Kama Tries- And Fails
All seemed to have ended well but Brahma decided to teach Shiva a lesson. Kama was given the task of making him fall in love. Kama agreed but said that a special woman would have to be around when he aimed at Shiva. Brahma sighed at the thought and spring, Vasanta, came into beings, full of blossom and hope. Kama, Rati and Vasanta set off, only to return unsuccessful. They had tried every possible form of erotica- mating animals, cooing birds, creepers clinging to trees suggestively - but found no chink in the armour of that formidable yogi.

Brahma sighed - with sorrow this time, and up sprang spirits crying 'cut', 'kill' (maraya). They were named Maras. They would kill good sense and create confusion in the minds of creatures, a necessary pre-condition for the state of being in love. The three set off again, armed with this new weapon but returned once more to report failure. The yogi remained unassailable, and Kama was grateful for having escaped with his life.

Brahma Appeals to Durga
Brahma now consulted Vishnu who advised him to stop using guile. If he wanted Shiva to marry, he should appeal directly to him and his shakti through penance. Devotion was the one thing that they responded to. And he reminded him that Shiva had promised to marry in any case.

Brahma followed Vishnu's advice and prayed to Durga, Shiva's powerful shakti. She appeared, wild and beautiful, her hair spread out and strewn with pearls. She had a third eye, a reminder of her dread source, Shiva. Brahma abandoned all ideas of complaining about Shiva and gave her a whole new story- creation could not prosper if Shiva, the best of god, did not marry and he could marry none else but he. Therefore, he humbly begged, she should incarnate as Daksha's daughter. Daksha was already performing a penance directing his thoughts towards her. Durga had a nagging suspicion that Brahma's motives were not what they professed to be, but custom had to be adhered to, devotees had to be satisfied. She thought of Shiva and sensing his consent, told Brahma that although she had failed to enchant Shiva, she would now step up her efforts and try again as Sati, Daksha's daughter.

Daksha performed a penance for three thousand years before Durga, as Kali, appeared, riding a lion, holding a blue lotus, darkly alluring. Daksha asked for her to be born as his daughter and future wife of Shiva.

It was not easy even for his own Shakti. It was all right as long as she was a principle and a force, but to become his wife she would have to do enhance. That was the only way to win him over. She left, sounding an ominous note which did not register on Daksha. 'If ever you show lack of respect, I shall cast off my body.

And so, under a cloud of mixed motives and meshed purposes, began the long and tortuous haul to Shiva's marriage. Brahma launched it in a mood of ignoble vengeance, after a richly deserved reprimand; Vishnu guided him towards a plan that he knew was already in Shiva's mind and therefore not at variance with the Destroyer's wishes; and Daksha went along with them to please his father and to take revenge - he had been a target of Shiva's famous a laughter. It had sent a chill down his spine.