Parvati

In Hindu mythology, the consort of Shiva in one of her gentler manifestations, and the mother of Ganesh, the god of prophecy, and Karytikeya (or Skanda), the god of war. She is said to be the daughter of the Himalayas.

Parvati is sometimes depicted with her vehicle, a lion, but is more often shown either getting married to Shiva, or with Shiva and their two sons. Popular stories recount her attempts to draw Shiva into marriage, so that his energy may be released into the world. Shiva is too engrossed in ascetic practices (depriving himself of things that would satisfy his senses in order to increase his spiritual strength) to notice Parvati. However, she is courageous and strong enough to copy him in order to get his attention.

The stories surrounding Parvati and Shiva highlight the tensions between following the spiritual life or worldly love, and help Hindus to see the importance of both states for each other. Parvati sometimes takes the form of the warrior goddesses Kali and Durga.