Angry and humiliated beyond measure, she jumped into the blazing fire to end
her life, declaring her eternal love for Shiva and vowing to be with him in her next
life.
When Shiva came to know of the entire episode, he became angry too, and
sent his devotee Virbhadra to take revenge with Daksha. Virbhadra completely ruined
the fire sacrifice and punished all the attendants.
[This part of the story is the first phase of Parvati’s life. It is narrated in detail
in Tulsidas’ ‘Ram Charit Manas’, Baal Kand, from Chaupai line no. 1 that precedes
Doha no. 48—to Chaupai line no. 5 that precedes Doha no. 65.]
Now we come to the second phase of Parvati’s life, the phase in which she
was reunited with Shiva in a marriage ceremony that Tulsidas has elaborately
described in his classical composition ‘Parvati Mangal’, a book exclusively dedicated
to the marriage of Shiva with Parvati.
At the time of burning her tainted body by jumping into the fire of the
sacrifice, Sati had asked for a boon from Lord Hari (Vishnu)—that she must have
love and devotion for the holy feet of Lord Shiva in any birth she takes. [Refer: Ram
Charit Manas, 1/65/5]
If we closely examine the developments we will see something obvious—that
is, though Sati had doubted Shiva’s wisdom and tested Ram’s integrity by assuming
the form of Sati, she had deeply regretted it (Ram Charit Manas, 1/53—1/54/1-2,
1/58/1-4). She had realised that being exceptionally righteous, Shiva had abandoned
her because she had assumed to form of Sati whom Shiva worships as Mother
Goddess. But the damage had already been done. So one of the reasons why Sati
decided to burn herself by jumping into the fire pit was to discard this corrupted body
by which she took the form of Sita and annoyed Shiva. She rightly thought for once
that if she sincerely wished to be reunited with her beloved husband, Shiva, then it has
to be with a new body.
It is now clear why she asked ‘Hari’ for the boon, instead of say Brahma, the
creator who must also have been present on the occasion, because it was Vishnu
(Hari) whom she had offended by testing him in the form of Sita.
In her new birth, Sati became a girl child in the household of Himvant, the
king of the snow-clad Himgiri, the mighty Himalayas. [It is the mountain range to the
north of India.] In this birth she was known as ‘Parvati’. Ever since she took birth
there was happiness and all round welfare in Himvant’s kingdom.
Once the celestial sage Narad arrived at the place and seeing the palm of the
child Parvati he made a prediction indicating that her husband would be none else but
Shiva. This was an incredulous proposition that made her parents very depressed as
Shiva was an ascetic and no one has access to him. But this prediction nevertheless
kindled love for the Lord in the heart of the young Parvati who determined that she
will break all stereo types and show to the world that everything is possible by firm
determination. So she did the severest form of Tapa (penance and austerity)
imaginable, and became deserving to marry Shiva. Lord Brahma himself announced it
and assured her that her wishes would be fulfilled. [Refer: Ram Charit Manas, 1/74/1-
8—to 1/75/5.]
Meanwhile, ever since Sati had burned herself, Shiva was unhappy. The Lord
loved Sati inspite of her mischief. So when he was in deep meditation, Lord Ram
appeared to him and requested him to forgive her as she has done severe Tapa to clean
herself, and was completely devoted to him. Lord Ram finally expressly asked Shiva
to go and marry Parvati. [Refer: Ram Charit Manas, 1/76, and 1/76/5-8.]
kiana
(Kiana)
#1