PARVATI ( SHE WHO IS OF THE MOUNTAINS) IS THE GREAT GODDESS OF INDIA; SHE IS THE GODDESS OF FEMININITY AND REPRESENTS THE BEAUTY OF WOMANHOOD. SHE IS THE MAIDEN ASPECT OF THE TRIPLE GODDESS, FORMING THE TRIAD WITH DURGA AND KALI MA. SHE WAS THE DAUGHTER OF HEMAYAT, LORD OF THE HIMALAYAN MOUNTAINS, AND HIS QUEEN, MENA. SHE IS USUALLY DESCRIBED AS VERY BEAUTIFUL, AND IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT THE REASON FOR HER BIRTH WAS TO LURE THE GOD, SHIVA, INTO MARRIAGE. SHE SYMBOLIZES THE NOBLE VIRTUES WHICH ARE GREATLY ADMIRED IN THE HINDU RELIGION. PARVATI IS AN EARTHY GODDESS, FOND OF DANCING AND THE PLEASURES OF THE BODY.
LEGEND GOES THAT SHIVA HAD BECOME DESPONDENT OVER THE DEATH OF HIS WIFE, SO HE TURNED TO THE LIFE OF A HERMIT. THE GODS WERE VERY WORRIED AND BEGGED SHAKTI, THE MOTHER, FOR HELP. IN RESPONSE, SHE TOOK ON THE FORM OF PARVATI, THE PRINCESS OF THE MOUNTAINS, AND SOUGHT TO GAIN SHIVA'S ATTENTION, AND ALTHOUGH AT FIRST HE PAID NO ATTENTION, THE SKILLED AND PATIENT GODDESS EVENTUALLY SEDUCED HIM WITH HER BEAUTY, CHARM, AND WIT.
IT SEEMS THE COUPLE HAD MANY DISPUTES ABOUT HAVING CHILDREN, AND WHEN PARVATI BORE A SON, SHIVA CHOPPED HIS HEAD OFF; THEN, FEELING GUILTY, HE REPLACED IT WITH THE HEAD OF AN ELEPHANT. THE CHILD BECAME THE GOD, GANESH, A HINDU GOD OF GOOD FORTUNE.
THE STORY OF PARVATI GIVES US A CLUE AS TO THE ONLY WAY OUT OF A QUANDRY. THE GODDESS DECIDED THAT SHE WAS GOING TO WIN HER LOVE AND WENT AFTER HIM, NO MATTER WHAT IT TOOK. PARVATI'S STORY REMINDS US THAT WE NEED TO BE CLEAR ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE CHILDREN...AND WHETHER BOTH PARENTS ARE IN AGREEMENT. WOMEN NEED NOT FEEL OBLIGATED TO REPRODUCE; INSTEAD, IF WE SO CHOSE, WE CAN TAKE JOY IN THE CHILDREN OF OTHERS.
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