lord of gods, Rama's consort, giver of happiness to the gods, we gods and sages have come to you as a sure refuge. A sacrifice was under way. Please make all the gods and sages content, and see that the sacrifice is completed."

Hearing me, Rama's lord was distressed and remembered Shiva, and with Shiva in his atman he answered: "An offence against someone of great energy never leads to welfare, and it brings many kinds of misery. All the gods have wronged Parameshvara Shiva, Vidhatri. They took for themselves a share that belonged to Shambhu. All of you must approach him with pure minds and seek his favour. Hold Shiva's feet and gain his supreme grace. When that divinity is angry he destroys the whole universe, and only by his command can the guardians of the world and the sacrifice be revived. So without harsh words one should quickly please him. He will pardon the offence that the evil-souled Daksha aimed at his heart. This is the great means, and the only one, to bring peace. I judge that Shambhu must be satisfied, and I tell you the truth. You, I, the other gods, the sages and all embodied beings do not know his tattva or his measure, nor the extent of his strength and valour. He rules himself, he is supreme, he is the paramatman. What other means could there be, Vidhatri, to bring success to fools who have opposed the supreme? Brahma, I will go to Shiva's abode with all of you. I also have offended Shiva, and I will certainly ask Girisha's forgiveness." So Vishnu instructed me and the immortals, and with the gods he decided to go to the mountain.

With the immortals, sages and lords of subjects, Hari Vishnu went to that auspicious, supreme mountain, Shiva's abode, a place the lord loves greatly. Kinnaras, nonhuman beings, apsaras, yogis and siddhas always filled it. It was extremely lofty, its peaks full of jewels of many kinds, beautiful in every direction, with coloured minerals, many trees and creepers, and crowds of animals and birds. There were many waterfalls frequented by celestial and siddha women, who played in the lakes with their lovers, many caves and peaks, and wild silvery-hued trees. Large creatures, tigers and others, lived there but showed no cruelty, filled with Sarvesha's feelings. It was divine and a cause of great wonder. Ganga, which arose from Sati's region and from Vishnu's feet and purifies everything, made it still holier. This was the mountain called Kailasa, loved by Shiva. On seeing it the gods, Vishnu and the others and the lords among sages were filled with wonder. Near it they saw the beautiful city of Alaka, Kubera's shining, divine city, Kubera being Rudra's friend, and near that the grove Sougandhika, full of every kind of celestial tree. Outside it flowed two divine, purifying rivers, Nanda and Alakananda, the mere sight of which destroys sin. Celestial women came every day from their own regions to bathe and drink there, and played with the men there in desire.

The gods passed beyond the yaksha lord's city and the grove Sougandhika and reached Shankara's banyan tree. It gave constant shade all round though it had no roots, was a hundred yojanas tall, held no nests, and was free of heat. They saw that most sacred, purifying and beautiful tree. Beyond it was the divine place where Shambhu practises yoga, excellent and served by yogis. The banyan was absorbed in great yoga and could be seen only by those who seek refuge in moksha. There Vishnu and the others saw Shiva seated, always happily served by Vidhatri's sons, great siddhas and Shiva's devotees, who were images of serenity and calm. His friend Kubera, lord of guhyakas and rakshasas, was there too, and he was served by his own ganas and their kin. Parameshvara's radiant form was the one ascetics long for, and Shiva's affection reached these well-wishers. Resplendent with bhasma and the rest, he was seated on a seat of kusha grass; you, Narada, were urging him with excellent questions on knowledge and he was answering while the virtuous listened. His left leg lay over his right thigh and knee, a string of rudraksha beads was in one hand and the other was in tarkamudra. Such was Shiva as Vishnu and the other gods saw him. They quickly joined their palms and bowed. Realising that I and Vishnu had come, Rudra, refuge of the virtuous, rose and bowed his head in greeting. Vishnu and the other divine beings paid homage at Shiva's feet, bending as Vishnu bends to Kashyapa, the virtuous refuge of the worlds. Showing every affection, the gods and Vishnu spoke to him, who is worshipped by gods, siddhas, the lords of ganas and the great sages.