and worship Siva. t he food taken shoul totally comprise of water in the first and th second sastakalas (i.e. four hours of the day).

Sia said, _ "0. Brihmanas, a the isappearing of Vispu from the site, the sage darada, with his mind filled with devotion ept on visiting the Sivalingas on earth.

O Master, you please tell me about th origin of Siva and Um.

Siva, you pronounced a curse on us. Since th time was not favourable for us, we kept quic then.

1 also being sinful would surely reap th reward of the sin. 1 am also desirous of th destruction of this sin, that my father and brothers became desirous of me, at my sigh therefore, there is no sinner greater than me o earth

She is not awarc of the method performing the penance, O Dear, you sce th she attains her goal by means of you instructions.

Brahma said, "Thus Mena, praised Kalika Durga and thereafter the goddess said, "Yo ask for a boon." B

Narada said, "What happened after th disappearing of the goddess and the departur of the gods to their respective abodes?

Sota said, "On hearing the words 0 Brahma, the excellent sage remembered Siv with a delighted heart and spoke wit pleasure.

said, "I bow in reverence to the grea goddess, who fulfils all the desires. She Mahamaya, ~ sustainer of the universe Candika, preserver of all the lokas, salutatio to you.

and adored her offering various items of 1000 over the banks of the Ganga i Ausadhiprastha.

feeling pleased, reciting the word Java, sh returned to her abode.

Brahma said, "Listening to the words o the sage Vasistha, and finding him like th flames of burning fire, Sandhya, offered he salutation to the brahmacari, having locks o hair over his head, an ascetic and then said.

Sandhya said, "O Lord, the purpose fo which I had arrived over the mountain, ha been fulfilled by an audience with you

evere penance? O Dear one, how was a girl om out of the womb of Menaka. You please peak out." ira

0 Brahmanas, by thus wandering over the arth, he came across several Sivaliigas ovingly, which bestowed pleasure and alvation to the devotees.

How were they married? You please te me. You particularly tell me about thei married life as a householder, besides othe sports. O Sinless one, you also narrate othe stories connected with them as well.

Narada said, "O Brahma, 0 Exalted one, ( Disciple of Vispu, possessing enormou intelligence, you have narrated the astonishin sports of Siva.

Himalaya well realised the truth, still sh repeated the news of her achieving the boon from the goddess,

0 Brahma, you kindly speak out the stor of Arundhatt, correctly to me because I ar quite anxious to hear about the same."

The goddess Uma said, *0 wife o 'Himacala, you are dearer 10 me than my life shall surely grant you whatever is desired by you. There is nothing with me which I cann give you. You ask for a boon."

She is always blissful, Maya, Yoganids mother of the universe, decorated with th garland of flowers, and having the siddh form, salutation 10 you.

0 Sage, discarding your present form, yo 0 to her in another form and you display t her the form of performing the penance.

listening to the news from Mena and praise his wife who was engaged in the devotion Siva.

Reaching there, he offered his salutation | Brahma appropriately. Then he eulogised hir with the reciting of several stotra. The feeling immensely devoted to Siva, Nirad enquired about the reality of the fava of ive

1 shall myself repent for this sin. 1 shal bum my body in the fire as per the provisio of the Vedas

Kamadeva, after getting the wife, and afte the departure of Daksa Prajapati to his abode and your mind bom sons to their respectiy abodes, where did Sandhya, the daughter o Brahma go, and what did she do thereafter. T whom did she marry? You kindly narrate th entire story of Sandhya?"

She is well aware of the present form 0 both of us, therefore, she would never accef one in the present form. Therefore, you bette take to some other form."

Brahma said, "When I first had a look 2 my daughter Sandhya, then my mind becam lustful, but getting afraid of Siva, 1 discarde her.

When the two Siva's ganas came to know, hat the sage Narada with his divine vision as so wandering on earth, they went 10

Brahma said, "O Excellent Brahmana, sten to the great story. I, after bowing in everence to Siva, narrated the story with tmost devotion.

Listening to the words of Mahesant, Mena the wife of Himacala was pleased and said.

"This is called the adoration of silence an yields all the benefits of the celibate life. ( Damsels, it fulfills al the desires. This is true there is no doubt about it

With her mind devoted to $iva, Men performed tapas with utmost devotion fo twenty seven years.

Mend said, "O Wise Siva, 0 Mahesvari, ( Jagadaribika, in case 1 am suitable enough ( ask for a boon, then Task for a boon.

bondages of ascetics. How can the person with little wisdom like me, describe you influence? You are the violence mentioned i the Atharvaveds. You possess power means. Fulfil my desire.

urse, both of then offered their salutation to im, with folded hands and falling over his cet"

0 Lord of the Universe, though 1 hav listened to the story from several other people but 1 still am not fully satisfied. Therefore have taken refuge with you. You kindly b compassionate on me."

following which the people would nat becom: lustful

On the other hand the minds of the grea sages who had controlled all the senses, ha also been disturbed at the sight of Sandhya.

0 Sage, in due course of time, Men conceived and the pregnancy went o developing,

O Dear one, after delivering of the iscourse, and departure of Visnu and other ods, Him cala and Mend, started performing he severe penance.

Sata said, "Thus listening to the intelligent on's words, remembering Siva with devotion, rahma, (0 whom all the secrets were known, aid, "O Narada, you listen to the complete tory of Sandhya, hearing which all the ladies ccome chaste.

Brahma said, "O Narada, in this way, th compassionate Vasistha at my command, said "shall do so," and then went to Sandhya.

At the end of twenty seven years, th mother of the universe, Um-the beloved o Siva, was immensely pleased with Meng.

Narada said, "0 Ganas of Siva- adorabl by the noble people, you please listen tome

Narada said, "0 Pitamaha (Grand sire) yor are well aware of the form of Brahman, b your grace, 1 have learnt about the complet glory of lord Visnu and the path of hi devotion, path of knowledge, difficult path 0 tapas, path of charities, besides the path of th sacred places.

rind. Subsequently she performed penance, nd leaving that body, she was reborn in the ext birth as Arundhati.

Brahma said, "Then Vasistha, explained t Sandhya, the entire method of performing penance. Thereafter the sage vanished fron the scene.

O Mother of the universe, first of all, should have a thousand virtuous, powerfu sons with long life.

Siva's attendants said, "O Sage- the son of rahma, you kindly listen to our words quite vingly. We are the Brahmanas, and we have ctually not committed a crime against you.

mountain Meinaka who in due course of tim became the beloved of the Naga damsels an subsequently became friendly with the lord o ocean.

E ahipurinam 0 Master, I remained ignorant about Siva- attva. Besides 1 could not know about the nethod of his adoration, therefore you tell me 11 about them besides the episodes connected vith his life.

Both the man and the woman, reciling the ames of Siva and $iva throughout the day nd night, started propitiating on them with evotion.

lake filled vith the virtues like the lake o Manasarovara, besides Sandhya seated ther over ts bank

For this purpose, 1 shall perform sever tapas. 1 shall establish the tradition and ther end my life.

She, the intelligent one then became the aughter of the sage Medhatithi. Accepting he words of Brahma, Visou and Siva, she tarted performing penance.

'The body, abserving which my father an brothers, became desirous of having me, have nothing to do with that body.

m Brahma said, "When Vasistha, the oreimost of the great ascelics, heard the words f Sandhya, then he put her no more uestions, because, everything clse was Iready well known 10 him.

surrounded with the lustrous zone, the goddes spoke to Men smilingly."

Mend, used to adore Siva and Siva with cvotion. She gave away charities to the rihmanas, regularly in order to please them.

Thereafter 1 would desire to have daughter who should be virtuous, beautiful

0 Sage, 0 Brahmana, in the Svayarivara

ens, Mainika was the most powerful one. mir fags:

With the desire of getting a child she daily vorshipped Siva, for twenty seven years arting from the month of Caitra (March- pri).

0 Siva, this daughter of mine, should be ble to establish all the tasks of the gods, and hould be the wife of Siva. O Mother of the niverse, you perform such a type of divine port"

She, the beauiful one sought for Vasistha s ber husband and thereafter she became dorable by all as a chaste lady."

Sandhya said, "Soon after my birth, finding ie quite youthful, my father having been verpowered with lust, desired to have me as is wife.

Then remembering in his mind, the lord iva, who is well disposed towards his evotees who was always engaged in fapas, hen said to Sandhya

'The sage having been filled with anxiety ooked at the red lake filled with the lotus towers as well as Sandhya. ST FER

became desirous, no good deed could b performed with the same."

celebrated in the city of Himacala, as a result f which the couple was extremely pleased ind their miseries were over.

Narade said, "Where did Sandhya perform he penatce and for what purpose? How did he put an end to her body and how did she ecome the daughter of the Medharithi?

"Thus thinking, Sandhya went to a mountain mown as Candrabhaga which is the place of igin of the river Candrabhaga.

and no one is therefore at fault. Now you b pleased with us and be compassionate on us."

08 said, "Siva possesses the best of ustre, who is known as the biggest tapas, who supreme end deserves to be adored upremely, you should meditate upon him in our mind.

He also saw the river Candrabhaga, on the outhern side, flowing towards the ocean.

Besides the sages and the 7sis bom out of ie mind of Brahm, were also filled with assions, at my sight, crossing the limits of ecency.

nind lustful, as a result of which, on seeing ie sages my mind became excessively haken.

As the Ganga flows towards the ocean, merging from the Himalaya, similarly the iver Candrabhaga, breaking through the vestern wing of the mountain, flows towards he ocean

Sita said, "Listening to the respectfu 'words of the attendants of Siva, the sage whil repenting, lovingly said to Sivaganas."

The goddess said, "You will have a undred powerful sons, but one of them shall c immensely powerful.

Thereafter Menaka, finding the goddess ika swnding before her, offering her alutation to her said." vere

urusoama, who is the cause of dharma, , kima end moksa besides being the teal cause of the universe.

eggers and the Br hmana. Then the devotion f Mend and Himicala, at the feet of Siva and va kept on growing

Goddess, you take to any form at will nd engage your self in creation, sustaining as vell as destruction. You are the cause in the ods to appear as Brahma, Visnu and Siva.

Menaka said, "O Goddess Kalika, your orm has been perceived by me directly, just ow. Be pleased with me. I intend to offer rayer to you." ite

On certain days she observed comple: fast, while on a few days she observed th sacred rites. On some days she observe vratas inhaling the wind alone, while o certain days she consumed water alone.

O Damsel with beautiful face, adore lord iva, who is the lord of the Devas, with the ollowing mantra, by which you will surely chieve everything. There is no doubt about it

the sin, who has been cursed by Brahma.

foolishly because of the will of Siva and my words were devoid of wisdom, Having bee; completely confused, an evil minded perso like me had pronounced a curse on you,

Vasistha said, "O Lady with simple emperament, what for have you arrived over he auspicious spot of the mountain? Whose aughter are you? What have you thought?

'The mantra is- "ort namah Sarikardya on". Ceeping silent, you should recite this mantra 0 your mind, performing tapas. You listen to 0 the special method for the same

Brabma said, "0 Son of Vasistha, you estow proper drksa (initiate duly) to Sandhya. iy daughter, approaching her who is roceeding for the performing of tapas.

The sage Narada had the best of all in the phere of grace and he ultimately reached the ity of 25 which was the form of Siva, was omfortable and dear to Siva.

1 would like to listen to you. In case there 10 secret, then tell me how have your moon ke bright face faded out'

0 great Sage, formerly seeing you all and te as her Tovers and realising her own lustful cclings she had blushed.

On Siva-ganas, whatever had been spokes

Achieving great knowledge, Mend, wlogised Siva, who had appeared in person fore her, speaking sweet words which leascd her.

'You would be born of the semen of a sage, vould become demons, but still you would be uite glorious and famous.

Showering her compassion over Mend, an getting pleased with her devotior Paramesvarl appeared before her.

nprecedented evil conduct, she is presently esirous of ending her life.

Both of you would be the kings of the ntire universe, devotees of Siva, and ontrolling all your senses, you would be the orm of Siva. After your death you would chieve the place of Siva." [Sa

By performing penance, she would stablish a limit among those who observe

The goddess said, "O Enormously Chaste you ask for a boon you desire. O wife of lim cala, 1 am extremely happy with you.

Sota said, "Listening to the words of the age Narada, both the attendants of Siva felt mmensely pleased and retired to their espective abodes

O Mend, the way you have adored me by scans of tapas, vratas, meditation etc., 1 shall cstow everything to you which is desired by on"

arada on the other hand, feeling clighted, reciting the name of Siva with tmost devotion, visiting the places sacred to iva, kept on wandering on carth,

Listening to the words of Siva, filled wit mockery about me, she had realised that he mental aberration in regard to the sages wa beyond decency. She had witnessed 0 behaviour of Kamadeva, resulting in th delusion of the sages, frequently. Sandhya wa therefore, exceedingly distressed about he marriage.

Brahma said, "When so requested by Mend, the goddess, Umd- the enchantress of ll, embraced Mena, who was immensely lighted.

contented. Becoming humble with hi devotion, he extolled the virtues of the lor and remembered him with glory.

0 Sage, then Kama was cursed by me, then iva left the place and I also disappeared from he site. Under these circumstances, her upport was totally lost and she became urious. Sandhya- my daughter, thought about Il these things and meditated for long on the ecent events. Then, she of great fortitude was sed 25 to what was 10 be done in the iven ircumstances?

With the remembering of lord Siva, Narad achieved the noble wisdom, but he develope a desire to know deeply about the fara o Siva and for that purpose he went |

1 bow in reverence 10 the grandmother who bestows delight always, who destroys th miseries of all her devotees, you are th bestower of wisdom to the women and th living beings upto the end of the kalpa wo Treg

O Dear one, how could Siva who is bsolute and fice from attributes, become full f attributes? Having been overpowered with he illusion of Siva, 1 remained unaware of the attva of Siva.

prowess of permancal and impermancr

efore creation? How did he function in the middle of the creation?

You are the cause of the creation of the vorld besides being its sustainer. You are the ternal, the great Prakrti, and even Brahman is rought under control by you. You are of able nature, 0 mother, be pleased with me.

How does he behave at the end of the niverse? How does Siva, who is benevolent oall, get pleased.

Besides, my own mind crossing all th limits looking at my own father and brothers developed the feeling of a husband for tae.

'You are the strength of burning in the fire, ou are the force of the sun rays, besides cing the pleasing rays of the moon. herefore, 0 powerful one, salutation to you. I ffer prayer to Cand.

omen, (0 the person of the perfect self ontrol, you manifest yourself es eternal. You crvade in the universe as desire, with Visnu ou are his Adyd, and the same with Siva.

0 Brahma, how does Siva reward his own s well as the devotees of other gods when leased? You kindly speak out all the details 0 me.

1 00 time and that the merciful Siva, cannot car the pain of his devotees.

cen born of the arisa of Siva. Out of then

Siva, then the birth of Uma, the marriage 0 both of them besides the story about the birt of Karttikeya.

"Thus listening to the words of Nareda- hi son, Brahma, the Pitamaha of the world, seid.

enance over that mountain. Learning about it, (Brahing) spoke 10 the sage Vasistha, who vas well-versed in Vedic and post Vedic terature, who had controlled all his senses, tho was ampiscient, knowledgeable and a ogi. who was seated besides me."

Brahma said, "Listening to the words of fend, the delightful goddess spoke, fulfilling er desire."

ayself be born as your daughter. Having been dored and served by the gods, 1 shall ccomplish all their tasks.

Brahmi said, "Thus speaking, Siva-Kalika, ho is the base of the universe, disappeared om the place in full view of Mend.

flowers, but because of the presence o Sandhya there, it looked more beautiful, as th

0 Divine sage, when Indra, the slayer o Vitra, became angry and cut off the wings o

nountain, Vasistha asked Sandhyd espectfully, who had been seated close to the ke.

the performing of the tapas. I happen 09 be th daughter of Brahma, well known by the nam of Sandhya

Kindly deliver some discourse to me. This i my secret desire. I am not concerned wit anything se.

have arrived in this forest unaware of th method of performing of penance. Because 0 this feel perplexed and my heart is shaking.

On the third sastakala, you should observ complete fast. (Even water is not to be taken)

Keeping this goal in your mind, 0 Damsel you worship lord Siva well. The moment he i Pleased he would fulfil all your desires."