Reading Notes: Week 12 Reading Part B

Shiva Parvati: A Story of Divine Love [Comic on Reserve]

Shiva Parvati Comic Cover Page. Source: Indian Epics Blog
POV: Third person
Summary:
  • Shiva is meditating, waiting for Sati to be reborn on earth after she sacrificed herself
  • Near where he meditates, the mountain king and his wife give birth to Parvati, the reincarnation of Sati; Parvati grows into a beautiful woman and then it is time for her to be married
  • Her father wants her to have the best suitor, and he is told that Parvati is destined to be with Shiva; however, Shiva is in deep meditation and to hurry it up, mountain king sends Parvati and several of her friends to wait on Shiva so that he will fall for Parvati; it is Parvati who falls for him
  • In heaven, the gods go to Brahma to ask him to lead them in the war against Taraka, who has overtaken heaven; Brahma predicts the son of Parvati and Shiva shall be their 'war lord'
  • Kama is sent to help Shiva fall for Parvati (everyone wants to hurry Shiva up, the man just wants to be left in peace clearly lol); Kama, with Sati at his side, shoots his arrow of love at Shiva and it works, but Shiva is able to break the spell and in his fury, he burns Kama alive; Sati faints and Parvati is distraught; Shiva leaves his meditation place.
  • Sati is told a prophecy that Kama will be brought back; Parvati decides to live in a grove in penance for years to impress Shiva, where many hermits come to watch her deep devotion and fast; she becomes known as the aparna (lady of unbroken fast)
  • One day, a young hermit comes to visit her and tries to convince her that her plight is useless, what when Shiva is 'uncouth', 'deformed' and his animal hides smell bad (lol); Parvati rebukes his statements in a rage, telling him that he would not know the greatness of souls since his tongue is so wicked and that she is devoted to Shiva
  • It turns out to be Shiva in disguise, and he is very impressed by Parvati's devotion; they marry and Kama is restored
  • Later, Agni comes to remind Shiva and Parvati that they must give birth to the son that will be the gods' war lord, so Shiva gives Agni a hot hot seed which will become the one when it is ripe
  • Agni tries to cool it in Ganga river, but she throws it on the river bank, where celestial nymphs place it in lush grass and it ripens to produce the six-headed baby Kartikeya; all gods and nymphs present fight to raise the baby but Shiva settles the dispute by saying Parvati is the only worthy to raise him; he later grows up to defeat Takara
Parvati visits Shiva in meditation, with their second son, Ganesh. Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reference: Shiva Parvati: A Story of Divine Love, Amar Chitra Katha. [Printed Comic]

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