HOME | DD

Description
Parvati meets Shiva

The love story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is one of my personal favorites for various reasons. My recent post on Shiva and Sati elaborated on how Shiva lost Sati at Daksha’s yagna and how He had, ever since then, waited for Her to return. So, how did Parvati meet Shiva? Well… Let me not keep the suspense waiting any longer! The most popular legend about how Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva united goes on like this…

ma was the daughter of Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. Due to Her father’s insults and hate towards Lord Shiva, Sati immolated Herself and wished to be reborn to a father who’ll love and respect Her marriage to Lord Shiva. When Parvati grew up, Sage Narada visited Her and told Her that She had a chance to marry Her husband from Her previous birth, Lord Shiva, if She followed the path of tapa or penance. Determined to marry Lord Shiva, Parvati devotedly took up the difficult path of penance.
The loss of Sati had made Lord Shiva to detach from worldly affairs and take up the path of deep meditation. He was so deep in meditation and mourning that He did not notice Parvati or Her love for Him. On the other side, the Devas were tormented by Tarakasur who could only be defeated by the son of Lord Shiva. All these led to the intervention of Kamadeva, the God of love. Kamadeva shot Shiva’s heart with an arrow of love, hoping that He would open His eyes from the state of meditation and notice Parvati’s unconditional love for Him.

But Kamadeva’s arrow had disturbed Shiva’s meditation and this infuriated Lord Shiva. In anger, He opened His third eye (the fiery eye which always remained closed) and incinerated Kamadeva to ashes. However, Lord Shiva went on to realize Parvati’s love for Him and the fact that She’s the reincarnation of Sati.
Shiva and Parvati agreed to marry each other. The day of Their wedding is celebrated as Maha Shivratri every year. Lord Brahma discharged the duties of the divine priest, while Lord Vishnu took care of the wedding preparations. Some people say that Lord Vishnu performed the Kanyadaan (giving away the bride) at the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.

Description
Parvati meets Shiva

The love story of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati is one of my personal favorites for various reasons. My recent post on Shiva and Sati elaborated on how Shiva lost Sati at Daksha’s yagna and how He had, ever since then, waited for Her to return. So, how did Parvati meet Shiva? Well… Let me not keep the suspense waiting any longer! The most popular legend about how Goddess Parvati and Lord Shiva united goes on like this…

ma was the daughter of Daksha and wife of Lord Shiva. Due to Her father’s insults and hate towards Lord Shiva, Sati immolated Herself and wished to be reborn to a father who’ll love and respect Her marriage to Lord Shiva. When Parvati grew up, Sage Narada visited Her and told Her that She had a chance to marry Her husband from Her previous birth, Lord Shiva, if She followed the path of tapa or penance. Determined to marry Lord Shiva, Parvati devotedly took up the difficult path of penance.
The loss of Sati had made Lord Shiva to detach from worldly affairs and take up the path of deep meditation. He was so deep in meditation and mourning that He did not notice Parvati or Her love for Him. On the other side, the Devas were tormented by Tarakasur who could only be defeated by the son of Lord Shiva. All these led to the intervention of Kamadeva, the God of love. Kamadeva shot Shiva’s heart with an arrow of love, hoping that He would open His eyes from the state of meditation and notice Parvati’s unconditional love for Him.

But Kamadeva’s arrow had disturbed Shiva’s meditation and this infuriated Lord Shiva. In anger, He opened His third eye (the fiery eye which always remained closed) and incinerated Kamadeva to ashes. However, Lord Shiva went on to realize Parvati’s love for Him and the fact that She’s the reincarnation of Sati.
Shiva and Parvati agreed to marry each other. The day of Their wedding is celebrated as Maha Shivratri every year. Lord Brahma discharged the duties of the divine priest, while Lord Vishnu took care of the wedding preparations. Some people say that Lord Vishnu performed the Kanyadaan (giving away the bride) at the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.