The Cosmic Love Story of Shiv Parvati

The love story of the God of destruction and the Goddess of nourishment is an epic one. Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati found each other, fell in love and have stayed utterly devoted to each other since time immemorial. This cosmic love surpasses all bounds and shows how love and only love can withstand the tests of time and emerge victorious.

Image: Shiv Parvati in meditation | Source: Bhakti Photos

If Hindu mythology is a tapestry of lessons, stories and worldly wisdom, then Shiva and Parvati are two deities who guide us along on this journey of love. They meet year after year, age after age, era after era, in different characters with different stories and yet, find each other. They are a symbol of love and longing, hope and yearning and the eternal manifestation of divine devotion. Shiva is the destroyer of the world, the Lord of the Lords, while his spouse, Parvati is the family Goddess and with her multiple forms, one might even consider her a symbol of feminism who has rage, love, passion, beauty, family and power on her side. Together, they form a formidable couple.

It has been said that Lord Shiva did not speak a single word until Devi Shakti came into his life, first as Sati and then as Parvati. She came bearing love and questions. One day, as she asked her love, “Tell me please, what is love?” Lord Shiva answered in the following terms:

“You come to me as Annapoorna, The goddess of food, and feed me with unconditional love and care, I feel love. For you have taken my hunger unconditionally. When you come as Kamakhya, the goddess of pleasure, and hold me intimately as no one does, I feel love.

When you come to me as Gauri, delicate and demure, allow me to dominate you, demand things from you knowing that you cannot be dominated by anyone, I feel love. When you come to me as Durga, bearing weapons in your hand, and protect me, I feel secure and safe, cared for, I feel love. This is shakti. This is power. By granting me power, by defending me, protecting me, empowering me, you make me feel loved. This is the second kind of love.

But there is another kind of love. When you dance atop me as Kali, naked with her hair unbound, unafraid to be powerful and vulnerable and unafraid to be judged and mocked, I feel love. When you open my eyes, I realise that Lalita, the beautiful one, is also a Bhairavi, the fearsome one. I realize Mangala, the auspicious one, is also Chandika, the violent one.

I see you totally without judgment, and I realize I am capable of seeing the truth. That you allow me to see you fully, without judgment, tells me that I have gained your entire trust. Thus you become the mirror that reflects who I am. You help me discover myself. You become my Saraswati.

You reveal the true meaning of “Darshan”. In joy, I dance. I become Natraja.” (Memeraki, 2022)

When Sati ended her life, Lord Shiva went into a state of deep meditation due to unbearable grief. Shakti (Parvati) then appeared on earth as the daughter of King Himavat and Queen Meena, who as prophesied by Narad Muni, was destined to marry Lord Shiva. A devout worshiper, Parvati developed a deep affection for her Lord. When she became of marriageable age, she traveled to the Himalayas bearing harsh weather and battling with starvation and extreme conditions. Her penance was so worthy, so hard that she only allowed herself to eat roots and leaves, and give up clothing.

Unaware that Parvati is the very reincarnation of his late beloved wife, Lord Shiva was still in his deep meditative state. It is said that this penance continued for 5,000 years which generated so much cosmic energy in the starved and pale princess, that she remembered her previous life, and how she was Sati. This penance equaled that of the Mahayogi Shiva himself who felt the energy generated through Parvati’s epiphany. He opened his eyes and, impressed by her devotion, decided to test her.

Under the guise of an elderly Brahmin, Lord Shiva went to the princess and made unacceptable comments about himself in front of her. This led Goddess Parvati to become enraged at such blasphemy. Seeing her true devotion, the Lord revealed himself to his other half and in joy, reunited with his love as tears rolled down their eyes. He took Parvati to the Ganges and cleaned her up till she emerged as her radiant, divine self which earned her the name of Mahagauri.

However, when Shiva arrived for the wedding, he had a host of gods, spirits, ascetics, sages, goblins, ganas, and aghoris which terrified the Goddess's family. Devi Parvati then went to him in her Chandraghanta form and convinced him to take the form of a handsome prince for the sake of her family. The divine pair then got married in a big ceremony, forever uniting into one.

Praising Shiv Parvati is to show your unwavering devotion to the cosmic couple which may also highlight the idea of being so in love that you are not two different people, just one. God Shiva and Goddess Parvati are thus, symbols of love, passion and true commitment.