Goddess Parvati

Goddess Parvati is revered as the divine Shakti (power) of Lord Shiva. According to Hindu tradition, just like Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati is believed to have two primary forms—the benevolent form of Maa Durga and the fierce form of Maa Kali. She is known by many names, including Lalita, Uma, Gauri, Kali, Durga, Hemavati, and more. As the Universal Mother, she is also worshipped as Amba and Ambika.

Being the daughter of King Himavat (the King of the Himalayas), she came to be known as Parvati, meaning "the daughter of the mountains." The Puranas also describe her as the sister of Lord Vishnu. In Hinduism, just as the Trimurti (Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva) are worshipped, the Tridevi—Goddess Saraswati, Goddess Lakshmi, and Goddess Parvati—are also revered as the supreme divine feminine powers.

Appearance of Goddess Parvati

When Goddess Parvati is depicted alongside Lord Shiva, she is usually shown with two arms. In this form, she holds a blue lotus in her right hand, while her left hand rests gracefully by her side. When portrayed alone, however, she is often shown with four arms. Two of her hands hold a red and a blue lotus, while the other two display the Varada Mudra (gesture of granting blessings) and Abhaya Mudra (gesture of protection and fearlessness).

Married women especially worship Goddess Parvati for a happy married life, marital harmony, and the long life of their husbands. Images of the Shiva Parivar, featuring Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, and their sons Lord Ganesha and Lord Kartikeya, symbolize the ideal family and represent unity, love, and prosperity.

The Birth Story of Goddess Parvati

According to the Puranas, in her previous incarnation, Goddess Parvati was born as Sati (Dakshayani), the daughter of King Daksha and the wife of Lord Shiva.

Once, King Daksha organized a grand yajna (sacrificial ritual) but deliberately chose not to invite Lord Shiva in order to insult him. Despite not being invited, Sati attended the ceremony. There, Daksha ignored her presence and refused to offer a share of the sacred offerings to Lord Shiva. Unable to bear the humiliation of her husband, Sati sacrificed herself by entering the sacrificial fire.

Following Sati's death, Lord Shiva was overcome with grief. He withdrew from worldly life and entered deep meditation in the Himalayas.

Meanwhile, the demon Tarakasura defeated the gods and drove them out of heaven. The gods sought a warrior capable of defeating him. Lord Brahma declared that only the son of Lord Shiva could accomplish this task. However, Shiva remained detached from the world in deep meditation.

It is believed that the gods prayed to Sati, who agreed to be reborn as Parvati, the daughter of King Himavan and Queen Mena. Through intense penance and unwavering devotion, Parvati eventually won Lord Shiva's heart, and their union led to the birth of Lord Kartikeya, who later defeated Tarakasura.

The Ten Forms of Goddess Parvati

The ten powerful manifestations of Goddess Parvati are collectively known as the Dasa Mahavidyas. The term Dasa Mahavidya means "Ten Great Wisdom Goddesses," where Dasa means ten, Maha means great, and Vidya means wisdom or knowledge.

Each Mahavidya has her own unique form, symbolism, story, and mantra. Together, these goddesses represent different aspects of divine wisdom and cosmic power. They are also believed to govern the nine planets and maintain the balance of the universe.

The ten Mahavidyas are:

Kali – The Goddess of Time and Transformation, who destroys ignorance and evil.
Tara – The Goddess of Compassion and Liberation, representing the cosmic womb from which the universe emerges and the infinite void.
Tripura Sundari (Shodashi) – The sixteen-year-old goddess symbolizing beauty, perfection, and supreme bliss.
Bhuvaneshwari – The Queen of the Universe, representing space, creation, and the material world.
Bhairavi – The fierce goddess representing desire, passion, discipline, destruction, and spiritual transformation.
Chhinnamasta – The self-decapitated goddess symbolizing self-sacrifice, transcendence of ego, and the ultimate truth of creation and destruction.
Dhumavati – The widow goddess who represents the dissolution of the universe and the wisdom that emerges after destruction.
Bagalamukhi – The goddess who has the power to stop negativity and silence enemies, representing mastery over harmful forces.
Matangi – The goddess of inner knowledge, speech, music, and spiritual authority.
Kamala – The goddess of purity, prosperity, and abundance, often identified with Goddess Lakshmi. She blesses devotees with wealth, fortune, and freedom from fear.

Ways to Please Goddess Parvati

Friday is considered especially auspicious for the worship of Goddess Parvati.

Begin the worship by offering prayers to Lord Ganesha.
After invoking Lord Ganesha, worship Lord Shiva along with Goddess Parvati.
Offer fresh flowers, fragrant perfume, and perform the Solah Shringar (sixteen traditional adornments) for the Goddess. Applying sindoor and a bindi is considered especially significant.
Offer incense, a lit lamp (diya), and food offerings (naivedya).
Perform the Aarti of Goddess Parvati and offer prasad.

Devotees may also chant the following mantras to seek her blessings:

Om Umamaheshwarabhyam Namah
Om Gauryai Namah

Unmarried women seeking a suitable life partner or wishing for a love marriage are traditionally advised to recite the following prayer:

He Gauri Shankarardhangi, Yatha Tvam Shankara Priya;
Tatha Mam Kuru Kalyani, Kanta Kantam Sudurlabham.

It is believed that sincere devotion and regular chanting of this prayer can help fulfill the wish for a compatible life partner.

If, despite performing these rituals, you are unable to experience the blessings of Goddess Parvati, it is advisable to consult an experienced astrologer who can recommend worship methods and remedies based on your birth chart and zodiac sign.

Consult India's top astrologers online for personalized guidance and remedies.