Usha's Story

Vyasa said

Sanatkumara, omniscient one, you have made me hear a wonderful account of Shambhu's favours, and I am pleased to have heard it by your grace. Now I wish to hear of the moon-crested lord's deeds and how, pleased, he gave Banasura the status of ganapati.

Sanatkumara said

Vyasa, listen with love to how Shambhu, the supreme self, was pleased and gave Banasura that status. This excellent account of the great lord Shankara is a sacred itihasa that brings happiness to the mind and ears. To favour Bana, Shambhu fought Krishna, and I will tell you of Shiva's supreme pastimes.

Brahma's intelligent son Marichi was the eldest of the mind-born sons and an excellent Prajapati. His son was the great sage Kashyapa, who extended creation and was devoted to his father and to Brahma. Daksha had thirteen daughters of excellent conduct, who became Kashyapa's devoted wives. The eldest was Diti, whose sons were the daityas, while the others' sons were the devas and other moving and unmoving beings. Diti's first two sons were extremely strong: Hiranyakashipu the elder and Hiranyaksha the younger. Hiranyakashipu had four sons, the foremost of daityas: Hrada, Anuhrada, Samhrada and Prahrada. Prahrada conquered his senses and was among Vishnu's great devotees, and no daitya could destroy him. His son Virochana was great and famed for giving; when Shakra, in a brahmana's form, asked him for his own head, he gave it at once. His son was the very generous Bali, loved by Shiva, who gave the earth to Hari when Hari took the dwarf form. Bali's son was Bana, devoted to Shiva, intelligent, honoured and generous, who gave thousands and held to truth. In ancient times he ruled from the city called Shonitapura. By his strength he conquered the three worlds and the lord of the gods had no protector. By Shankara's favour the immortals became like servants of Banasura, Shiva's devotee. The gods and their wives were miserable and left his realm, though his subjects were not unhappy, since he kept supreme dharma.

Once the great asura played musical instruments with his thousand arms and danced the tandava, and so pleased Maheshvara. Shankara was delighted and, kind to devotees, looked on him with compassion and told Bali's son, the supreme devotee, to ask a boon. Banasura said: if Mahadeva was pleased, let him always be his protector, and with his sons and ganas be the lord of his city and remain there. Bana was deluded by Shiva's maya. Mahesha is hard to worship but certainly gives liberation. Affectionate to devotees, Shambhu granted these boons and, with his sons and ganas, lived there cheerfully.

Once, in Bana's lovely city Shonitapura, Hara played with gods and asuras along a river bank. Gandharvas and apsaras sang and danced, sages bowed, worshipped and praised him, the rishis spoke first and made oblations, and troops of siddhas came to see Shankara's play. The text says that mlecchas, followers of perverse paths and those who indulged in false debate were destroyed there, that the Matrikas sat facing him, that the terrifying ones were destroyed, and that those full of devotion to Rudra prospered, their worldly taints removed. All the subjects were full of joy on seeing him, and the sages and siddhas watched the women's graceful movements. The seasons showed their powers and nourished the place, a gentle breeze carried grey pollen, birds eager for honey chirped on branches heavy with flowers, and cuckoos called sweetly in forests and groves, stirring desire.

The wearer of the crescent moon, intoxicated with the play because Kama had not been defeated, spoke to Nandi. He told him to fetch beautiful Gouri from Kailasa after she had adorned herself, to leave the forest quickly and tell the dark-complexioned one that he had asked for her. Shankara's private messenger agreed and went, folded his hands, bowed and told Devi that Maheshvara wished to see his beloved in beautiful form. Gouri, devoted to her husband, got ready to adorn herself lovingly and told him to say she was coming. With the speed of thought Nandi reached Rudra, who was very agitated and sent him again to bring Parvati quickly. He went again and told her her husband wished to see her in lovely garments, that Shankara was waiting, eager for many pleasures with her, that he was afflicted by desire and she should go.

Meanwhile the apsaras conferred. They said his mood was such that he wanted Parvati right then. The Pinaka-wielder was Kama's enemy, yet whichever heavy-hipped divine woman he chose would certainly be a queen, and aided by Manmatha's companions he would sport with anyone he saw in Gouri's form: Kama had beaten Kama's enemy. Other than Dakshayani, if any woman could delude Parvati's husband, let her speak and go fearlessly. Kumbhanda's daughter Chitralekha was keen to approach Shankara. She said she would go in Gouri's form, as Vishnu once used his yoga to deceive and Keshava took the form of Mohini. Seeing her, Urvashi changed form too. Ghritachi took Kali's form, Vishvachi Chandika's, Rambha Savitri's and Menaka Gayatri's, Sahajanya Jaya's and Punjikasthali Vijaya's. Other excellent apsaras took the Matrikas' forms; the text does not name them. By their own learning they took their jewels and forms. Seeing them, Kumbhanda's daughter also showed her own disguise, using Vishnu's yoga and her own. Usha, Banasura's daughter, accomplished in divine yoga, took the divine, wonderful and auspicious form of Parvati, with radiant feet like large red lotuses and every divine mark, able to grant whatever the mind wished.

Girija learned what they had resolved, since Shivaa has every kind of knowledge and is within everyone. She said to Usha, her friend, that out of desire she had taken her form, and so, when the time came, in the months of Kartika and Madhava, she would follow the dharma of her monthly course. On the shukla dvadashi, when the terrible night came and Usha had fasted, a man would enjoy her in the inner quarters while she slept. Destiny had made him her husband and she would be happy with him. Because Usha had been devoted to Vishnu since childhood, this would happen. With shame in her mind and on her face, Usha accepted. Then Devi Parvati eagerly adorned herself, went to Rudra and played with Shambhu. When the time of pleasure was over, Bhagavan vanished from the spot with his wife, his ganas and the gods.