NARADA PREACHES PARVATI DOES PENANCE

When Parvati reached her home, she became very sad as she was unable to bear the sorrow of Shiva’s separation. Sage Narada arrived there. Her father Himalaya narrated the whole story to him

Sage Narada then gave the five lettered mantra – “OM NAMAH SHIVAY’ to her and he also instructed her to do penance. Parvati heart was filled up with new enthusiasm.

After taking the permission of her parents and relinquishing all of her ornaments and royal apparels, Parvati went to the same place where Lord Shiva himself had done penance. This sacred place was situated at the Himalayas, from where the holy Ganges originated. Parvati companions too had accompanied her.

Parvati commenced her penance which gradually became severer day by day. She did penance for three thousand years by chanting the five lettered mantra- OM NAMAH SHIVAY and performing other kinds of austerities. Becoming impressed by her tremendous penance even the deities flocked to see her. Parvati did her penance, surrounded by fire on all her sides during summer. In rainy season she did her penance without any shelter and during winter she used to do penance by immersing herself in neck deep water.

Parvati’s power created such heat in the atmosphere that the whole world started to burn. All the deities and sages went to lord Brahma and told him about the effects, Parvati’s penance was having on all the three worlds.

Lord Brahma accompanied by all of them went to Vishnu. They visited the place where Parvati was doing her penance. They realized that lord Shiva was the only remedy and hence all of them went to lord Shiva and made salutations to him.

Lord Shiva enquired about the purpose of their arrival. Lord Vishnu then revealed to him that how distressed and tormented were the deities by the activities of the demon – Tarakasur.

He also told Shiva that he could be killed by such a person, who is born out of the parentage of
Shiva and Parvati. Lord Vishnu then told Shiva about Parvati’s penance.

Initially lord Shiva refused to comply with their request but when the deities continued with their insistence, he ultimately gave his conscent. The deities became very pleased.

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