It is believed that Death was a visible body. When the time
for one to die would come, Death would come to the person and the person would
accept to go to the Yamalok (place for the dead). Death was thus accepted and
was celebrated.
Once while Death was going through the list of people who
had to die, he came across a young blacksmith who was not ready to die. He
still had a lot of dreams to fulfill, so, when he saw Death come to him he was
polite with Death for he wanted Death to leave him alone. Death would not leave
him. He then told Death that he wanted to show him work and took him to a
multi-chambered iron building, which he had built. He guided Death to the
innermost chamber and asked Death to relax there. He then locked Death inside
the chamber, locking seven doors. The blacksmith told no one his secret.
Lord Shiva found out that Death was trapped and entrusted
his consort, Parvati, to carry out a plan to release Death. Parvati, disguised
as a beautiful woman working in the place where the blacksmith went every
evening to drink, went to the world of the mortals. She served the young
Blacksmith many fine drinks, acting very seductive, and tried to find out his
secrets. The intoxicated Blacksmith revealed all she wanted to know.
Then, Death was released and from then on, Death never went
to the world of the mortals in its visible form.
