She was adorned with an auspicious fragrance, her beauty enhanced by her high, firm, and dense breasts, which resembled unopened buds. Though she delighted in countless amusements, the pain of separation from her beloved had made her slender and pensive. With curiosity in her heart, the mountain’s daughter—Pārvatī—bowed reverently before the destroyer of the city, Śiva, seeking the protection of the three worlds. With deep longing, she approached Śambhu and earnestly requested a union with him, one that would never be sundered. Her plea was not for herself alone, but for the welfare of all creation. She said, “This form of yours, so delightful to behold, should never be abandoned. Your beautiful appearance brings fortune to the world. Let it always be visible to all, endowed with divine fragrance. O Lord, be ever victorious, adorned with wondrous and even fearsome forms. Decked in jeweled ornaments, roam freely, O Great Lord. Here, let the Lord of the gods be served with dance, music, and song. By your grace, this fragrance nourishes and gives life. In this place, O Lord of the gods, you have assumed a form embodying all mantras. Yet constantly, thousands of offenses arise from both knowledge and ignorance.” Hearing the goddess’s heartfelt words, Śambhu—the Lord of Śoṇācala—was filled with delight and desire for union. Śiva granted her wish, bestowing upon her a wondrous and supreme fragrance. With this boon, her own fragrance became so enchanting that it captivated even the celestial women. At the request of the gods, Śiva summoned the lord of the demons, who approached with devotion, worshipped him, and spoke: “May the divine fragrance arising from my body, which enchants the world, be yours. Let whatever comes from your hair and sweat always be renowned. Beloved of you, it bestows radiance, fortune, beauty, and charm, and is always highly esteemed by the goddess, who yearns for divine fragrance. Let these essences merge into your form, O Lord of the gods, under the pretext of anointing.” The demon lord then relinquished his body, entrusting his life to Śiva. Moved by love, Śiva upheld that which increases the passion of love a hundredfold. Yet, now, through the pain of separation, he resolved to extinguish that body. The Great Lord then anointed Pārvatī, the very embodiment of love. As this sacred anointing took place, Pārvatī, the Mother of the World, noticed something wondrous in her hand and wondered, “What is this?” She beheld the arrival of a flower, ever present in her own hand. Journeying to Kāñcī, adorned with golden gateways, she undertook austerity. There, she obtained an excellent water-lily, born of the mind—a blossom used in worship, imperishable and unceasing. This sacred flower, she learned, should always be observed and protected by kings. It brings the fulfillment of all desires and delight to the goddess. Those who approach it must carefully guard it, for her radiant form would be seen in the maiden who possesses it. Śiva, the granter of boons, agreed to all this, bestowing every desired blessing. Forever accompanied by Gaurī, the bestower of boons, and surrounded by all enjoyments, he ensured that all who see and worship are fulfilled in their purpose. To them, all prosperity comes in full, always and without fail.