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Parvati

Parvati (Sanskrit: पार्वती Pārvatī), sometimes spelled Parvathi or Parvathy, is a Hindu goddess. She is especially worshipped by married ladies to seek the health and longevity of their husbands, a hoary tradition in Hinduism. In many interpretations of the scriptures, Parvati is also regarded as a representation of Shakti or Durga, albeit the gentle aspect of that goddess. Parvati's other names include Uma, Lalitha, Gowri, Shivakamini, Aparna and many hundreds of others; the Lalita sahasranama contains an authoritative listing.

Parvata is one of the Sanskrit words for "mountain"; "Parvati" translates to "She of the mountains" and refers to Parvati being born the daughter of Himavan, lord of the mountains. Parvati's parents are Himavat, the personification of the Himalaya mountains, and the apsara Menā. Parvati is nominally the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu God of destruction and rejuvination. However, she is not different from Dakshayani, being the reincarnation of that former consort of Shiva.

Symbolism

Parvati symbolises many noble virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition. Just as Shiva is at once the presiding deity of destruction and regeneration, the couple jointly symbolise at once both the power of renunciation and asceticism and the blessings of marital felicity. Kalidasa's epic Kumarasambhavam details with matchlessly lyrical beauty the story of the maiden Parvati; her devotions aimed at gaining the favour of Shiva; the subsequent annihilation of Kamadeva; the universe falling barren and lifeless resultantly; the subsequent nuptials, in these circumstances, of the partners of many previous births; the immaculate birth of Subrahmanya and the eventual resurrection of Kamadeva after intercession by Parvati to Shiva in his favour.

Parvati thus symbolises many different virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition: fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism and power. It is said in the Saundarya Lahiri, a famous literary work on the Goddess, that She is the source of all power in this Universe and that because of Her, Lord Shiva gets all His powers. She is occasionally depicted as half of Lord Shiva.

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