Gauri Kalyana Vaibhogame- Parvati's test.

The wedding day of the divine couple of Kailāśa is just around the corner. The day when the hand of the Princess of Auṣadhipura was given to the Lord of Kailāśa. Let us take part in their wedding through this series called "Gaurī Kālyāṇa Vaibhogame". Stay tuned!

The seven celestial sages returned to their abodes after testing Pārvatī. Now, Śiva himself desired to test her. Testing Her was simply an excuse, the real purpose was to see Her. He assumed the form of an old Brāhmaṇa and went to Gaurī-Śikhara to behold the Princess of Auṣadhipura. He could not wait to see Her. He reached the forest where Pārvatī was performing Her penance. She was surrounded by her friends Jayā, Vijayā, Sulocanā and others who attained great bliss serving Her. 

Śiva disguised as Brāhmaṇa asked the friends, "O young ladies, who is this delightful woman? Is she Lakṣmī of Vaikuṇṭha, Sarasvatī or Gāyatrī? Who is she?" The friends said that she is Kāli, the daughter of Mountain king, She is well known as Pārvatī. The Brāhmaṇa expressed His desire to speak to Gaurī. On hearing this Jayā-Vijayā asked him to wait as She can only talk to somebody after concluding Her rites. The Brāhmaṇa spent His time talking to Pārvatī's friends inquiring about Her. When the time for concluding the rites was almost there, the Brāhmaṇa went to the nearby pond and jumped into it and pretended to drown. He cried "Help! Help!", Hearing this Jayā-Vijayā and other friends rushed towards the pond and offered him their hands to pull him out. He yelled, "I would rather die than to touch a girl without spiritual achievement.". 

Pārvatī just concluded her rites and She heard the cries of the Brāhmaṇa, she immediately went there to save him. She presented him her left hand but he refused as the left hand is considered to be impure, he asked her to save him by giving him her right hand. On hearing this Pārvatī said, "O Brāhmaṇa, I won't give my right hand to anyone else other than my Lord, Śiva! My right hand has been allotted to Him, He alone can hold this right hand of mine.". The Brāhmaṇa said "O lady, then I choose to die. Just as your vow my vow is unshakable too. We Brāhmaṇas are worthy of respect even by the celestial Devās, you would acquire a great sin by letting a Brāhmaṇa die instead of saving him.". The words of Brāhmaṇa didn't change Gaurī's mind but her motherly love did. How can She, who is Jaganmātā see anyone drowning? She immediately offered her right hand and saved the Brāhmaṇa. She didn't offer her hand as Brahmachāriṇī but as Jaganmātā, the mother of everyone. 

The Brāhmaṇa asked her the reason for her penance. Kālī said "O Brāhmaṇa, I am performing this penance to get Mahādeva as my husband. I was previously born as Satī but cast off my body because my father, Dakṣā insulted my Lord. In this birth too Śiva came to me but unfortunately He reduced Manmatha into ashes and went away. I was performing this penance to get back my Śiva." Tears flowed down Her eyes when she finished saying this. 

"Even after performing such severe penance, I couldn't attain Him. I was about to sacrifice this body in the fire now. Of what use is this body which is not accepted by Śiva? I have loved Śiva and will love Him alone. No matter how many births I take, I will love only Him." She continued. After saying thus, Pārvatī entered the fire even after being stopped by her friends and the Brāhmaṇa. Jayā-Vijayā and some of the other friends fainted while others wept loudly asking Śiva to appear. When Pārvatī entered the fire, it became as cool as sandal paste. How could the fire burn Parāśakti who is the source of heat and strength present in it? Agni Deva considered himself to be the most fortunate as Umā graced him by placing her lotus feet on him. Indeed he was, he was also going to be the witness of the divine wedding of Umā-Maheśvara. 

The Brāhmaṇa laughed at the daughter of Menakā and asked her why is she letting her beauty go in vain by performing such severe penance and that too for Śiva. He then started abusing Śiva. "O lady! Are you blind? Leaving off Viṣṇu, Indra and other handsome gods and Princes you want that unattractive Śiva as your husband. Do you know about Him? Instead of sandalwood, He applies unholy ash all over His body. He chooses an animal's hide over silken garments. Snakes are his garlands and goblins are His servants. Looking at His dirty matted locks of hair, I doubt that if He even bathes. O Princess, you've lost your mind. Why are you choosing stone over diamond? O dear, listen to my words, that inauspicious Śiva is unworthy of bein...."

"Stop!" Yelled Pārvatī. She said, "How can your mouth, which reads Vedas insult Śiva? Do you even have the knowledge of Vedas? Because the essence of the Vedas is Śiva, it praises the roseate feet of Maheśvara. What you have said is known to me but you do not know who He is. Millions of Kāma Devās fall unconscious on beholding the beauty of that Śiva, whom you called as unattractive. The ash which is fallen from the golden feet of Mahādeva is applied by the Devās on their forehead, you call that ash unholy? O evil-minded one, does the Lord who is always pure needs to bathe? Mahādeva does not discriminate between His devotees. Fallen creatures like ghosts serve him to attain liberation. He is the father of everyone, He is served by Brahmā, Indra and others Devās and also by the fallen goblins. O fool, by remembering and uttering whose name everything becomes auspicious, you call that Śiva inauspicious? I've done a great mistake by revering you. O Brāhmaṇa, go away from here."

After saying thus, Pārvatī remembered Śiva. She then turned to Vijayā and asked her to come along with all the other friends as the wicked Brāhmaṇa may discredit Śiva again. Just as Pārvatī was about to leave, someone clasped her from behind. Pārvatī heard a deep voice which said, "O my beloved, where will you go, leaving me?"

To be continued...

Namaḥ Pārvatīpataye Hara Hara Mahādeva!

Yours,

Śivapādahṛdaya.