Shankara looked at this emaciated girl.
She had covered herself with clothing made of barks.
Her hair was tangled in matted locks.
Her tender body was bathed in dust.
Her limbs were emaciated.
She was like a lotus hit by a snow shower.
He was ready to grant her anything she asked for.
And she prayed-
“O Great Lord! If I am really purified by this penance, then I ask you these boons.
First of all, let there be no other female like me, who filled every mind with passion as soon as she arose. Let my husband treat me with extreme love. If anybody else other than my husband looks at me, let him lose his manhood immediately.”
He granted her wish.
But, still she felt sad. She felt impure.
She was not able to be in a body coveted by so many Gods.
Shankara understood her feelings.
He knew she was destined to give up her body in the fire because of her actions of the past birth.
He told her to give up her body in the Sacrificial fire lit by Sage Medhatiti.
Sandhyaa agreed.
Unseen by any of the Sages assembled there, at the JYOTISHTOMA Sacrifice, she offered her body in the fire. She from that time was well-known as SATI.
Sandhyaa entered the fire desiring that Sage Vasishta should become her husband. Her soul entered the solar sphere. Her body split into two halves.
The Higher part of hers became Dawn adored by Gods.
Her Lower part became the Twilight adored by the dead ancestors.
Her life-forces entered Shiva.
Her soul took birth again as the daughter of Medhatiti.
When she came of age she was married to Sage Vasishta.
She lived as the devoted wife of the Sage by the name of Arundhati.
Brahma was burning in envy.
What an insult; that too in front of all his sons and other Gods!
How dare Shiva insult this Great Creator!
He who had created the fourteen worlds had to bend his head in front of this ascetic!
What does He think of himself?
Does he think that he is above the attractions of a female?
True! All these days Shiva had not looked at a female with passionate eyes!
But, for how long can it continue??
If he, the Great Brahma does not get this Shiva entangled with a woman, his existence is worthless.
He can create a woman who can attract even this Great Shiva!
He had to avenge Shiva, somehow, at any cost!
Brahma was absorbed in deep thoughts.
Brahma took Kaama Deva into his trust.
He asked him to disturb the mind of Shiva, with all possible means known to him.
Kaama agreed. Brahma sighed in relief.
Kaama was ready. Spring arose.
Can the form of dispassion ever be bound by passion? Kaama failed.
Winds could not move the rock. Waters could not wet the fire. Earth could not taint the luster.
Passion could not rise in the Form of Dispassion!
Brahma would not accept defeat. He went to Vishnu and confided his woes.
Vishnu laughed at his stupidity.
He advised him to take shelter in Shiva himself.
“If you are really interested in the marriage of Shiva, then perform penance.
Perform penance on Shivaa, the Supreme Devi!
She will herself take a form and become his spouse”.
Brahma performed severe penance and pleased the Supreme Shakti.
Pleased by his penance She appeared before him.
Brahma praised Her with Hymns Supreme.
“O GREAT MOTHER!
Salutations!
You are of the Form of Pravritti and Nirvritti; attachment and detachment!
You are the Power in all moving and non-moving things.
You are Ancient!
You are Shree adorning Vishnu!
You are the Support of the World!
You are the Essence of even the minutest atom.
You are the Supreme Queen of all the worlds.
You appear in the heart of yogis addicted to the life of strict asceticism.
You are the Essence of all variety of Knowledge.
You are the SELF of all.
You are eternal.
You are the Time which devours all.
You are the Vibrating principle in all.
You are the Three Gunas; yet, You are beyond the Gunas.
You are the Seed of the infinite worlds.
You are the Goal of Knowledge and also the Means of Knowledge.
You are in eternal union with Shiva in the higher state.
You are the Supreme Shakti.
Salutations! Salutations! Salutations!”
Brahma asked for a boon.
He wanted the ‘Supreme Shakti’ to take birth as Daksha’s daughter and marry Shiva by attracting Him.
He thought he was asking for a boon. But was he asking for something which She herself wanted to do?
How can any thoughts arise in anybody’s mind without Her Supreme Will?
Devi looked at Brahma compassionately.
She is kind towards even erring children.
She is Mother Supreme!
She wanted to become a wife.
She wanted a partner equal to her.
She had been alone as the Formless One in the Timeless Time.
She was bored.
First She must test this Shiva before She took Him as the partner in the Higher state.
He was now in the form of Rudra in Shiva Loka.
She had to woo Him first; but how?
She voiced some of her thoughts to Brahma.
‘O Creator, you are well-versed in Knowledge and yet asking such a thing?
You are asking me to attract Him and fill Him with delusion?
Don’t you know that I am always His slave and do only His bidding?
He is above all Gods and nobody can control His Will.
If a boon like this is offered to you and I really try to delude Him, won’t I become the target of His anger?”
She contemplated on Shiva and permitted by Him, continued to speak;
“O Brahma, even if envy is the cause of your request, I grant you this boon as willed by Shiva.
There is no other female except me who can attract Him.
And, He has kindly consented to get attracted by me. I will be born as Daksha’s daughter.
My love and devotion will make Him get bound to me eternally”.
She vanished from Brahma’s presence.
Brahma went back satisfied.
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