Uma
about
PARVATI (Sanskrit pārvatī – mountainous), also Uma (Sanskrit Umā – light, greatness), in Hinduism, the wife of Shiva, one of the three daughters of the king of the mountains Himavat (the Himalayas) and the demigoddess Meena.
P. became the reincarnation of Shiva's former wife, the goddess Sati, who could not bear the insult inflicted on Shiva by her father Daksha and committed self-immolation. While Shiva was in deep meditation due to grief, the demon Taraka gained power over the world and the gods. Only Shiva's child could defeat the demon, and the gods asked the goddess to be reborn and marry Shiva. In order to win the love of Shiva, P. settled near him on Mount Kailash, but Shiva, immersed in asceticism, did not pay attention to her. P. then also engaged in severe ascetic practices. Captivated by her devotion and beauty, Shiva took her as his wife. This myth is the basis of Kalidasa's poem "Kumarasambhava" ("The Birth of Kumara").
P. became the reincarnation of Shiva's former wife, the goddess Sati, who could not bear the insult inflicted on Shiva by her father Daksha and committed self-immolation. While Shiva was in deep meditation due to grief, the demon Taraka gained power over the world and the gods. Only Shiva's child could defeat the demon, and the gods asked the goddess to be reborn and marry Shiva. In order to win the love of Shiva, P. settled near him on Mount Kailash, but Shiva, immersed in asceticism, did not pay attention to her. P. then also engaged in severe ascetic practices. Captivated by her devotion and beauty, Shiva took her as his wife. This myth is the basis of Kalidasa's poem "Kumarasambhava" ("The Birth of Kumara").
