Parvati

Parvati (Sanskrit: पावती, IAST: Pārvatī), Uma (Sanskrit: उमा, IAST:

Parvati
Umā) or Gauri (Sanskrit: गौरी, IAST: Gaurī) is the Hindu goddess of
fertility, love, beauty, marriage, children, and devotion; as well as of divine Mother Goddess,[1] Goddess of
strength and power.[5][6][7] Known by many other names, she is the gentle Creative Power, Divine Energy[2]
and nurturing aspect of the Supreme Hindu goddess Adi Parashakti Member of Tridevi
(Shivasakthi) and one of the central deities of the Goddess-oriented Shakta
sect. She is the Mother goddess in Hinduism,[1][8] and has many attributes
and aspects. Each of her aspects is expressed with a different name, giving
her over 100 names in regional Hindu stories of India.[9] Along with
Lakshmi and Saraswati, she forms the trinity of Hindu goddesses
(Tridevi).[10]

Parvati is the wife of the Hindu god Shiva – the protector, the destroyer (of
evil) and regenerator of the universe and all life.[11] She is the daughter of
the mountain king Himavan and queen Mena.[12] Parvati is the mother of
Hindu deities Ganesha, Kartikeya, Ashokasundari. The Puranas also
referenced her to be the sister of the preserver god Vishnu.[13][14] She is the
divine energy between a man and a woman, like the energy of Shiva and
Shakti. She is also one of the five equivalent deities worshipped in
Panchayatana puja of the Smarta Tradition of Hinduism.[15]
A 12th-century sculpture of Parvati
With Shiva, Parvati is a central deity in the Shaiva sect. In Hindu belief, she Other Sati, Adi Parashakti,
is the recreative energy and power of Shiva, and she is the cause of a bond names Shakti, Mahakali,
that connects all beings and a means of their spiritual release.[16][17] In Bhadrakali, Shailaputri,
Hindu temples dedicated to her and Shiva, she is symbolically represented Brahmacharini,
as the argha. She is found extensively in ancient Indian literature, and her Chandraghanta,
statues and iconography grace Hindu temples all over South Asia and Kushmanda,
Southeast Asia.[18][19] Skandamata, Katyayani,
Kaalratri, Mahagauri
and Siddhidhatri, Kali,

Contents Tara, Tripura Sundari,

Shodashi,
Etymology and nomenclature Bhuvaneshvari,
History Bhairavi, Matangi,
Iconography and symbolism Dhumavati,
Manifestations and aspects of Parvati Chhinnamasta,
Legends Bagalamukhi, Kamala,
Parvati in culture Uma, Gauri,
Festivals Maheshwari, Bhavani,
Arts Shankari, Lalita,
Numismatics Mahadevi, Ambika,
Major temples Narayani, Aparna,
List of temples
Durga, Chamunda,
Outside India Jagdamba, Girija,
Related goddesses Shivasakthi,