there in fear, is witnessed once again here when Maina and her companions saw Lord
Shiva, also known as “Rudra”, for the first time.]
When they (Maina and her companions) saw the strange form of Rudra^1
(another name of Lord Shiva) and his accoutrments (snakes wrapped around his near
naked body, skulls worn as a garland, ash smeared on the entire body, huge lock of
matted hairs on the head etc.), the women were overcome with great fear in their
hearts^2. (4)
They were so terrorised at this scary sight that they ran away in fear to their
respective homes (like the children had done earlier)^3.
Meanwhile, Lord Mahesh (Shiva) went away to his own place of residence
where the marriage party was lodged^4. (5)
[Note—^1 Lord Rudra is that form of Shiva that concludes this creation. The word
“Rudra” itself means ‘anger’. It implies that when this creation becomes highly sinful
and pervert, when moral turpitude and degeneration is at its zenith, Lord Rudra who
represents that aspect of the Supreme Being which is responsible for maintaining
discipline in this creation, becomes angry. He then decides to severely punish the
offenders by unleashing death and destruction, but at the same time ensuring that the
noble and the wise creatures of this creation do not suffer for no fault of theirs.
However, since “Rudra” represents the angry form of the Supreme Being that
unleashes death and destruction on the wayward world, he is iconographically
depicted to be accompanied by elements that represent ugly faces of this creation and
its result in the form of death and desctruction—viz. the ghosts, the phantoms and the
spirits.
The use of the word “Rudra” here is significant—because it indicates clearly that
the groom is none else but the almighty ‘Third God of the Trinity’.
(^2) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Lanka Kand, Chaupai line nos. 2-3 that precede Doha
no. 16 where it is said that it is a nature of women to be easily frightened.^
(^3) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line nos. 4-5 that precede Doha
no. 95 that describe how the children were so scared when they saw Shiva and his
fearful companions that they ran away from the site out of fear.
(^4) When we closely read the sequence of events it will be clear that Maina and her
companions had went out to welcome Lord Shiva at the time the marriage party had
entered the city and was heading to the place where they were to be lodged. Since
Shiva was the bridegroom, he occupied a pride-of-place in the long procession and
could be easily located.
Another thing to note is that Shiva remained unaffected by such a reception on
two occasions—once on the outskirts of the city when the children raised a hue and
cry and ran away screaming, and now once again inside the city when the terrified
women did not even perform the Aarti, which is customary and essential, but ran
away from the place. Imagine how bad one would feel if he is shown such a reception
by the host? Not doing the Aarti and running away is an insult of the guest.
But Lord Shiva is so forgiving and compassionate that he did not mind anything.
He is so detached from the world and so unconcerned with its formalities that nothing
mattered to him as long as he fulfils the desire of his devotee who in this case was
Parvati who had done Tapa to access the Lord has her companion for life. Being a
true ascetic, worldly expression of honour and respect was meaningless for Shiva.]