Parvati

Uma · Gauri · Shailaputri · Haimavati

Daughter of the Himalaya and consort of Shiva; the gentle form of the Divine Mother.

Abode: Mount Kailasa
Consort: Shiva
Vahana: Lion; sometimes the bull Nandi with Shiva
Colour: Fair golden (Gauri)
Arms: 2

Parvati, daughter of the mountain king Himavan, won Shiva through years of austerity and drew the great ascetic back into the life of the world. She is the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya and the gentle, nourishing face of the same Shakti who appears as Durga and Kali. Through her, Shiva the yogi becomes Shiva the householder.

Mantra

ॐ ह्रीं उमायै नमः

Om Hreem Umayai Namaha

Salutations to Uma, with the seed syllable Hreem.

रूप और प्रतीक

How Parvati is shown

A graceful goddess seated beside Shiva on Kailasa or alone, in a green or red sari, crowned, serene.

Blue lotus: Beauty and the opening of the heart.
Mirror: The world as the reflection of consciousness.
Abhaya mudra: Fearlessness given to her children.

कथाएँ

Stories

The penance of Uma

Kama's arrow failed to stir Shiva, who burned the god of love to ash. Parvati turned instead to austerity, living on leaves and then on nothing at all, until Shiva came in disguise to test her and, finding her steadfast, accepted her.

Related forms

शिव
Shiva
गणेश
Ganesha
कार्तिकेय
Kartikeya
दुर्गा
Durga
अर्धनारीश्वर
Ardhanarishvara
ललिता त्रिपुरसुन्दरी
Lalita Tripurasundari