Parvati Devi Story

[Guest guest]

Namaste,

 

This was a very meaningful story. Beautiful, too. I like the lesson

as you presented it at the end.

 

Jai Maa!

ataEleathea Barraclough <eleathea > wrote:

I am reminded of a beautiful episode from Parvati Devi's

life...Parvati Devi was born as an incarnation of Divine Mother. From

birth itself,her only desire was to be married to/one with Lord Shiva.

This desire was sooverwhelming that by the age of 5 or so, she wanted

to dedicate her life totapasya, for the sake of winning Lord Shiva to

her side. Her name "Uma", whentranslated one way, means "O child, no",

indicating her mother's dismay at thethought of her sweet daughter

living a severe life as a renunciant.When she became a young woman,

she could take it no longer, so she left tobegin her sacred

austerities. She undertook a number of vows, increasing theseverity

of her practices as she progressed. Finally, desperate with love,

shetook a vow that she would not break her meditative/yogic posture

for anyreason, until she had

finally won Lord Shiva. According to tradition, theconsequence of

breaking this vow could be that she would NEVER attain her goal.Once

she had commenced her austerities, she heard the sound of a small

childshouting for help. As she was in a remote area, she knew that

there was no oneelse to aid the helpless child. Feeling unbearable

compassion for the child, and without even thinking of theundesirable

effects of breaking her vow, Parvati jumped up and ran towards

thesound of the crying. Immediately Lord Shiva appeared in front of

her, told herthat there was actually no child in distress, and said,

"O Parvati, you werewilling to give up what you desired most--to be

my wife--for the sake ofhelping an innocent, helpless child. Now I

know for certain that you are worthyof union with me." The lesson I

take from this story is that those who act selflessly for

thewell-being of others will definitely achieve their goal of

enlightenment.Devi/Lord Shiva will make sure of it.Jai Maa,Ekta

The all-new My – What will yours do?