Maa Parvati's Tapasya

Himavan, the king of the Himalaya mountains, and Queen Maina had a daughter named Parvati. From her childhood, Parvati loved Shiv ji very much. Even while playing, she would make a little Shivling of clay and worship it. When she grew up, she decided in her heart that she would marry only Shiv ji.

But Shiv ji was always lost in deep meditation. Narad Muni said to Parvati, "To win Shiv ji, you will have to do tapasya." He asked her to chant Shiv ji's five-syllable mantra, "Namah Shivaya".

Parvati took off her beautiful palace clothes and jewellery, put on simple clothes and went to the mountains to do tapasya. It is said that her mother Maina lovingly tried to stop her, saying "U ma", which means "Oh, don't, my daughter". That is how she also got the name Uma.

Whether it was hot summer, heavy rain or bitter cold, Parvati kept chanting Shiv ji's name in every season. At first she ate fruits, then only leaves, and then she gave up even leaves. That is why she is also called Aparna.

A long time passed. At last Shiv ji decided to test Parvati. He took the form of a sadhu with matted hair and came to her ashram. Parvati welcomed him with respect.

The sadhu asked, "Why are you doing such hard tapasya?" Parvati's friend told him that she wished to marry Shiv ji. The sadhu said, "Shiv? He smears ash on his body, wears snakes around his neck and roams about on a bull. You are a princess. Why are you suffering so much for him?"

Parvati felt very hurt to hear this. In a firm voice she said, "You do not know Shiv ji. He is the Lord of all and the kindest of all. Whatever he looks like, my heart is with him. I will not listen to anyone speak ill of him." Saying this, she stood up to leave.

At that moment, in place of the sadhu, Shiv ji himself appeared. He smiled and said, "Parvati, I was testing you. I am very happy with your devotion and your firm heart. I will marry you."

Parvati's heart filled with joy. Some time later, Shiv ji and Parvati were married with great celebration. All the devtas, rishis and Shiv ji's ganas came in the wedding procession, singing and dancing.