Story of Shiv Parvati Vivah: The story of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati in Indian mythological texts is truly extraordinary, exciting, and inspiring. Let us explore how the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati took place and what this tale teaches us.
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The story of Parvati’s previous birth
Mata Parvati was born to King Himalaya and Queen Maina. In her previous birth, her name was Sati, and she was the wife of Lord Shiva, who sacrificed herself herself in her father’s yajna for the self-respect of herself and her husband. When Sati was reborn as Parvati, she remembered everything from her past life, and thus, from a young age, she accepted Lord Shiva as her husband.
Parvati’s penance to please Shiva
However, the marriage of Shiva and Parvati did not happen easily; Parvati underwent severe penance to obtain Shiva as her husband. She renounced food and water, living only on leaves. When Shiva was still not pleased with her penance, Parvati decided to undertake even harsher austerities, abstaining from both food and water for some time. The other gods were impressed by her penance and urged Lord Shiva to acknowledge Parvati’s efforts.
To test Parvati, Shiva himself appeared before her in the guise of a Brahmin and began to speak ill of Shiva. Despite this, Parvati remained steadfast in her devotion, and ultimately, Shiva revealed his true form to her and accepted her proposal for marriage.
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The exceptionally divine wedding procession of Lord Shiva
The most unique, supernatural, and strange aspect of this wedding was Shiva’s wedding procession (Shiv Barat). When all the gods learned that Shiva was going to the palace of King Himalaya with his procession, they were very excited. However, when they saw Shiva’s procession, they were all astonished.
This was a procession where Shiva was neither seated on a chariot nor wearing any regal attire. He adorned a garland of snakes around his neck, wore ash over his body, had the Ganges water in his matted locks, and was riding on the bull Nandi towards the wedding pavilion. The procession accompanying him was unlike that of any king; it was entirely different.
This procession had gods and sages, but primarily it was a gathering of Shiva’s attendants. Ghosts, spirits, ghouls, skeletons, ascetics, siddhas, yogis – all together created a bizarre scene. Some were dancing, some were laughing uproariously, and others were making strange sounds. At some places, drums were playing, while at others, the sounds of conches and kettledrums resonated across the sky.
Lord Vishnu and Brahma also joined this extraordinary procession, but when they beheld this odd assemblage, they began to smile gently. All the gods were amazed at this unexpected procession, yet they knew that since Lord Shiva himself was extraordinary, his procession would also be unique.
King Himalaya and Queen Maina’s concern
When this strange procession reached King Himalaya’s palace, a festive atmosphere prevailed. The city was decorated with beautiful arches, auspicious songs were being sung, and joy was in the air. But as soon as Queen Maina saw Shiva and his attendants, her mind became unsettled.
She thought, “What kind of groom is this? He wears no beautiful garments, no jewelry! His entire body is covered in ash, and his procession resembles that of an ascetic!”
She said to Parvati, “Daughter, do you really wish to marry this ash-covered yogi adorned with snakes?”
Hearing this, Parvati smiled and lovingly replied, “Mother, he is my lord, he is my beloved. His love surpasses anything in the world.”
Then Lord Vishnu stepped forward and consoled Queen Maina. He requested that Lord Shiva be adorned like a prince for the wedding. Lord Shiva did not refuse this, and ultimately, Lord Vishnu adorned Shiva in the manner of a groom. His form was so attractive that all of Queen Maina’s concerns vanished.
The spiritual significance of the Shiv Parvati Vivah
The marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati was conducted with all rituals duly followed. The gods showered flowers, the celestial musicians played sweet melodies, and the entire universe celebrated the union of this divine couple.
This tale teaches us that true love can overcome any adversity. The penance of Parvati inspires us to understand that with faith and dedication, anything is possible. Meanwhile, Shiva’s ascetic form illustrates that true love should be based not on outward appearances but on the essence of the soul.