Story from the Shiv Puran, focusing on the origin of Devi Sandhya, Kamadeva, and the divine daughters of Brahma:
When Sage Narada expressed his curiosity, Lord Brahma narrated: "At the time I was creating my mind-born sons (Manas Putras), a divine and supremely beautiful young maiden also emerged from my heart. She became known by the name Sandhya.
She manifested in the form of Pratah Sandhya (morning twilight) and Sayam Sandhya (evening twilight). With her enchanting beauty, arched eyebrows, and serene demeanor, she captivated the hearts of sages."
As soon as Brahma and his mind-born sons saw her, they all became deeply contemplative about her. At that very moment, from the collective mental energy, an extraordinarily handsome and divine entity was born—Kamadeva, the god of love and desire. Kamadeva approached Brahma and asked, “O Lord, what should be my duty? Kindly assign me a task in this creation.” Brahma replied, “You shall secretly enter the hearts of living beings and become the cause of their joy and desire. In this way, continue the eternal process of creation.”
Immediately, Kamadeva used his sharp flower-arrows to enchant Brahma and all the mind-born sons. As a result, desire (Kama) arose in everyone’s minds, and they were all drawn toward Devi Sandhya.
Seeing this inappropriate condition of his father and brothers, Dharma, the son of Brahma, remembered Lord Sadashiva, the protector of righteousness. Due to the influence of Shiva, the lustful illusion vanished from Brahma’s mind.
At that moment, from a white particle that emerged from Daksha’s body, a most beautiful and virtuous woman was born—her name was Rati, and she was later married to Kamadeva.
Sage Narada then asked, “O Brahma! What happened to that divine daughter of yours, Sandhya, who is said to be the mother of the ancestors (Pitrs)?” Brahma replied: “That Sandhya, who once emerged from my mind, performed severe penance and renounced her body, after which she was reborn as Arundhati. In her new life, she was born as the daughter of the noble sage Medhatithi. Following the words of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva, she accepted the great sage Vashishtha as her husband. Arundhati, formerly Sandhya, became a symbol of chastity, worthy of worship and reverence, and a true embodiment of compassion.”
Narada said: “O Brahma! You have narrated a wonderful tale of Arundhati and her previous form as Sandhya. Now, please describe the supremely sacred and auspicious deeds of Lord Shiva, which are capable of destroying the sins of others.”
Roman Hindi :
Shiv Puran ki Katha
Devi Sandhya kaun hai aur unka janm kaise hua? Kamdev kaun hain aur unka janm kaise hua? Brahma ke manas putri kaun hain? Devi Sandhya ki kahani kya hai?
Brahmaji se Devi Sandhya evam Kamdev ka prakatya. Naradji ke jigyasa karne par Brahmaji varnan karte hain ki: “Mere dwara jab manas putron ki srishti ho rahi thi, usi samay mere hriday se ek sundar roopwali shreshth yuvati bhi utpann hui. Vah Sandhya ke naam se prasiddh hui. Vah pratah sandhya tatha saayam sandhya ke roop mein atyant sundari, sundar bhauon wali tatha muniyon ke man ko mohit karne wali this. “Us kanyā ko dekhte hi main tatha mere manas putra uska chintan karne lage. Usi samay ek atyant adbhut evam manohar 'manas putra' utpann hua, jo Kamdev ke naam se vikhyat hua.” Kamdev ne Brahmaji se poocha: “Main kaun sa karya karun? Mere liye jo karm karniya ho, us karm mein mujhe niyukt kijiye.” Brahmaji ne kaha: “Apne gupt roop se praniyon ke hriday mein pravesh karte hue tum swayam sabke sukh ka karan ban kar sanatan srishti karo. Usi samay Kamdev ne teekshn pushpbaanon se mujhe, Brahma, tatha sabhi manas putron ko mohit kar diya. Sabhi ke man mein kaam-vikaar utpann ho gaya. Hum sabhi Devi Sandhya ke prati aakarshit hone large. Brahmaji ke putra Dharma ne apne pita tatha bhaiyon ki aisi dasha dekhkar dharm ki raksha karne wale Bhagwan Sadashiv ka smaran kiya. Bhagwan Sadashiv ke prabhav se Brahmaji ka kaam-vikaar door ho gaya. Usi samay Daksha ke sharir se ek shwet-kan nikalkar prithvi par gira, jisse samast gun-sampann, param manohar ek stri ki utpatti hui, jiska naam Rati tha. Rati ka Kamdev se vivaah ho gaya. Naradji kehte hain – “Hey Brahman! Pitaron ki janmadatri us Brahma-putri Sandhya ka kya hua?” Brahmaji kehte hain: “Vah Sandhya jo purvkaal mein mere man se utpann hui thi, vahi tapasya karke sharir chhodne ke baad Arundhati bani. Us buddhimati tatha uttam vrat karne wali Sandhya ne munishreshth Medhatithi ki kanyā ke roop mein janm grahan kiya aur Brahma, Vishnu tatha Maheshwar ke vachan se Mahātma Vashishtha ko apne pati roop mein varan kiya. Vah pativrata, vandaniya, poojaniya tatha daya ki moorti thi.” Naradji ne kaha – “Brahman! Aapne Arundhati ki tatha purvjanm mein uski swaroopbhoota Sandhya ki badi uttam katha sunayi hai. Ab aap Bhagwan Shiv ke us param pavitra charitra ka varnan kijiye, jo doosron ke paapon ka vinash karne wala, uttam evam mangal daayak hai.”
