Baal Kaanda
26 - Siva's peculiar marriage procession and preparations for the wedding (undertaken by the other party)
Chaupais
Description
Himavan politely sent for all the gods and assigned an appropriate seat to each of them. An altar was prepared in accordance with the Vedic ritual and women chanted charming festal strains. A divinely beautiful throne with the images of a pair of lions for its arms was placed on the altar; being a handiwork of the Creator himself, it beggared description. Bowing His head to the Brahmanas and calling to His mind His own Master, the Lord of Raghus, Siva took His seat on the throne. The great sages then sent for Uma, who was brought in by Her girl companions richly adorned. All the gods were enraptured at Her beauty. What poet in the world could describe such loveliness? Recognizing in Her the Mother of the universe and Spouse of Siva, the divinities mentally bowed to Her. The perfection of beauty that Bhavani was could not be adequately praised even with millions of tongues. (1-4)