Parvati

The picture of a benevolent and loving mother goddess, Parvati embodies devotion, fertility, power, marriage, nourishment, harmony and motherhood! While this starkly contrasts her husband, Parvati emphasizes Shiva's hidden creative energy. As a symbol of fertility, she is viewed as the ideal wife and mother! Both fierce and gentle, she has several manifestations which embody her qualities such as the destructive Kali (Shil), the protective Durga (Gokrilvek)and nuturing Gauri (Emryl). Overall, Parvati is the gentle but powerful goddess who offers encouragement, reason, freedom and strength to her woshippers, unafraid to root out evil while also providing abundance to those in need. All are welcome at her bountiful table, Parvati promoting traditional lifestyles.

Parvati is the faithful wife of Shiva, making her a member of the Tridevi, and is the mother of Ganesha (Lothvem) and Kartikeya (Zithvek). Interestingly, Parvati is Shiva's second wife and in fact the reincarnation of his first wife Sati. This couple is well-paired nontheless, Parvati drawing Shiva out of his austere and reclusive lifestyle by offering him the joys of marriage. She balances him out, Shiva incomplete without her. She is the mother and nurturer of the universe itself, representing cosmic energy and fertility. Ever good and cheerful, she has an eloquent tongue and sticks by her family whether they are sick or angry.

Beautiful and radiant with golden or yellow skin and a red sari, Parvati performs mudra and a tribhanga pose wherin her body bends at the knees, hips, shoulders and knees (a traditional pose of dancers). Alternately, she is often shown sitting on Shiva's knee with two to four arms. Her symbols incldue lotus flowers, parrots, tigers and pomegranates as well as a trishula trident, a mirror, rosary, bell, dish, sugarcane or other flowers. Her vahana is either a lion or a tiger named Dawon.