The appearance day of Parashakti

Today is the appearance day of Lord Nārāyaṇa as Daśaratha Nandana Śrī Rāmacandra and Goddess Śivā as Śaila Kumārī Pārvatī. 

 Very less people know that today is Girijā Navamī too. So let us know the story of how goddess Umā became the daughter of the mountains.

Queen Menāvatī and Himavān used to take care of Devī Satī and love her as their own daughter. They were extremely grief stricken, when they knew about what happened to Dākṣāyani. Menā, the darling of mountain king performed various vows and fasts to please goddess Śivā and desired to acquiring a child like Satī. She worshipped the Goddess along with Śiva everyday for twenty seven years. Some days she would observe complete fast, some days she would consume only water and some days wind alone constituted her food. On the banks of Gaṅgā in Auṣadhiprastha, she would make a clay idol of Ambikā and worship her with love.

At the fulfillment of twenty seven years, Umā, the divine Mother, was extremely delighted by Menakā's devotion. As Menā was adoring Ambā, an incredible light emission showed up before her and gradually a silhouette of a divine lady was seen. Menā saw the Queen of Śivaloka, clad in multicoloured luxurious pieces of clothing. Her twin red lotus feet was placed on a huge lotus flower. She held a brilliant blossom in her right hand and her left hand was stretched down. Her two delightful lotus eyes looked like two fishes in the pond, which is her face. Her lotus-face looked really beautiful with jeweled ear-rings of the shape of the Śrī Yantra. She was bedecked in various kinds of jewelleries.

On beholding the divine mother, Menā with joyful tears in her eyes yelled "Umā, the Empress of three worlds has appeared before me! How fortunate am I?" 

Durgā smiled and said "O beloved of the mountain king, I am delighted by your worship. Choose your boon. There is nothing which I cannot give you." On hearing this, Menā in a humble voice replied "O Goddess Śivā, I am not qualified to praise you, so at first I wish to eulogise you to my heart's content."

Goddess Umā, on hearing these words of Menā embraced her and provided Menā the wisdom to praise her. Menā eulogised Ambikā with sweet honey-like words with great devotion. 

Thus eulogised, Ambikā asked Menā to choose her boon. Menā said "O Mother, if you are pleased by my devotion and consider me worthy of a boon, I shall choose one. Let me have hundred sons with great power, longevity, prosperity and accomplishments. Then may I have a daughter endowed with all the good qualities and features, who will delight her family and be praised by the three worlds. O merciful mother, bless me by being my daughter and to assist Lord Mahādeva in his divine sports and to fullfil the needs of the gods."

The Goddess said "So be it. May hundred heroic sons be born to you. I shall be born as your daughter for the welfare of everyone." Saying so, Mahādevī returned to her abode. Menā's happiness couldn't be measured. She rushed to her husband and told him about the boon she acquired by the grace of Umā Devī. On hearing the words of Menā, the mountain Lord announced for a celebration and gifted every person living in Auṣadhiprastha. 

As per the words of Goddess Umā, Menā gave birth to hundred sons and among them the most powerful was the eldest son Maināka. He too became the Lord of mountains like his father.

Then the couple remembered Ādyāśaktī for her to take birth as their daughter. Ādyāśaktī entered Himavān's mind and as Menāvatī's eyes met the eyes of Himavān. The Goddess entered Menā's body through her eyes and got situated in her womb. Menāvatī shone with great splendour as she was carrying Parāśaktī herself in her womb. The gods from the heaven came there and eulogised Durgā who was in the womb.

Days passed and Menā bore all the characteristic signs of pregnancy which gave immense pleasure to Himavān. Himavān would fulfill the desires of Menāvatī even before she asked him. Nine months came to an end, it was the tenth month and the time was auspicious. The gods stood in the sky waiting for the arrival of Parameśvarī. At the midnight of Chaitra Māsam, Śuklapakṣam, Navamī thithī, Umā in her baby form appeared. Her complexion was that of blue lotus. She was smiling instead of crying like other babies. She resembled Mahālakṣmī emerging out of Kṣirābdhi. When she was born there was a shower of flowers from the heaven which surprised everyone. It was raining as it is said that the clouds shed tears of joy on seeing the Goddess born with their complexion (Megha-Śyāmā). The lotuses in the pond and other flowers blossomed. A mysterious music was heard from the sky, it was none other than the Gandharvas playing music and dancing in joy, celebrating the birth of the unborn. The Devās in the sky sounded huge drums. Riches and prosperity flourished in Auṣadhiprastha and miseries came to an end. The fire in the holy fire pits was lit my itself. The one with a blue throat, dwelling on Kailāśa smiled with delight at his beloved's appearance. Everyone praised Menā for her fortune of becoming the mother of the universal mother. Brahmā, Nārāyaṇa and others along with their consorts came there to see the daughter of the mountains and felt immense pleasure.

Devī appeared in her primordial form before Menā and reminded her that she was no ordinary child but Parameśvarī herself. She has incarnated as Menā's daughter to assist Śiva, so she should be given in marriage with him when she attains marriageable age. Menā, who was in tears couldn't utter a word in happiness nodded. Umā smiled and came back to her baby form in front of Menā and began to cry. Everyone in the palace and the city were very happy on hearing the gentle cry of the baby girl. The superintendent of the harem immediately informed the king about the birth of the child, which was pleasing to his ears. Accompanied by the chief priest and learned brahmins, the lord of mountains came there and saw the child who shone in her lovely clothes. The ruler of mountains celebrated on seeing the baby sparkling in dark magnificence like that of the blue lotus. Every resident of Auṣadhiprastha cheered a lot. There were incredible celebrations. Various kinds of instruments were played. Auspicious songs were sung. The dancing young women displayed their skill. 

In an favourable hour, King Himavān named his daughter Kālī, because of her dark complexion and also gave other pleasing names to her. Kālī was a great favourite of Himavān and Menā among all their children. 

In the palace of Himavān, Kālī grew up like moon light in the autumn and like river Gaṅgā in rainy season. She was greatly attached to her family, so the kinsmen called her Pārvatī, a name befitting her family. She was a very naughty kid as well as the most obedient one too.

Just as children are attached to sweets, Pārvatī too was very fond of sweets. Once mother Menāvatī, hid the sweets so that Pārvatī cannot find it. But Pārvatī somehow found in sweets and in a rush grabbed some of them and ran away. But, what happened? Menāvatī was stunned to see that the sweets from the vessel never got finished. The vessel in which the sweets were kept turned into an Akshaya pātra by the touch of Annapūrṇā.

Once when Pārvatī and her friends were playing hide and seek in the courtyard, it was Pārvatī's turn to catch her friends. Pārvatī said that she will not close her eyes. However, her companions said that it's unfair and carried the fabric to close her eyes with its assistance. As they were drawing close to the eyes of Pārvatī, the entire world began getting dark. The Devās trembled and pleaded the Goddess to not let this happen. Pārvatī, on seeing this playfully snatches the fabric, throws it away and runs back to the palace.

When Pārvatī used to play with her ball made up of valuable rubies, emeralds and other gems, the reflection of those gems would reach Kailāśa and Śiva would say "O, the little girl of mountains is playing with her gem-set ball." and smile widely.

Thus, I have narrated the story of the birth of Devī Umā as Himavadgiri Putrī and described some of her childish sports. I hope you liked it.

A very Happy Rāma Navamī and Girijā Navamī to everyone!

Yours,

Śivapādahṛdaya.