Shiv Puran Uma Samhita: Charity, Karma, the Path of Yama and the Glory of the Goddess

The Uma Samhita is named after the goddess Uma (Parvati). It has two broad parts: the first teaches dharma, charity, sin and merit and the results of action; the second describes the avatars and victories of the goddess.

Krishna worships Shiva

The samhita opens with Krishna. Desiring a son, Krishna went to the hermitage of the sage Upamanyu in the Himalayas, received initiation into Shiva worship and performed austerities. Shiva and Parvati appeared and blessed him with a son, Samba. Vishnu and Shiva worship each other.

Charity and its fruit

The Uma Samhita calls charity a great part of dharma:

• Food: the greatest gift, for food is life. Feeding the hungry surpasses any sacrifice.
• Water: giving water to the thirsty, building wells, ponds and drinking-water stalls.
• Knowledge: a gift that never perishes.
• Cows, land, clothing: given to those in need.
• Give with respect, without pride, to the deserving and within your means; charity for show bears no fruit.

Sin, the results of action and the hells

The samhita explains how sins of mind, speech and body bear fruit:

• Of the mind: coveting others' wealth, wishing harm to others, taking wrong for right.
• Of speech: lying, harsh words, slander and idle talk.
• Of the body: violence, theft and adultery.

Their results in various hells and in later births are described, not to frighten but to warn: every action bears fruit.

The road to Yama

After death the soul journeys to Yama's realm. For the sinful the road is hard, dark and painful; for the virtuous, the generous and devotees of Shiva the same road is easy and pleasant. Those who gave water, food, shade, clothing and lamps in life find these on the way. Yama and Chitragupta keep account of every being's deeds. (The Garuda Puran describes this in greater detail.)

The birth of Vyasa and the line of the Puranas

The samhita tells of the birth of Ved Vyas to the sage Parashara and Satyavati, and explains that in every Dvapara age a Vyasa arises to divide the Vedas. It also describes the eighteen Puranas and their tradition.

The glory of Devi Uma

The later part describes the goddess's avatars, matching the Durga Saptashati:

• Mahakali: as Vishnu's yogic sleep, who woke him to slay Madhu and Kaitabha.
• Mahalakshmi: born of the radiance of all the gods, who slew Mahishasura.
• Mahasaraswati: Kaushiki, who emerged from Parvati's body and slew Shumbha, Nishumbha, Chanda, Munda and Raktabija.

The name Durga, and Shakambhari

The asura Durgama gained control of the Vedas through austerity. With the Vedas lost, sacrifices stopped and no rain fell for a hundred years; there was terrible famine. At the sages' prayer the goddess appeared. Seeing the people's suffering, tears flowed from her many eyes for nine days and filled the rivers, so she is called Shatakshi, the hundred-eyed. From her own body she produced vegetables, fruit and grain to feed the people, and so is called Shakambhari. Then she slew Durgama and restored the Vedas, and from then on was called Durga.

What this samhita teaches

• Charity is the foundation of dharma; feeding the hungry and giving water to the thirsty are the greatest merit.
• Sin is committed not only by the body but by mind and speech; all three need purifying.
• Every action is accounted for; good deeds today make tomorrow's road easy.
• The Mother weeps at her children's suffering and feeds them too: Shakambhari is compassion itself.