What is parvati the goddess of

And there are many more faces to the goddess, all of which are worshipped and beloved in states across South and Southeast Asia. Iterations of her goddess forms have become part of Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism, and tantric traditions. Parvati is everywhere at once—an omnipresent mother watching over her children.

I learned about Parvati and the fierce way she protects her children through a series of classic comic books called Amar Chitra Katha , which taught children Indian stories and Hindu mythology. I envied her power and force.

When I was a baby, my grandmother gave me a small coin pendant with an etching of Durga on it, her legs over the back of a tiger and her many arms raised. When I found it years later, it made so much sense to me that I would choose Durga above the other gods in the pantheon—I had been touched by her presence early in my life, and her energy had blossomed in me. There are many who engage in altar worship. Their altars, also called mandaps or mandirs, take over a corner in their homes or, depending on the practice, a whole room.

My grandmother in New Delhi has a side room dedicated to her daily poojas , or worship. Incense, flower offerings, and porcelain figures of the deities take up a whole wall in her room. Many of the items needed for devotion can be purchased in local Indian grocery stores. It is better to patronize these stores rather than, say, Etsy shops not based in South Asian or owned by non-worshippers.

Parvati is the progenitor of all other Goddesses and is worshiped as one with many forms and names. Her parents learn of her desire and discourage her, but she pursues what she wants. Kama reaches Shiva and shoots an arrow of desire. Shiva opens the third eye in his forehead and burns the cupid Kama to ashes. Parvati does not lose her hope or her resolve to win over Shiva. She begins to live in the mountains like Shiva and engages in a life of asceticism.

This draws the attention of Shiva and awakens his interest. He meets her in disguised form, tries to discourage her, telling her Shiva's weaknesses and personality problems. Parvati refuses to listen and insists in her resolve. Shiva finally accepts her and they get married. Goddess Parvati is said to be fond of all flowers offered to Lord Shiva. Worship of The Divine Goddess Parvati is said to bring about marriage, resolve conflicts between couples and help prevent miscarriage.

She is also worshipped for fertility, marital felicity, and devotion to the spouse, asceticism and power. Navratri is the season in which all nine forms forms of Parvati are worshiped. Durga , Shakti , and Kali are also worshiped during Navratri. These young, beautiful, sensuous figures personify fertility, maternity, and Indian ideals of feminine beauty. In the Hindu religion, Parvati, the goddess of the Himalayas, is the archetypal mother goddess and fertility image.

She is the consort of Shiva and the mother to Ganesha and Skanda. In this role, she benevolently mediates between the worshipper and the divine. Standing in tribhanga thrice-bent pose, the graceful divinity is represented as an ideal beauty. She wears a tall conical headdress with a chakra wheel of light in the back that functions as a halo.