| His first wife
Punitavatiyar became confounded by the salutation and worship and took refuge among her
kinswomen, who all cried out, "why is this mad man worshipping his own wife?" To this Paramadatta replied: "I myself beheld her work a miracle and I
know that she is no daughter of the human race, but a supernatural being. So, I have
ceased to look upon her as my wife and worship her as my tutelary deity and have dedicated
this my daughter to her. Therefore, I worship her and call upon you too to do the
same."
Punitavatiyar pondered over the matter and prayed within
herself to Lord Siva saying: "Lord, take from me then the beauty that I have hitherto
cherished for the sake of my husband alone. Remove from me this burden of the flesh and
give me the form and features of one of the demon-hosts (bhutaganas) who ever attend on
thee and praise thee." |
