Puranic Encyclopaedia: A Comprehensive Dictionary with Special Reference to the Epic and Puranic Literature c8.2057

c8.2057

Kālī was disappointed and continued her penance again. Years went by and one day there came to her āśrama a Vaṭu (a brahmin brahmacārī). Kālī and her companions stood up and worshipped the Vaṭu who looked brilliant with ashes on his body and wearing rudrākṣa and akṣamālā (berry of a tree and rosary made of it) and carrying in his hand a daṇḍa (stick) and a Kamaṇḍalu (water pot). After formal introduction the Vaṭu asked Kālī the purpose of her penance and Kālī told him all about it. Then the Vaṭu asked her in tones of surprise why such a beautiful girl like herself born to be the wife of a king, should go after a crudely dressed aged man like Śiva who goes on the back of a bullock always. Pārvatī resented the statement of the Vaṭu and got angry with him. Then Śiva appeared before her in his real form and married Pārvatī (Kālī alias Umā) in the presence of devas and maharṣis.