After Himwaan, Maina (Parvati’s mother) went and clasped the holy feet of
the Lord with her heart overflowing with love and affection (for her son-in-law, Lord
Shiva)^3. (Chanda line no. 4)
[Note—*Himwaan’s throat was chocked with emotions, and words refused to
come out of his mouth. He felt so privileged and honoured to have Lord Shiva as his
son-in-law just like king Dasrath felt when his daughter Sita was married to Lord
Ram—refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Doha no. 341 along with its Chaupai
line nos. 1-8 that precede it, and Chaupai line no. 1 that follow it.
The marriage gifts which Himwaan gave were inconsequential in view of the
majesty and lordship of Shiva who was the Lord of the whole world. But these gifts
were to be necessarily given because it was an established tradition, and they were
therefore a mere formality. They were not intented for showing off Himwaan
grandeur or wealth, or to imply that Shiva needs these worldly articles of comfort
because everyone knew that Shiva was an ascetic and lives in Mt. Kailash which is
covered by snow the whole year round. These marriage gifts were merely a gesture of
thanksgiving and gratitude on the part of Himwaan to express his appreciation of the
eternal bond of marriage that was now established between Lord Shiva and his
daughter Parvati.
By this humble gesture Himwaan requested Lord Shiva to overlook any
shortcomings in these gifts because the Lord lacks nothing. These gifts had to be
given as much to conform to tradition as to express Himwaan’s token of thanksgiving
and gratitude towards the Lord for accepting the hands of his daughter Parvati in
marriage, but he did not intend to show-off his wealth.
(^1) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes Doha no.
337 where we read that the mother of Sita falls at the feet of Lord Ram in the same
way as Himwaan has done here.
Further on we read that king Janak, the father of Sita, has expressed his intense
love and gratitude for Lord Ram in the same way as Himwaan has done for Lord
Shiva here. Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line no. 2 that precedes
Doha no. 341—to Chaupai line no. 5 that precedes Doha no. 342.
Now, the question arises: did Janak touch the holy feet of Lord Ram, who was an
incarnate Supreme Being, with the same reverence as Himwaan has done here with
respective to Lord Shiva? The answer is “yes”, he definetely did. He not only clasped
but had worshipped Lord Ram’s feet with the greatest of respect at his command—
this is evident in Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chanda line nos. 1-8 that precede
Doha no. 324.
Thus we observe that the occasions were different, but the essence was the same.
(^2) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line nos. 6-7 that precede Doha
no. 343 where Lord Ram has expressed the same sentiments to his father-in-law, king
Janak.
(^3) Refer: Ram Charit Manas, Baal Kand, Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes Doha no.
337 where the mother of Sita has fallen at the feet of Lord Ram to express her respect
and love for him. Her heart was also overflowing with love and affection at that time
like Maina’s here.]
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dōhā.
nātha umā mama prāna sama gṛhakiṅkarī karēhu.
chamēhu sakala aparādha aba hō'i prasanna baru dēhu. 101.