SATI SHIV JAIMALA: THE GARLAND OF ETERNITY
(Full chapter sharing for Shivratri,2016)
(Full chapter sharing for Shivratri,2016)
Every step She took forward, it seemed celestial musicians were playing out their music, on the tinkle of Her anklets. The bated breaths of the entire congregation collected, was like a mass of cosmic prana, waiting to rush out into creation to dance to this music. Shiva’s men bowed at the princess who was coming into their life as queen.
Sati’s own kin was startled that their little girl had grown into a young lady who was so obviously a cosmic beauty.
Shiva’s heart skipped a beat.
Sati was the most beautiful woman He had ever seen, and He knew in every inch of His body, mind and soul, that She, was His. And He, Hers. Forever.
He stared at her intently even as she took demure steps, coming towards Him. He just couldn’t wait for Her to be right next to Him, and let out a smile at His own eagerness.
Finally, She was right next to Him : His greatest wish had been manifested, the whole purpose of creating the entire world was now standing in front of Him.
Sati’s own kin was startled that their little girl had grown into a young lady who was so obviously a cosmic beauty.
Shiva’s heart skipped a beat.
Sati was the most beautiful woman He had ever seen, and He knew in every inch of His body, mind and soul, that She, was His. And He, Hers. Forever.
He stared at her intently even as she took demure steps, coming towards Him. He just couldn’t wait for Her to be right next to Him, and let out a smile at His own eagerness.
Finally, She was right next to Him : His greatest wish had been manifested, the whole purpose of creating the entire world was now standing in front of Him.
Virni handed a jaimala to each of them and prompted Sati with a smile to put this sacred garland over Shiva. Sati did so, with the most gentle and loving action. Shiva too, put a jaimala on Sati, and the whole congregation broke into a loud cheer of felicitation and joy. Shiva then sat down near the Havan and Sati took Her place beside Him.
A place that would eternally belong to Her.
A place that would eternally belong to Her.
“SVAHA SVAHA,” went on the pundits.
The pundit lit the holy fire and the one hundred and one junior pundits seated in an orderly row, began to chant mantras with immaculate precision and perfect diction. Daksha kept offering ghee to the fire every time the pundits would say,“Sva Ha”.
The procedure was that they offered prayers and vows on behalf of the worshipers, which in this case, were Daksha and Shiva, and at the sound of ‘Sva Ha’, the consonance was made in the offering.
Brahma offered the ghee from Shiva’s side as father.
“This is unique,” He chuckled to Himself. “I am, at the same time, the grandfather of the bride, and the father of the groom! Ah, the wonder of being a first God!” He laughed out in open happiness.
“SVAHA SVAHA,” went on the pundits.
“SVAHA SVAHA,” chorused Daksha, Brahma and the congregation.
“SVAHA,” said Shiva, His heart exploding with anticipation.
Sati, on Her part could only hear the pundit say, “SHIVA SHIVA…” She did not hear ‘SVAHA’, only ‘SHIVA…SHIVA…’
The pundit lit the holy fire and the one hundred and one junior pundits seated in an orderly row, began to chant mantras with immaculate precision and perfect diction. Daksha kept offering ghee to the fire every time the pundits would say,“Sva Ha”.
The procedure was that they offered prayers and vows on behalf of the worshipers, which in this case, were Daksha and Shiva, and at the sound of ‘Sva Ha’, the consonance was made in the offering.
Brahma offered the ghee from Shiva’s side as father.
“This is unique,” He chuckled to Himself. “I am, at the same time, the grandfather of the bride, and the father of the groom! Ah, the wonder of being a first God!” He laughed out in open happiness.
“SVAHA SVAHA,” went on the pundits.
“SVAHA SVAHA,” chorused Daksha, Brahma and the congregation.
“SVAHA,” said Shiva, His heart exploding with anticipation.
Sati, on Her part could only hear the pundit say, “SHIVA SHIVA…” She did not hear ‘SVAHA’, only ‘SHIVA…SHIVA…’
“With this, ends the invocation of all the celestials, the devatas, the Gods that ever have been and ever will be. With this, culminates the marriage of Shiva, the mountain chief with Sati, the daughter of Daksha Prajapati. Sati, you may now put a band of gold on Shiva’s finger; a band that will symbolize your holy matrimony and bonding for the rest of this life together.”
Shiva woke up from a semi-trance state of bliss to hear the chief Pundit. “Not just this life, but eternity, Humesha,” said Shiva softly. The Pundit looked up. He hadn’t clearly heard, but Sati smiled back, and holding Shiva’s hand in Hers, tenderly put a gold ring on His finger. The pundit nodded in approval. “You may now put the Sindoor on Her forehead as a sacred mark of this union,” He said.
Shiva smiled again and took off the gold band, which Sati had just put on His finger as a wedding gift.
He dabbed it into the box of Sindoor, and carefully cupping some in the ring, spread it over Sati’s forehead in a straight line, as if to mark a new line of destiny for Her. Shiva was surprised at Himself, that His hand did not shake one bit, even though His heart was nearly exploding in cognizance of this final moment of sacrament that would unite Him and Sati.
“You are now Man and wife, married in holy wedlock in front of all these witnesses; Agni devata,the Gods and the celestial beings, your men and ours, for ever more,” said the pundit.
Shiva arose, to find Sati arising by His side in perfect synchronicity, like a shadow. “Or, am I the shadow,” He thought. “She is the substance of my entire life.”
Together they bowed and touched the feet of Brahma and Saraswati, for having been Shiva’s parents. Then together, they touched the feet of Daksha and Prasuti, for having been Sati’s parents. Such is the mystery of the Gods:they are grateful to humans for parenting them into the world.
One by one, every one in the congregation congratulated the newly married couple, as also the parents and siblings. The elementals started roaring again, “Har har Mahadeva, Jai ho Sati Ma!!” Praising their Lord and his newly wedded wife, who was now to be the mother of their clan.
Nandi, the most robust of all, was crying like a little child, unable to control his tears. Narada too was crying, and at the same time saying, “Ah, the tears of joy, ah, the blessedness of being witness to this…” And then, looking at all those who looked at him, “Ah Narada, you are blessed!” he proclaimed to himself in an emotively charged voice.
Shiva woke up from a semi-trance state of bliss to hear the chief Pundit. “Not just this life, but eternity, Humesha,” said Shiva softly. The Pundit looked up. He hadn’t clearly heard, but Sati smiled back, and holding Shiva’s hand in Hers, tenderly put a gold ring on His finger. The pundit nodded in approval. “You may now put the Sindoor on Her forehead as a sacred mark of this union,” He said.
Shiva smiled again and took off the gold band, which Sati had just put on His finger as a wedding gift.
He dabbed it into the box of Sindoor, and carefully cupping some in the ring, spread it over Sati’s forehead in a straight line, as if to mark a new line of destiny for Her. Shiva was surprised at Himself, that His hand did not shake one bit, even though His heart was nearly exploding in cognizance of this final moment of sacrament that would unite Him and Sati.
“You are now Man and wife, married in holy wedlock in front of all these witnesses; Agni devata,the Gods and the celestial beings, your men and ours, for ever more,” said the pundit.
Shiva arose, to find Sati arising by His side in perfect synchronicity, like a shadow. “Or, am I the shadow,” He thought. “She is the substance of my entire life.”
Together they bowed and touched the feet of Brahma and Saraswati, for having been Shiva’s parents. Then together, they touched the feet of Daksha and Prasuti, for having been Sati’s parents. Such is the mystery of the Gods:they are grateful to humans for parenting them into the world.
One by one, every one in the congregation congratulated the newly married couple, as also the parents and siblings. The elementals started roaring again, “Har har Mahadeva, Jai ho Sati Ma!!” Praising their Lord and his newly wedded wife, who was now to be the mother of their clan.
Nandi, the most robust of all, was crying like a little child, unable to control his tears. Narada too was crying, and at the same time saying, “Ah, the tears of joy, ah, the blessedness of being witness to this…” And then, looking at all those who looked at him, “Ah Narada, you are blessed!” he proclaimed to himself in an emotively charged voice.
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