As the story unfolds, the great Lord Maheśvara himself adorned me with beautiful, divine earrings, sparkling with diamonds and beryl. In the sky, I stood honored, and the sun, witnessing this, bathed me with rainwater from the clouds, as if anointing a king. At that moment, as I was thus anointed, a powerful current began to flow. Since it issued from gold, this river came into being, and the three-eyed Lord of gods named it Svarṇodakā, “the golden-watered river,” for it arose from golden jambū wood. Another auspicious stream, flowing from the crown, was also formed. A sacred river began to flow, and people called it Jambūnadī; this is the famous Pañcanada, situated near the lord Japyeśvara. Whoever, upon reaching Pañcanada, bathes and worships Japyeśvareśvara, attains union with Śiva without doubt. Then, the great god, Lord of all beings, addressed the goddess Śarvāṇī—Umā, the unborn daughter of the mountain. The goddess spoke, “Shall I anoint Nandīśvara, the lord of beings, and proclaim him chief of the gaṇas, or what do you think, O imperishable one?” Hearing these words, Bhavānī, her face radiant with joy, smiled and spoke to Bhava, her lord and the lord of beings: “O Lord of gods, you should grant him lordship over all worlds and the leadership of the gaṇas, for he is the son of the mountain, mine.” Then the blessed Śarva, Lord of all lords, Vṛṣadhvaja, remembered the divine gaṇas. At the mere remembrance of Rudra, all the lords of the gaṇas arrived, each one bearing a thousand hands and wielding a thousand weapons. These great-souled, three-eyed beings, honored even by the gods, shone with the radiance of millions of fires of time, their crowns formed of matted hair. Their faces were fierce like fangs, eternally awakened and pure, equal to countless multitudes, themselves lords of hosts, innumerable and noble. They arrived, filled with joy—singing, running, and dancing, mighty in strength, playing loud instruments with their mouths. They rode chariots, elephants, horses, lions, and monkeys, ascending celestial vehicles adorned with golden designs. The air was filled with the sounds of drums, mridangas, panavas, anakas, gomukhas, patahas, and single-skin drums. Bheris and murajas echoed loudly, kadindimas, mardalas, flutes, veenas, and the resonances of cymbals reverberated. Darduras, strikes of cymbals, kacchapas, and panavas were played as the great yogis entered the divine assembly. These lords of hosts, of immense strength and rulers of all gods, after bowing to the god and goddess, spoke, “O Lord, God of gods, Three-eyed one, Bull-bannered, for what purpose have we been summoned, O radiant one? Command us. Shall we dry up the oceans, slay Yama and his attendants, kill the son of Death, Death himself, or the Lotus-born like beasts? Shall we bind Indra and the gods, or Vishnu with the wind, and, greatly enraged, bring the demons and their hosts? Whose terrible calamity shall we bring about today at your command? Or whose festival, O God, for the fulfillment of all desires?” To these lords of hosts, honored by all, the Lord, worshipping them, addressed the hundreds of millions: “Hear for what purpose you have been summoned here for the welfare of the world. Having listened, with focused minds, do this without hesitation. This Nandi is our son, lord of all lords; he is a Brahmin, a leader, and your prosperous commander. By my command, all of you, esteemed ones, anoint him as commander, the great yogi, the master.” Thus addressed by the Lord, all the hosts, after consulting together, agreed, saying, “So be it,” and then brought the necessary items for the ceremony. They brought a divine seat for him, made of jambunada gold, splendid and enchanting, resembling Mount Meru. It was not made from a single pillar, but shone with the brilliance of fine gold, adorned with hanging pearl garlands and radiant gems. Pillars of beryl enclosed the seat, surrounded by networks of tinkling bells and embellished with exquisite jewels, the pavilion facing in all directions. After constructing and arranging within it that excellent and auspicious seat, a footrest gleaming with blue sapphires was placed in front. To establish the feet, two water vessels were made at its sides, filled with supreme water and their faces encircled by lotuses. A thousand water vessels of gold, silver, copper, and clay, all filled with water from every sacred place, were brought. Divine garments, fragrances, armlets, earrings, a crown, and a necklace were also provided. A parasol with a hundred spokes and a yak-tail fan were given by the great-souled Brahma, the supreme lord. Another fan, radiant with conch necklaces and fair limbs, and yet another shining like the moon, with a golden handle and splendid yak-tail, were brought forth. Airavata, noble in appearance, and another elephant were worshipped; a golden crown was crafted by Vishvakarma. Divine, spotless earrings, the best weapon of thunderbolt, a thread made of gold, and two armlets were presented. Thus, the divine assembly prepared for the grand anointing of Nandi, establishing him as the leader of the hosts, in a ceremony filled with splendor and reverence.