Brahmachari Avatara

Nandishvara said

Sanatkumara, hear lovingly of Shiva the supreme self's avatara called Jatila, which is extremely purifying. Earlier Sati, Daksha's daughter, gave up her body at her father's sacrifice because her father dishonoured her, and was born as the daughter of Mount Himalaya and Mena. Shivaa went with two friends to a lonely forest and tormented herself with bright austerities, wanting Shankara as her husband. To test her austerities Shiva, skilled in many kinds of play, sent the seven sages to where Parvati was practising. They went and lovingly tested her, but her resolve was so firm that they could not dissuade her. They went back to Shiva, bowed and told him, and with his leave lovingly returned to heaven. When the sages had gone, Shiva himself, giver of prosperity, wished to test Shivaa's conduct. By his will Ishvara took the form of a pleasant, serene ascetic, the wonderful form of a brahmachari, in the body of a very aged brahmana, blazing with his own energy and happy in mind, very radiant, holding a staff and an umbrella. In this Jatila form he went to Girija's forest, and Shambhu Shankara, kind to his devotees, was pleased.

He saw Devi there surrounded by her friends, seated on the pavilion, pure as a digit of the moon. Shambhu in brahmachari form looked at her and, happy and eager, approached. She saw the brahmana coming, extraordinary in energy, hairy of limb, serene, with staff and hide, aged, matted-haired, a brahmachari with a water-pot. Full of supreme love she honoured him and worshipped him with every offering, and Devi Parvati, delighted, affectionately asked after his welfare and who he was in the brahmachari's form and where he had come from, saying he lit up the forest. Asked so by Parvati, the brahmachari brahmana quickly replied, happy but wishing to test Shivaa's feelings, that he was a brahmachari brahmana wandering where he pleased, an ascetic who brings others happiness and does them good. Then Shankara, kind to his devotees, stayed near her in that form, hiding his true shape. The brahmachari said: great Devi, what shall I say, there is nothing more to say; an occurrence bringing great calamity can be seen, a great transgression. Youth is for enjoying pleasures and seeking causes of happiness, a time for seeking great objects that give pleasure; you are performing austerities in vain. Who are you, whose daughter, why are you in this lonely forest, doing austerities that even sages with purified selves find impossible? Hearing this, Parameshvari laughed and answered affectionately: brahmana brahmachari, sage, hear the whole story. I am born in Bharatavarsha in Himalaya's house. In my last life I was Sati in Daksha's home and Shankara's beloved. When my father criticised my husband I gave up my body by yoga. By my great merit I gained Shiva in this life too, but he burned Manmatha to ashes, abandoned me and went away. When Shankara left I was tormented and ashamed and returned to my father's house. By my guru's words I have come here to practise austerities. In thought, word and deed I have chosen Shankara as my husband, and I tell you truly. I know what I seek is extremely hard to get, and how can I get it? Still, by my mind's resolve I am engaged in these austerities. Ignoring Indra and the other foremost gods, Vishnu and Brahma, I wish to have as my husband the one who holds the Pinaka. This is the truth. Hearing Parvati's resolute words, the sage, Jatila Rudra, laughed and said: daughter of the Himalayas, Devi, what sort of intelligence is this? Forgetting the other gods you are doing great austerities for Rudra. I know that Rudra: he has a bull on his banner, is misshapen, matted-haired, always alone and above all always without attachment. So you should not fix your mind on Rudra. Your form and everything else is contrary to Hara's. I do not like the idea, but do as you wish. So saying, Rudra in brahmachari form spoke again, criticising himself in many ways before her to test her.

Devi Parvati heard the brahmana's unbearable words and, enraged at the criticism of Shiva, answered: until now I took you for someone else, but now that I see it all, you deserve to be killed. A cunning person has come in the brahmachari's form. You have foolishly criticised Shiva, and I am extremely angry with you. You do not know Shiva; you have turned your face from Shiva. Since I worshipped you I am now tormented. If a man neglects truth and criticises Shiva, all his merit gathered since birth is reduced to ashes. If one touches a person who hates Shiva, one must do expiation. Wicked one, you said you know Shiva, but certainly you do not know Shiva, the supreme lord. Here and there by his maya Rudra appears in many forms. He will in the end give me what I wish. He is faultless and loved by the virtuous. Then Devi Shivaa spoke of Shiva's tattva, saying Rudra is brahman, without attributes and without decay. Hearing Devi, the brahmachari brahmana was about to speak again, but Girija quickly spoke to her friend Vijaya, her mind devoted to him, turning away from any criticism of Shiva. Girija said: friend, we must try to restrain this worst of brahmanas; if he speaks again he will criticise Shiva. The one who criticises Shiva is not the only one who sins; in this world one who hears the criticism also gets a share of the sin. Those who criticise Shiva must in every case be killed by Shiva's servants, but he is a brahmana, so he must be shunned. Let us leave this place and go quickly elsewhere, or this wicked one will criticise Shiva again. Since he is a brahmana he cannot be killed, but we must avoid him and not look at him. Without delay let us leave and not speak with this wicked person again. Saying this, Uma raised her foot to go.

But Shiva revealed himself and caught hold of her garment. He took his own divine form, the form one uses to meditate on Shiva. Shiva showed himself to Shivaa, who stood with her face turned down, and said: where are you going, leaving me, Shivaa? You should not abandon me. I wanted to test the firmness of your devotion, so I took the brahmachari's form and spoke to you in many ways. I am pleased with you, above all by your firm devotion to Shiva. Ask the boon your mind wants, nothing is beyond giving to you. By your austerities you have made me your servant, dependent on your love. Such is your beauty that even an instant seems a yuga. Give up your shame; you are my eternal wife, and I will quickly go with you to my own mountain. When the lord of the gods spoke thus Shivaa rejoiced and at once cast off all the hardships of her austerities. Beholding Shiva's divine form she was delighted, and, lowering her face in shame, lovingly replied that if he was pleased he should show her compassion and become her husband. So Shivaa told Shiva. He took her hand in the proper way and went with her to Kailasa. Having got him as husband, Girija accomplished the gods' task. Nandi said he had told of the nature of Shiva's brahmachari avatara, by which he tested Shivaa's feelings. A person who listens to this supreme, unsullied account lovingly gains a happy destination.