Chandrashekhar P.O.V.
I can never ever forget yesternight. It seemed to be the biggest night for me. My confession, her reaction, her anger, her fear and herself - so many things occured in so little time. I saw each and every mood of Yatee. The smile which she gave me before dozing off to deep sleep was is the beautiful thing in this world. She herself is the most beautiful and complete thing of this world. After placing her into her current room, I slept with the most satisfying smile.
This morning, just like usual, I woke up before dawn. I quickly changed into my practice wear clothing and left for my Sword practise and horse riding. I came back pretty early than usual. Today I cannot be late. This is the most important day of Yatee's and my life. Today she wil be officially my wife. I quickly looked at her room to check her but she had left the room, just before some time, I guess. I could see her wet foot marks before the mirror. Suddenly, Ram came into my room -
"Morning Shekhar !" He wished me as he did every morning.
"Good morning !"
"Come on now, don't waste time. Get ready soon. Yatee has left for Kaki Saheb's room. You too, get ready and reach the temple soon. I'll be there for you." Saying so, he handed me my dress or you can say, my dhoti and shawl for Puja and left in a jiffy.
I went and took bath and got ready. Whilst I was getting ready, I heard some soft sounds which were prety unusual to the fort -
"Jatatavigalajjala pravahapavitasthale
Galeavalambya lambitam bhujangatungamalikam
Damad damad damaddama ninadavadamarvayam
Chakara chandtandavam tanotu nah shivah shivam"
(With his neck consecrated by the flow of water that flows from his hair,
And on his neck a snake, which is hung like a garland,
And the Damaru drum that emits the sound “Damat Damat Damat Damat”,
Lord Shiva did the auspicious dance of Tandava. May he give prosperity to all of us.)
Someone was praying to Lord Shiva. But who was that one ? I couldn't identify the person from that faint voice of Mantra. Maybe that's Matoshri. Let's meet her at the temple.
I left my chamber with some flowers which I had collected while returning from my practice. I saw something which was surely unexpected to me. I saw Ram and Matoshri coming from opposite side.
"Suprabhat Matoshri ! You here ? Then who's in the temple ?" I asked her.
"I was going to ask you the same." She replied with similar questioned face.
"Maybe the head priest is performing some sort of Puja." Ram replied in a content tone.
"Maybe... Let's go to the temple then. Maybe he is performing some important Puja." Matoshri said and we both followed her. But none of us knew that another surprise was awaiting us.
On the next corridor near to the temple we saw Head Priest, Pandit Bhanushankar Shastri going towards the temple.
"Sorry Matoshri. I'm pretty late today." He bowed to us and said in an apology tone.
"If you are here then who is performing the Puja in the temple ?" Matoshri now asked in an curious tone. Her sentence was interrupted by another verse of Mantra.
"Jata kata hasambhrama bhramanilimpanirjhari
Vilolavichivalarai virajamanamurdhani
Dhagadhagadhagajjva lalalata pattapavake
Kishora chandrashekhare ratih pratikshanam mama"
(I have a deep interest in Shiva
Whose head is glorified by the rows of moving waves of the celestial Ganga anothe,
Which stir in the deep well of his hair in tangled locks.
Who has the brilliant fire burning on the surface of his forehead,
And who has the crescent moon as a jewel on his head.)
"Someone is chanting Shiva Tandava Stotram Matoshri. Have you called some head priest from Kashi today ?" The priest asked in a polite form.
"No. We haven't called any priest. Is someone from the palace reciting the Sacred Stotram ?" Matoshri asked.
"Let's figure it out when we reach the temple. Let's not waste time now." Ram said and we all followed our way to the temple which was pretty near now.
All fourof us were now out of the Palace and moving forward towards the temple. Now the verses were very clearly heard. We all stoped outside the temple and heard a female voice reciting the Sacred Stotram.
"Dharadharendrana ndinivilasabandhubandhura
Sphuradigantasantati pramodamanamanase
Krupakatakshadhorani nirudhadurdharapadi
Kvachidigambare manovinodametuvastuni
(May my mind seek happiness in Lord Shiva,
In whose mind all the living beings of the glorious universe exist,
Who is the companion of Parvati (daughter of the mountain king),
Who controls unsurpassed adversity with his compassionate gaze, Which is all-pervading
And who wears the Heavens as his raiment.)
Jata bhujan gapingala sphuratphanamaniprabha
Kadambakunkuma dravapralipta digvadhumukhe
Madandha sindhu rasphuratvagutariyamedure
Mano vinodamadbhutam bibhartu bhutabhartari
(May I find wonderful pleasure in Lord Shiva, who is the advocate of all life,
With his creeping snake with its reddish brown hood and the shine of its gem on it
Spreading variegated colors on the beautiful faces of the Goddesses of the Directions,
Which is covered by a shimmering shawl made from the skin of a huge, inebriated elephant.)"
We were passing questioned looks to each other. Our chain of thoughts was broken by huge sound of people cheering behind the same female voice
"Har har mahadev !!" She said and we could see people showering flowers towards the centre of temple.
"Har har mahadev !!" The crowd cheered.
I observed the crowd. They were none other than people from the Palace. Sripad, Narayan, Yashomaan along with Kanta, Mohini vahini and Kumudini Bai were present there, too. Many helpers from the palace, the door keepers of temple along with care takers of temple were there. Even wife of Royal priest was there. I could see all of my courtsmen there. How come all of these, who were hardly awake at early hours of morning, standing here at temple and chanting the name of Lord ?
My thoughts were crushed by Ram's shaking -
"How come these lazy people like Sripad and Narayan are here, that too at sunrise ?" He was shocked to core.
Suddenly, Kanta came down and took us upstairs in the temple.
"Come up soon. Abhishek (offerings of rose water and milk to Lord) is about to finish. Come for holy Darshan." Saying so, she left upstairs.
While climbing, now we could here, the chanting of Mahishasura Mardini Stotram. It was the same female voice.
"Matoshri, have you appointed a new priest ? Why so ? Have I gone wrong somewhere ?" The priest asked as we neared the main hall of temple.
"No I've not..."
Matoshri's reply was cut in between by the chanting of Stotram.
"Ayi giri-nandini Nanditamedini viswa-vinodini nandanute
Girivara vindya sirodhini vasini Vishnu-vilasini Jishnunute
Bhagavathi hae shiti kantha kutumbini bhuri-kutumbini bhurikruthe
Jaya Jaya hey Mahishasura Mardini ramyakapardini sailasuthe !
(Salutations to Goddess Mahishasura Mardini,
The daughter of mountain ( indicating Himavanta), by whose presence caused joy to the Universe, the one praised by Nandi
Residing on the peaks of outstanding Vindhya mountains, Who gives joy to Vishnu (as his sister), the one praised by Indra
Who is none other than Bhagavthi, the consort of the blue-throated one (God Shiva), who has all the great creation as a family (being the mother of Universe), who do all the great things ( related to creation, perseverance, and destruction)
Victory to you, victory to you, the destroyer of Mahishasura, the one with beautiful-braided hair, the daughter of the mountains)
Sura-vara varshini Durdhara dharshini Dhurmukha marshini Harsharathe
Tribhuvana poshini Shankara toshini Kalmasha moshini Ghosharathe
Dhanuja niroshini Ditisuta roshini Durmada soshini Sindhusuthe
Jaya Jaya hey Mahishasura Mardini ramyakapardini sailasuthe !
(The one who showers boons on devas, who defeated the demon Durdhara, the destroyer of Durmukha, who is gladdened by the joy (caused by her or from others)
The one who nourishes the three worlds (by her sight), who delights God Shankara, who frees us from the bad thoughts, who is delighted by the sounds of demons (war cries due to her acts to protect the worlds)
Who was anger on the sons of Danu (Danavas), furious on the sons of Diti (Daithyas), Who destroyed the demon Durmada, O the daughter of the ocean
Victory to you, victory to you, the destroyer of Mahishasura, the one with beautiful-braided hair, the daughter of the mountain.)
Ayi Jagadamba madamba kadamba vana priya vaasina Haasarathe
Sikhari siromani tunga Himalaya srunga nijalaya madhyagathe
Madhumadhure Madhu Kaithabha ganjani Kaitabha bhanjini Raasarathe
Jaya Jaya hae Mahishasura Mardini ramyakapardini sailasuthe !
(O Goddess Jagadamba (Mother of the Universe), who likes and loves to live in the Kadamba vana (forests of Kadamba tree), delighted by laughter or humor.
The one who lives in the middle of the temple present on the top of the Himalayas – the crest jewel among mountains
Whose words are sweet like honey, who subdued the pride of Madhu and Kaitabha, the slayer of demon Kaitabha, delighted by the Kamakala.
Victory to you, victory to you, the destroyer of Mahishasura, the one with beautiful-braided hair, the daughter of the mountain.)"
The crowd in temple again repeated after her and chanted the holy name of Goddess Bhavani.
"Jai Bhavani !!" She chanted
"Jai Bhavani !!" The crowed cheered behind her.
Who's this lady ? And what is she doing at an early hour of morning here in the temple ? And why do everyone is following her and respecting her ?
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Another update !!
What do you think, who is this mysterious lady ?
Does she belong to the palace ?
What is her motto for being in the temple so early ?
Answers to these in next update...
Till then, stay safe, take care and lots of love 💕