As I Know: The Lord of the Mountains – Shiv Purana: 35

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The gods and lords of heavens learn about the development at Daksa’s ashrama and the birth of goddess Shiva.

Vishnu and other gods of heavens came to know about the seed situated in the womb of Veerani and therefore, the news sent waves of immense enjoyment and contentment engulfing the three worlds. All the gods reached there, praised goddess Jagdamba through various hymns, and then, saluted the goddess, who was always interested in the wellbeing of the three worlds. After praising Daksa and Veerani for a long time, the gods returned to the celestial abode.

After completing diverse worldly, secular and mandatory functions during the initial nine months and after looking into the situation of various planets and stars, and finding the most auspicious moments, goddess Shiva appeared before Veerani in the tenth month when it was full moon. As she descended as an incarnation of goddess Parvati, prajapati Daksa was extremely happy and now, he believed she was in truth goddess Parvati. At that time, a rain of flowers from the sky greeted and clouds poured water on earth. Peace and harmony spread in all directions. The gods of heavens began to play on musical instruments heralding propitious times ahead. The sacred fires of yajnas lying dormant abruptly caught fire and it signaled happy period. When she emerged out of the womb, Daksa bowed in reverence with folded hands and eulogised.

Goddess Shiva was immensely happy with the hymns of praise and therefore, she, the mother of universe said to Daksa, which surprisingly, Veerani could not hear.

Shiva said, “You meditated intensely and so I am born as a daughter and today, I fulfilled your inner desire, and therefore, I stand here as a daughter. Now, you should accept the holiest fruit of tapasya (meditation).”

After she spoke mildly some magnificent, sanctified, true and prophetic words, she discarded the image of maya, transformed ‘the self’ into a child and began to weep. As the girl child began to weep, the women and maidservants of the palace happily arrived. They felt extremely pleased on beholding the celestial face of a little daughter of Veerani. People of the region began admiring the celestial beauty. Now, it was time of celebration as dances, songs and music filled surroundings and heralded descending of a divine child in the palace of Daksa.

Daksa, as expected strictly adhered to the sacred book of law and performed every religious ceremony connected with the birth of a child. He took pains to hold fast to the instructions of well-read men of the court. He offered wealth and expensive offerings to brahmins. Times of delight and pleasure permeated the entire kingdom as the embodiment of dignified virtues arrived. He named her Uma. Daksa and the queens also gave many other names, which proved favorable for the created beings, as she was the destroyer of sufferings and pains.

As she grew up, her mind and heart filled with the memory of lord Shiva proved blissful and at the same time, she knew the divine purpose for which she had arrived in the house of prajapati Daksa and Veerani. Destruction of evil and sins was the chief motive and purpose of incarnation, for the Supreme Lord wanted to establish laws of dharma in the three worlds so that created beings live happily and peacefully.

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