This angered Kutila, “Rubbish,” she exclaimed. “I will perform tapasya and prove you to be wrong you will have to eat your words.”

“For this insolence, I curse you that you may become a river,” retorted Brahma.

Ever since that day, Kutila has flowed as a river in Brahma'’ residence, Brahmaloka.

The gods next brought Ragini to Brahma and asked, “Is this the daughter who is going to get married to Shiva?”

“Not she,” replied Brahma. “She will not be able to stand Shiva’s energy.”

This angered Ragini. “Rubbish,” she exclaimed “I will perform tapasya and prove you to be wrong. You will have to eat your words.”

“For this insolence, I curse you that you may become the evening,” retorted Brahma.

Ever since that day, Ragini has been the evening.

Meanwhile, Mena was alarmed at the disappearance of two of her daughters and she did her best to persuade her third daughter Kali, also known as Uma, to refrain from performing tapasya. But Uma would not listen and continued to pray to Shiva.

Brahma told the gods, “Go and bring Mena’s third daughter to me.”

The gods went to do Brahma’s bidding, but such was the force of the energy that flowed out of Uma’s body that the gods could not even approach her. They went and reported their failure to Brahma.
“She is the one,” said Brahma. “Let her be. And rest in peace, for you are about to be delivered.”

Meanwhile, Himalaya and Mena managed to persuade Uma to stop her meditation and brought her home.

All this while, Shiva had been wandering around the world, and in the course of his travels he arrived at Himalaya's residence. Himalaya worshipped Shiva and said, “Why do you want to travel all over the place? Permit me to build a hermitage for you here, so that you can reside here undisturbed.”

Shiva agreed to this arrangement. But while he was there, he happened to meet Uma and took her to be his wife Sati. He therefore addressed her with words of love, but soon realised that this was not Sati at all. This shamed Shiva and he left the hermitage.

Uma was despondent that Shiva had thus left and she began to perform tapasya yet again so that she might have Shiva for a husband. During this period of meditation, her name became Lalita. She meditated only on Shiva and her companions kept her supplied with fruits, roots and other offerings. For purposes of meditation, Uma built an image of Shiva out of clay.

Shiva was pleased at Uma’s meditation, but he thought that he would test her first. He therefore disguised himself as an aged pilgrim and appeared before Uma.

Uma welcomed him and asked, “Who are you and where is your hermitage?”

“My hermitage is in the city of Varanasi,” replied the pilgrim. “I have been visiting many tirthas. But tell me about yourself. Why are you tormenting yourself through tapasya? Wouldn’t it have been better if you had got married? In any case, why are you meditating?”

Uma did not answer. But one of her companions told the pilgrim that Uma was meditating so as to obtain Shiva as a husband.

At this, the pilgrim burst out laughing. “Shiva,” he exclaimed. “You must be joking, you must be mad. That good for nothing fellow who wanders around in deerskin and ashes. Don’t even think of such an alliance. Surely a beautiful woman like you deserves better.”

Shiva now gave up his disguise and appeared before Uma in his true form. He told her that he would send the sages to Himalaya to crave for his daughter’s hand in marriage.

The place where Uma prayed to Shiva is now a tirtha named Bhadreshvara.

As promised, Shiva sent the sages to Himalaya. The sage Vashishtha’s wife Arundhati also accompanied the sages on their mission. Himalaya was delighted with the proposal. There was nothing more he could ask for. An auspicious day was chosen for the marriage.

All the gods came to attend the marriage of Shiva and Uma. Shiva was dressed up for the occasion by Aditi, the mother of the gods. The gandharvas sang and the apsaras danced. The sages joined the procession. Even the rakshasas joined in.

The marriage was over. But Shiva and Uma had no house to live in. Shiva therefore asked Vishvakarma, the architect of the gods, to build him a house on Mount Mandara. The house was made of gold and pearls, the doors were of ivory and the stairs were made out of crystal. There were seven rooms in the house.