|
|
|
|
The Image of the Perfect Wife
Parvati is the aspect of the goddess as the wife of Siva, one of the most popular Hindu gods. She represents the image of the perfect, dutiful, loyal wife and the loving caring mother to her two sons, Ganesa (the elephant-headed god) and Skanda (the god of war), in the perfect family. In iconography, she is often shown seated beside her husband Siva with her children about her. She is selfless and domestic, taming the wilder excesses of her husband and mediating between devotees and the god himself.
The Daughter of the Mountain
This portrait of the goddess Parvati as little more than an appendage of her husband belies the true nature of her character. Her name (Parvati means "daughter of the mountain"), derives from her origin as the child of King Himalaya. Semi-divine in nature, she first observes her future husband when he is engaged in deep aesthetic meditation (tapas). Siva is a renowned bachelor amongst the gods. He is wild figure, a womaniser, and an ardent aesthetic who spends vast world-spanning periods in meditation from which he cannot be raised. Parvati, having taken a fancy to the unsuspecting Siva, tries at first to tempt him out of his meditation with her feminine charms. Having failed to move him from his trance, she vows to outdo him in meditation to gain his attention. She sits before him and meditates so deeply that finally Siva stirs, recognises her beauty and strength, and falls madly in love with her.
|
|
|
|
It is a seduction by pure will power. She goes on to show him that she shares his skill in deep understanding to, teaching him esoteric secrets as he teaches them to her. Indeed, there are many Agamas (texts of a localised, semi-sacred nature), of the Saivite tradition in which Parvati instructs Siva in various secrets of the universe, turning the tables on the normal religious tradition in which women are largely silent.
Aspect of the Devi
Parvati is no mere simpering beauty, for she is the outward and respectable face of a triad of deities, the 'Parvati/Durga/Kali complex'. She may be married and faithful, but she hides beneath her appearance the forms of these darker goddesses. When moved to anger she appears as, Durga the warrior, wild and independent, and Kali, the fierce blood drinking demon slayer who springs from Durga's battle lust. Siva himself must tread a careful line, for his loving wife has power beyond his wildest dreams, though she stoops to conquer him with love. In her beauty, she holds the universe in the palm of her hand.
|
|
|
|
My Uma is no ordinary girl;
Mountain! your daughter-
that she is certainly not!
What have I seen in a dream, Mountain!
my mind is scared to tell you.
I saw divinities of four, of five faces
and Uma seated on their heads.
She became the mistress over emperors
and spoke with a laughing face:
'Who is he, riding on a Kite,
of black complexion, hands folded,
prostrating himself before me?'
