The Story Of Lord Shivaвђ™s Marriage With Parvati -
To calm her terrified mother, Mainavati, Shiva transformed into —the most handsome man in the universe. The two were married in a grand ceremony, restoring balance to the universe. This union eventually led to the birth of Kartikeya , who defeated Tarakasura, and Ganesha , the remover of obstacles.
The wedding was a spectacle of opposites. Parvati’s family expected a grand prince, but Shiva arrived as a : smeared in ash, draped in tiger skin, accompanied by a "barat" (procession) of ghosts, ghouls, and forest spirits. The Story Of Lord Shiva’s Marriage With Parvati
Parvati grew up devoted to Shiva, but the ascetic god, lost in his sorrow, ignored her presence. Even when (the God of Love) tried to strike Shiva with an arrow to ignite passion, Shiva opened his third eye and burnt Kamadeva to ashes. To calm her terrified mother, Mainavati, Shiva transformed
The story begins with the grief of Lord Shiva. After his first wife, Sati, immolated herself, Shiva withdrew from the world into deep, icy meditation on Mount Kailash. However, the world needed him. A demon named had gained a boon that he could only be killed by a son of Shiva. To facilitate this, Sati was reborn as Parvati , the daughter of Himavat, the King of the Himalayas. The Penance of Parvati The wedding was a spectacle of opposites
Realizing that beauty and charm would not win Mahadev, Parvati discarded her royal finery and retreated to the forest. She performed —severe penance—living on air and leaves (and eventually nothing at all, earning the name Aparna ) in the freezing cold. Impressed by her devotion, Shiva disguised himself as an old Brahmin to test her, criticizing Shiva’s wild ways. Parvati’s fierce defense of the Lord finally moved him, and he revealed his true form, accepting her as his consort. The Divine Wedding
The marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati is one of the most sacred stories in Hindu mythology, representing the union of (consciousness) and Prakriti (energy). The Rebirth of Sati