Skandapurana 1.4.24: adhyāyaḥ 26

Nārada said: / Then Brahmā, having saluted Mahādeva with joined palms, / spoke to Maheśvara: 'O god, let the marriage be performed.'

Hearing his words, the blessed lord Hara said: / 'O Brahmā, we are dependent on others, on Himādri and on you;

so let whatever is fitting be done, for we are now under your control.' / Then Brahmā himself immediately prepared a divine, auspicious city,

made of jewels, for the marriage of Maheśa, / a hundred yojanas wide and adorned with hundreds of palaces.

Mahādeva himself resided in that city. / Then the god sent the seven sages, who had arrived before him upon being thought of,

for the sake of the betrothal letter for Ambikā, the lord / [sent] them along with Arundhatī, delighting Himācala there;

and with the virtues of the lord, they delivered the betrothal letters to [Himācala] and his wife. / Then, honoured by him, they returned from that mountain

and reported to Tryambaka, and he rejoiced with them. / Then the god invited the entire universe for the marriage;

and all that [universe] arrived, except for the wicked Daityas— / whatever was stationary and moving, headed by Viṣṇu.

Together with Brahmā, it enhanced the glory of the enemy of Tripura. / Then Brahmā spoke these words to him on Mount Gandhamādana,

stationed in the city: 'O god, the time of the wedding has arrived.' / Then the Grandfather, his eyes wide open with generous affection,

tied the crescent moon in his matted hair. / Viṣṇu himself out of joy fashioned his beautiful braid of hair;

Cāmuṇḍā fastened a large garland of skulls upon his head / and said to Giriśa: 'O Śaṃkara, beget a son

who, having slain the family of the Daitya chiefs, will gratify me with their blood.' / The Sun, having illumined the three worlds with his radiance, out of great joy

himself tied [a garland] red with blazing flames for the god of gods. / And the auspicious [serpents], foremost of whom were Śeṣa and Vāsuki, glowing with splendour,

themselves served as ornaments upon the lord. / Then the Winds adorned the bull, which had sharp horns

and the radiance of the snowy mountain, with various precious gems. / Śakra, holding an elephant hide, stood in front himself.

Leaving aside the ashes, and having placed on a skull [a garland] radiant as silver, / a garland of human bones, and sandalwood paste, the lord of departed spirits,

and Fire, standing by, gave a divine hide made of radiance. / Thus adorned by all his attendants, the lord shone brightly.

Then the men of Himādri spoke words to Vīraka: / 'Let not the time pass; let this be reported quickly to Bhava.'

Then Vīraka, bowing to the god with cupped hands, said: / 'These men of Himādri are urging Maheśāna to hasten.'

Hearing this speech, the god said, 'At once!' / The seven oceans provided him with mirrors;

in them Mahādeva beheld his own form, which comprises the universe. / Then wise Keśava, with joined palms, spoke to Sthāṇu:

'O god of gods, Mahādeva, destroyer of Tripura, Śaṃkara, / you shine with this form that gives joy to the world,

O Maheśvara, like another Maheśvara in visible presence.' / Then Mahādeva, smiling, while [shouts of] 'Victory!' were heard throughout the world,

clasped the hand of Viṣṇu and slowly mounted the bull. / Then the Vasu gods offered him his trident;

then the Bestower of Wealth, accompanied by his treasures, stood nearby. / Then Hara, holding the trident in his hand, the Soul of the Universe, set out,

accompanied by the sounds of divine drums, showers of flowers, songs, / dancing apsarases, and loud shouts of 'Victory!'

The two great lords, Brahmā and Viṣṇu, mounted on the swan and Garuḍa respectively, / rode on his left and right sides.

Then Aditi, Diti, and Danu, Kadrū, the daughter of Suparṇa, / Paulomī, Surasā, Siṃhikā, Surabhi, Muni,

Siddhi, Māyā, Kṣamā, the goddess Durgā, Svāhā, Svadhā, Sudhā, / Sāvitrī, Gāyatrī, Lakṣmī, Dakṣiṇā, Dyuti,

Spṛhā, Mati, Dhṛti, Buddhi, Manthi, Ṛddhi, Sarasvatī, / Rākā, Kuhū, Sinīvālī, and the goddess Bhānumatī,

Dharaṇī, Dhāraṇī, Velā, Rājñī, and Rohiṇī— / these and the other mothers and wives of the gods

all went with joy to the wedding of the god of gods. / Serpents, Garuḍas, yakṣas, gandharvas, kiṃnaras, humans,

oceans, mountains, clouds, months, years, / the Vedas, mantras, sacrifices, and all the Śrauta dharmas,

huṃkāras, praṇavas, and thousands of itihāsas, / and tens of millions of gods, Mahendra and others, with their mounts,

followed Mahādeva by tens of millions and hundreds of millions. / And behind him went the gaṇas, conch-coloured by the tens of millions:

those named Kekara by ten [crores], and Vidyuts by eight; / the Viśākhas by sixty-four, and the Pāriyātrikas by nine;

the glorious Sarvāntaka by six, and likewise Vikṛtānana; / and Jvālākeśa went surrounded by twelve crores.

The glorious Samada went with seven [crores], and Dundubha with eight; / Kapālīśa with five, and auspicious Saṃhrādaka with six.

Kuṇḍaka alone went with crores of crores, and likewise Kumbhaka; / Viṣṭambha, the leader of gaṇas, best of all beings, with eight.

And Pippala with a thousand, and likewise mighty Sannāda; / and Āveśana with eight, and Candratāpana with seven.

Mahākeśa went with a thousand, and Nandin likewise with twelve; / Naga, Kāla, and Karāla, and Mahākāla with a hundred.

Agnika went indeed with a hundred crores, and Agnimukha with a crore; / Ādityamūrdhan with a crore, and Dhanāvaha also with a crore.

And Sannāga with a hundred, Kumuda with three crores; / Amogha and Kokila, and Sumantraka with a crore of crores.

Kākapāda went with sixty, and the gaṇa Saṃtānaka with sixty; / and Mahābala with nine, and Madhupiṅga and Piṅgala.

Nīla with ninety, Caturvaktra and Pūrvapāt with seventy; / and Vīrabhadra with sixty-four, and Karaṇa and Bālaka.

Pañcākṣa and Śatamanyu, and Meghamanyu with twenty; / Kāṣṭhakoṭi with sixty-four, and Sukośa and Vṛṣabha.

Viśvarūpa, Tālaketu, and Sitānana with fifty; / Īśāna, Vṛddhadeva, Dīptātman, and Mṛtyuhan.

Viṣāda, Yamahan, and the gaṇa Bhṛṅgiriṭin; / Aśani and Hāsaka, and Sahasrapāt with sixty-four.

These and other commanders of the gaṇas, innumerably many and very powerful, / all having a thousand arms and wearing crowns of matted hair,

having the crescent moon as an ornament, blue-necked, three-eyed, / adorned with necklaces, earrings, armlets, diadems, and other jewels,

endowed with supernatural powers beginning with atomicity, capable of cursing and bestowing favor, / resembling ten million suns—those lords of gaṇas came there,

abiding in Pātāla, the sky, and the earth, dwelling in all the worlds. / Tumburu, Nārada, Hāhā, and Hūhū, singers of the Sāmaveda,

taking lutes and musical instruments, played at the celebration of Śaṃkara; / and all the sages, rich in austerities, chanting Vedic songs,

chanted sacred wedding mantras, their minds filled with joy. / Thus set forth the Lord of the Mountain, fanned with chowries by Gaṅgā,

and by Yamunā, with an umbrella held by the Lord of the Waters, / acclaimed by women with diverse discourses and parched grain.

With great festivity, that Lord of Gods entered the mountain abode, / shining with golden vessels and furnished with hundreds of arched gateways,

situated on ground laid with lapis lazuli and furnished with jewel-wrought mansions. / Entering there while being praised, he approached the doorway.

Then the snowy mountain was seen there, overwhelmed with agitation; / he gave orders to his servants when Mahādeva arrived.

Then the mountain petitioned Brahmā to be the preceptor, / and the wise mountain petitioned Vāsudeva with regard to all burdens of the rites.

And he said: “In this marriage, without a brother of the maiden, / O Viṣṇu, how will rites such as the offering of parched grain take place?

For Maināka is my son, and he has entered and remains in the ocean.” / To him who was thus downcast with worry, high-minded Viṣṇu said:

“No anxiety should be had in this matter in any way, O king of mountains! / I am the brother of the mother of the universe; this is truly so and not otherwise.”

Then, delighted, the mountain had Pārvatī, exquisitely adorned / and surrounded by millions of female companions, enter the assembly.

Then Śarva, surrounded by his attendants, entered the marriage pavilion, / which had pillars made of sapphire, a glittering golden floor,

was decorated with strings of pearls, illuminated by blazing medicinal herbs, / rich with a thousand jeweled seats, and a hundred yojanas wide.

Then the joyful mountain, accompanied by his wife, washed the feet / of Bhava, and with that water sprinkled himself and the world.

Having offered water for the feet, water for sipping, madhuparka, and a cow, / the brahmins contemplated the ritual procedure for the giving away [of the bride].

“I give my own daughter, the granddaughter of the Kavyavāha pitṛs…” / having spoken thus, the mountain paused; he did not know Hara's lineage.

Then he asked everyone, but no one knew that lineage. / Then Viṣṇu spoke these words: “Why are others being asked?

Let this one himself be asked about the fact that his lineage is unknown. / Only a snake knows the feet of a snake, no one else, O snowy mountain!

If he does not state his own clan, my sister is not to be given.” / Then there arose a very great sound of laughter from everyone.

And in an instant it ceased again, [wondering] what Hara would say. / Then, reflecting in many ways, with a somewhat frightened face, restrained,

numb with embarrassment, that Hara smiled, O Pārtha. / Then eminent sages said: “Quickly, the auspicious time is passing!”

Hari said to Maheśāna: “Afraid, I shall proclaim your / maternal grandfather and father; listen to the ritual statement, O mountain!

‘To you, O Śambhu, who are your own son; to you, who are your own grandson!’” / When this was spoken by Viṣṇu, they all chanted, “Excellent, excellent!”

The god [Viṣṇu] showed a display of intelligence superior to all others and best. / Then the mountain, speaking likewise and giving away the goddess with water,

the mountain gave even himself to the god with water. / Then, filled with wonder, they all praised that wedding:

“The giver is the lord of mountains; the hotṛ priest is the four-faced god [Brahmā]; / the groom is Paśupati in person; and the bride is the mother of the universe!”

Then, while the sages were praising, a great rain of flowers was falling, / and the drums of the gods were sounding, Tryambaka took her hand.

Looking upon the modest goddess born of the snowy mountain, the god / was not satiated; nor was she with delight looking upon the god whose banner is the bull.

There the sages, Brahmā and others, looking upon the goddess of wondrous form, / mentally sought refuge in the Supreme Lord:

“May we not be infatuated with Pārvatī as were Nārada and Parvata!” / Then he fulfilled that desired prayer of them all accordingly.

Then, praised by the gods and sages, the Supreme Lord
entered the auspicious altar, which was attended by the embodied fire.

With the embodied Vedic hymns recited and present, Brahmā made offerings to the embodied fire;
and Hara circumambulated it three times.

At the offering of fried grains, Hari, Umā's brother, smilingly said to him:
"O Lord, many people have gathered together; there is a great crowd.

O Hara, your ornaments must be guarded attentively."
Then Hara said to him: "Do not conceal too much from one's own people.

Ask for something, and I will grant it." Then Viṣṇu spoke his boon:
"May I have firm devotion to you." And he granted that rare gift.

Both [Hara and Umā] gave Brahmā the preservation of creation as a priestly fee,
and portions of the sacrifice to Agni, both Hara and Janārdana being delighted.

Then, having given the priestly fee for preserving the Vedas to Bhṛgu and the others,
with songs, dances, and desired feasts,

and with many great festivals, astonishment was produced.
Dismissing all those people with gifts given according to their desires, Bhava,

having consoled with Sarasvatī the grieving parents of the goddess,
and bidding farewell to the lord of the snowy mountain, to Brahmā, and to Keśava,

went to Mount Mandara, honored by the mountain who followed him.

Then, when the holy Nīlalohita had departed for the stainless mountain along with Umā, the mountain [Himālaya] wept with his kinsmen;
for whose mind is not unhinged in this world when he is the father of a bride?

Whatever pure man hears or recites this marriage of the daughter of the king of mountains,
especially during an auspicious wedding ceremony, he attains auspiciousness and long-lasting prosperity.

Thus ends the twenty-sixth chapter, named 'The Description of the Marriage of Hara and Gaurī', in the Kaumāreśamāhātmya of the first section, the Māheśvarakhaṇḍa, in the glorious Skandapurāṇa consisting of eighty-one thousand verses.