Kāma, the god of love, filled with eagerness and holding his bow, set out accompanied by his consort Rati to accomplish a most difficult task. As he grasped his bow and arrows, a thought stirred within him: “I have the power to pierce all beings, yet Shiva, the lord and teacher of the worlds, stands beyond my reach.” The very arrows that could conquer the three worlds—would they prove effective against Shiva? Yet, in that moment, by Shiva’s fiery third eye, Kāma was reduced to ashes. Then, O best of gods, all the deities assembled to witness this extraordinary event. Listen and marvel at what transpired. As the hosts of gods beheld Shiva, they also saw Kāma turned to ashes. Struck with fear and awe, they joined their hands in reverence and praised the lord of the gods, begging him, “Relieve the fear caused by the demon Tāraka—take the daughter of the mountain as your wife.” Even Shiva, whose own mind had been touched by the power of Kāma, swiftly accepted the words of the gods. So too did Arundhatī, Vasiṣṭha, myself, and the wielder of the discus, Viṣṇu. The immortals sent messages to one another, arranging the marriage and thus forging an alliance between the lords of the Himavat region. On the resplendent mountain Himavat—adorned with many jewels, covered in a multitude of trees and creepers, and filled with the songs of countless birds—the great event unfolded. Rivers, streams, lakes, wells, and ponds surrounded the place, attended by gods, gandharvas, yakṣas, siddhas, and cāraṇas. Auspicious breezes brought joy, and the mountain was encircled by other sacred peaks: Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and Maināka. Great sages like Vasiṣṭha, Agastya, Pulastya, and Lomaśa were present, and a grand festival was underway as the marriage took place. The altar was crafted from jewels, adorned with gold, and beautified by pillars of diamond, ruby, and beryl. The assembly was graced by Jaya, Lakṣmī, Śubhā, Kṣānti, Kīrti, Puṣṭi, and others, while the mountains Meru, Mandara, Kailāsa, and Raivataka added to the splendor. Honored by Viṣṇu, the Lord of the worlds, the mighty golden Maināka shone brilliantly. The sages, guardians of the worlds, the Ādityas, and the Maruts prepared the wedding altar for the god of gods, the trident-bearing Shiva. Viśvakarmā, along with Tvaṣṭṛ, constructed the altar and its gateway, while Surabhī, Nandinī, Nandā, Sunandā, and Kāmadohinī were present. All the oceans, rivers, nāgas, medicinal herbs, and mothers of the worlds attended, and even the seeds of all trees gathered there. Ilā performed the rites of the earth, and the herbs performed the rites of food. Varuṇa prepared the drinks, the lord of wealth performed the giving rites, and Agni readied the food as the lords of the worlds desired. The eternal Viṣṇu performed worship at various places, and the Vedas, with their secret knowledge, sang and rejoiced. All the apsarases danced, the gandharvas and kinnaras sang, and Maināka, the best among sages, held the grains of rice. Within the inner chamber, the auspicious invocation was completed, O Nārada, and the divine couple sat upon the altar. Having properly established the sacred fire and stone, and having offered the grains as prescribed, they circumambulated the altar. During this rite, as Shiva touched the stone, prompted by Viṣṇu, he also touched the goddess’s thumb and her right foot. As I, Brahmā, performed the offering near Hara, I happened to see her thumb. My mind was disturbed, and my seed was involuntarily discharged. Ashamed and feeling defiled, I crushed the spilled seed, and from that subtle essence, the Vālakhilya sages were born. A great outcry arose among the gods, echoing throughout the assembly. Humiliated by shame, I left my seat. As the gods watched in silence, O Nārada, Mahādeva saw me departing and spoke to Nandin, “Summon Brahmā here; I will free him from sin. Even when one errs, the virtuous, being compassionate, forgive. Even the wise are sometimes deluded by sense objects—such is the way of the world.” Thus spoke the blessed Śiva, and together with Umā, out of compassion for me and for the welfare of all beings, he took action. For the liberation of sinners from sin, the Lord of the worlds decreed that the earth would become water. With this resolve, the Blessed Lord gathered the purest essence from both of us. He shaped the earth into a water-pot, filled it, and sanctified it with sacred hymns such as the Pavamāna. There, remembering the power that purifies the three worlds and destroys sin, the Lord of the worlds said to me, “Take this water-pot.” Waters are indeed divine mothers, and earth is another mother; both are the causes of creation, sustenance, and dissolution. Here abides righteousness, the eternal sacrifice, enjoyment and liberation, and all that is immovable and moving. By remembering, mental sin is destroyed; by speech, verbal sin; and by bathing, drinking, or anointing, even bodily sin is removed. This alone is nectar in the world; there is nothing purer than this. I have sanctified it, O Brahman—take this water-pot. Whoever remembers or even recites the water here attains all desires—take this water-pot.