Parvati is a benevolent Goddess of beauty, marriage, and fertility. She is also called Shakti and mother of the Universe. She is the daughter of Himalaya, the Lord of the mountains and wife of Lord Shiva. She won Lord Shiva’s heart through severe penance.

Legend says that the Gods wanted Shiva to marry Parvati so that their first-born (Lord Kartikeya) would kill the demon Tarakasur, who was granted a boon by Lord Brahma that he would only be killed by Shiva’s son. Hence the Gods sent Parvati to Shiva who was lost in meditation. The love God, Kama Dev struck Shiva with his love arrow, but Shiva got disturbed in his meditation, and opened his third eye and burnt Kama Dev to ashes due to his anger. It is also believed that Goddess Parvati took 108 births until Lord Shiva noticed her dedication and agreed to marry her.

Goddess Parvati is also said to be the reincarnation of Mata Sati, who is Lord Shiva’s first wife who immolated herself. Since her childhood, Sati loved Lord Shiva and was his ardent devotee. Despite her father, King Daksha’s unwillingness, Sati married Lord Shiva with Lord Brahma as the priest. King Daksha continued to dislike Lord Shiva and once when he conducted a Yagna (religious fire-ceremony), he invited all Gods except Lord Shiva. Sati Mata was very hurt at this rude gesture of her father and unable to bear the humiliation, she burnt herself to protest and show her anger. When Lord Shiva came to know this, he was furious and performed his destructive Tandav dance. He carried Sati Mata’s body around the world. He wanted to take Sati to Mount Kailash and all Gods knew that Lord Shiva’s anger would mean end of the world. To save the Universe, Lord Vishnu used his Sudarshan Chakra and cut Sati Mata’s body parts into 51 pieces which fell at 51 different places. These places are very sacred and of great religious significance and are called Shakti Peethas.

Mata Parvati has two sons- Lord Kartikeya and Lord Ganesha. Lord Ganesha was created by performing a miraculous feat of creating a boy from her sandalwood paste and bringing him to life.