Shiva is one of the most important and powerful gods in Hinduism. He is the supreme being within Shaivism, one of the major traditions within Hinduism. Shiva is often depicted as an ascetic yogin who lives a simple life on Mount Kailash with his family. One of the most fascinating myths about Shiva involves his wife, the goddess Sati, who represents the eternal power of love, and his relationship with her after she is reincarnated as the goddess Parvati. This myth reveals much about Shiva’s character and his status as both an ascetic and a householder.
The Myth of Sati’s Self-Immolation
According to myth, Sati was the daughter of the powerful sage Daksha. She chose to marry the ascetic Shiva, much to her father’s disapproval. Daksha eventually performed a great yajna (ritual sacrifice), but intentionally did not invite his daughter and son-in-law to attend. Furious at this slight, Sati attended the sacrifice on her own. When her father ignored and insulted her and her husband, unable to bear further indignity, she jumped into the sacrificial fire and died. Shiva was overcome with grief when he learned of his wife’s death. In his rage, he destroyed the sacrifice and beheaded Daksha, only restoring him to life at the pleas of the other gods.
Shiva Grieves
Shiva then withdrew from the world and retreated to the Himalayas to meditate and mourn his wife’s death. He took Sati’s corpse on his shoulder and wandered about in inconsolable grief. Vishnu, seeing the world thrown off balance by Shiva’s absence, sent his discus to cut Sati’s corpse into 51 pieces so that Shiva would be freed from the burden. The places on earth where each part of Sati’s body fell became sacred sites known as Shakti Peethas. Yet Shiva was still devastated by the loss of his wife.
The Birth of Parvati
The gods knew that Shiva would only be consoled by Sati’s return. So they implored her to return to Earth in a new form. Sati agreed to take human form once more and was reborn as Parvati, the daughter of the Himalayan king Himavan. Parvati resolved to win over Shiva by her devotion and asceticism. She withdrew to the forest and performed intense tapas (austerities) to please him.
Parvati Wins Shiva’s Love
At first, Shiva resisted her affections and appeals. But Parvati was determined, and her single-minded devotion moved him deeply. He finally accepted her as his wife. Their marriage was solemnized in a great celebration, bringing Shiva back into the world as both an ascetic and a householder. With this union, Parvati softened Shiva’s grief over Sati and filled the void left by her passing.
The Many Forms of Parvati
Like Sati before her, Parvati is said to exist in many forms, representing the different aspects of the eternal feminine power. Some of her best known incarnations include:
- Kali – the ferocious warrior goddess who destroyed evil forces
- Durga – the victorious divine warrior who rides a tiger into battle
- Kamarupa – the goddess of love and devotion
- Minakshi – the goddess with eyes like fish who resides in a temple in Madurai
In all her forms, Parvati embodies shakti (divine feminine energy). She is the creative power that brings balance to the ascetic Shiva through her love and feminine strength.
Shiva and Parvati as Archetypes
The relationship between Shiva and Parvati represents the tension between renunciation and family life. On his own, Shiva is depicted as a solitary ascetic, immersed in meditation. Parvati draws him into the worldly dimensions of marriage and fatherhood. Together they symbolize the balance between asceticism and householder ideals. Shiva’s marriage to Parvati ensures that he engages in worldly duties while also retaining his solitary spiritual practices. Their union shows that ascetic practices and family responsibilities do not have to be mutually exclusive, a perspective that resonated with both ancient and modern Hindus.
Conclusion
The relationship between Shiva and Parvati reveals the Hindu belief that life and cosmos achieve balance between opposing forces. Shiva and Parvati’s complementarity – with him representing the renouncing ascetic and her the devoted wife – makes clear that neither world-denying asceticism nor world-embracing householder life alone makes for a fulfilled, dharmic existence. Their eternal love represents the synthesis of male and female energies, flexion and reception, in the maintenance of cosmic order. For Hindu society, Shiva and Parvati served and continue to serve as ideal archetypes of the interdependence and cherished bond between husband and wife.