||Om Nama: Shivaya||

 

Chapter – 68 – Rudra Samhitha/Sati Kanda – 7

 

Lord Bhrama speaks “Oh! Mune, Devi Sandhya proceeded to the hermitage of Sage Medhathi, she remembered the charming Bhramachari who advised the procedures of Tapasya and offered Manthra Deeksha, she remembered the compassionate Vashishta who disguised as twice-born and appeared before her, she desired to achieve him as her future husband and moved towards the sacrificial fire, eventually, she entered in the blazing fire, none of the people of the hermitage could witness her. The mortal coil of Devi Sandhya merged into the flames released a highly fragrant scent all over the directions. Lord Agni as per the divine command of Lord Shiva, delivered the mortal coil of Devi Sandhya to Suryamandala, further Lord Surya sliced the mortal coil of Devi Sandhya into equal parts for the delight of deities and manes. Oh! Munishwara the upper part of the body represents Pratha: Sandhya,/early hours of dawn and the lower portion of the body represents Sayam Sandhya/evening hours of the day – twilight, these two-parts of the day/Pratha: Sandhya and Sayam Sandhya  are the delightful hours for the deities and manes respectively. Oh! Mune, at the successful completion of the Yajja, Sage Medhathi received a baby girl who has the complexion of precious yellow metal from the sacrificial, Sage Medhathi became extremely happy at the arrival of the infant as a Prasadha of the Supreme Lord from the sacrificial fire, he gave a ritual wash to the baby who has the complexion of molten yellow metal, and kept her on his lap and whispered the name ‘Arundhathi’ on her ears.  Thus, the baby received from the sacrificial was brought up with great affection in the hermitage of Sage Medhathi, by the sage and his disciple. They grandly celebrated the auspicious event of the appearance of her in the sacrificial fire. The Sage and his disciple took great care of the baby girl. The beautiful child Arundhathi spends her childhood days on the Thapasaranya and on the river bank of Chandhrabhaga. The river got purified with the nearness of the little girl of five years.  Shortly, as per the advice of Lord Brahma, Lord Vishnu, and Lord Mahadeva, the marriage of Devi Arundhathi was performed with the Sage Vashishta who is the son of Lord Bhrama. A grand wedding ceremony of Sage Vashishta and Devi Arundhathi took place in the presence of deities and Sages. The trinities, the seven auspicious rivers including Kshipra showered an abundance of grace on the Suputhri of Sage Medhathi. Oh! Mune, the virtuous Devi Arundhathi who is famous for chastity was highly delighted to get married to the illustrious Sage Vashishta. In due course of time, Devi Arundhathi gave birth to Shakthi, who became a prominent Sage. The couple Devi Arundhathi and Sage Vashishta lived a happy and blissful life. Oh! Munisaththama, I have narrated the glorious legend of Devi Sandhya who has achieved the highest of the piousness with her austerities and Tapasya, got rid of all the sins, and attained rebirth as Devi Arundhathi who is well known for chastity, the daughter of the illustrious Sage Medhathi.  Whoever listens or recites the glorious legend of Devi Sandhya would achieve an abundance of piousness, auspiciousness, and all their desires would get fulfilled.”