Compassionate Parvati

[DeviChaaya]

I'm reading reading a book at the moment, Science of Spirituality: Vol.9 b Divine Energy (Shakti) and I came across this paragraph that filled me with emotion.

3. Compassionate: Parvati is an icon of compassion. She is instantly moved by the poor and the downtrodden. She hears the anxious call of the distressed even before Shiva. She then awakens Shiva from his superconscious (samadhi) state and requests Him to accompany Her in rushing to the rescue of the distressed one.

I don't know what it was about this that filled me with emotion. I have always been attracted to Parvati Ma as she reminds me very much of my own Mother.

Please forgive formatting issues, my phone seems to be having trouble dealing with the website.

 

[Saint Frankenstein]

That is a very touching quote. I can understanding why you find so moving. Thanks for sharing. Jai Maa!

 

[Aupmanyav]

Parvati is the universal mother, cares for nothing else but her children and, of course, her husbaand, Shiva. Once in a year she visits her father's place for five days starting 'Akshaya Triteeya' with Shiva and blesses her people with unlimited happiness and prosperity. That is known an Gangaur, Gauri's visit, in Rajasthan. It celebrates a perfect marriage of Parvati and Shiva.

 

[Corthos]

How very beautiful. =) Though I don't know much about Hinduism, there's much to admire.

 

[DeviChaaya]

Parvati has always drawn me to Her. While Her spouse, Lord Shiva, initially caught me up and filled my mind it has since been Her who has filled me up with thoughts and deeds. She is always endeavouring to inform us and to enlighten us so that we can return back to Her lap.

 

[Aupmanyav]

When India (and Nepal) celebrates Teej (Akshaya Triteeya):

Teej: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=t...v&ved=0ahUKEwjbiYncg6nKAhUUBY4KHc0SA2kQsAQISA
Gangaur: https://www.google.co.in/search?q=t...Hc0SA2kQsAQISA#newwindow=1&tbm=isch&q=gangaur

 

[Peter Vredevold]

I'm reading reading a book at the moment, Science of Spirituality: Vol.9 b Divine Energy (Shakti) and I came across this paragraph that filled me with emotion.

3. Compassionate: Parvati is an icon of compassion. She is instantly moved by the poor and the downtrodden. She hears the anxious call of the distressed even before Shiva. She then awakens Shiva from his superconscious (samadhi) state and requests Him to accompany Her in rushing to the rescue of the distressed one.

Goddess Parvati and Her previous incarnation Goddess Sati.
I loved them quite much than other hindu gods. They have always been symbol of compassion, serenity, love.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Yes, Parvati is an unassuming mother (many see her as the family daughter also) just caring for her people.

 

[DeviChaaya]

My favourite thing abut Parvati Ma is that She does not take things sitting down. If She wants something She will get it and when She wants the best for Her children She will damn well get it for us!

 

[Peter Vredevold]

I agree with you Aupmanyav,
Lord Shiva and Lord Parvati, they look so perfect and everytime I read books about Shiva, it would increase the excitement inside my heart.

 

[Aupmanyav]

Goddess Parvati/Mother Parvati and Lord Shiv, they are examples of 'made for each other'. She is happy with him even at the top of Mount Kailasa.

 

[Tejananda]

My favourite thing abut Parvati Ma is that She does not take things sitting down. If She wants something She will get it and when She wants the best for Her children She will damn well get it for us!

What are your thoughts on Kali devi,

 

[Aupmanyav]

 

[DeviChaaya]

What are your thoughts on Kali devi,

I love Ma Kali with equal fervor. She and Parvati are different faces of the same deity; Shakti Ma. Parvati is gentle, caring and motherly but when She is angered she becomes Kali, frightening to all but Her children and even then, sometimes, She is frightening even to Her children but only ever for our own good. To the non-devotee Kali is a whirlwind of terror and destruction but to Her ardent devotees She is our fierce Mother and She always knows what's right for us, even though we whinge and complain and do not always see that what She is doing is for our own improvement.

Jai Kali Ma
Om Kalyai Namaha

 

[Vinidra]

Recently, I was trying to figure out how to incorporate Parvati Maa more regularly into my worship. The problem I was running into is that it's harder to find prayers, bhajans, stotras, etc. addressed to Her in Her Parvati aspect. Or at least, it seemed harder to find them translated to English, anyway. It's much easier for me to find those things for some of Her other aspects, like Durga, Kali, etc.

My problem was that I was afraid, I guess (for lack of a better word), to worship Parvati in those aspects because I'd heard so many things about how one has to be cautious when worshipping the more ferocious forms of Devi, be careful what you wish for, you might invite things into your life that you're not ready for, that sort of thing.

So I wondered about this for a while and ultimately ended up asking Parvati Herself for guidance.

A few nights later, I felt like I should do some sort of very small, modest puja to Her. I still wasn't sure about "which" Parvati to worship, though, as silly as it sounds. But I finally ended up throwing caution to the wind and incorporating Parvati, Durga, and Kali into this little cobbled-together puja I'd decided to do. I was hesitant, but I just kind of went for it.

Somewhere in the middle of this worship session, I felt an overwhelming sense of calmness and tranquility that seemed to increase moment by moment. By the time I was finished, I felt peaceful in a way I haven't felt in a long time.

Now, I could be wrong, but I think that was compassionate Parvati's way of telling me that I could worship Her in any form without fear. That there was no need to worry about causing the kind of unintentional side effects that you often hear people speak of because Mother Parvati knows what we want and, more importantly, what we need. So if a gentle mother is what we need and desire at this point in our lives, that is what She will give us, even if we're addressing Her in Her fiercest form.

I won't ever be afraid of something so ridiculous again. Mother must spend so much of Her time face-palming at me, I swear.

Jai Mata Di!

 

[DeviChaaya]

I won't ever be afraid of something so ridiculous again. Mother must spend so much of Her time face-palming at me, I swear.

Jai Mata Di!

Don't worry, Vinidra ji, I'm sure She spends the majority of Her time face palming at everyone. For my birthday last year one of my BFF's got me a book called Beauty, Power and Grace: The Book of Hindu Goddesses and I am absolutely sure Mother was face palming as it was written for I was certainly face palming as I read it! To be fair, the author, Krishna Dharma, is a staunch ISKCONite but... for people who are buying this book as an introduction to Hindu Goddesses (it's a very beautiful book) it's very misleading. All the Vaishnav Goddesses are lauded but Kali is talked down upon and people reading are even warned against Her worship!

Mataji is intensely merciful; without Her nothing would exist. I cannot understand why some people are so disparaging towards Her.

 

[Kirran]

Quite right! Worship Mother with all your heart, and pray to love her as much as she loves you. A very nice story, thankyou for sharing.

Although I will advise caution in worshipping Kali Ma, and Durga too - worship of them is definitely good, but I'd avoid getting murtis of those aspects of Mother, as they are such powerful amplifiers of what's around them. The level of tranquility and devotion which must be maintained all around them is outside what's practical for most of us out living in the world. Worship with all your heart, but for now if you have a murti a form such as Parvati, Lakshmi or Saraswati may be more approachable!

I have often worshipped in a Kali temple in Wales, which is an immensely powerful place. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is the sheer love you sometimes see pouring out of the devotees after a puja.

 

[Vinidra]

Mataji is intensely merciful; without Her nothing would exist. I cannot understand why some people are so disparaging towards Her.

Me neither. And, yes, She is very merciful.

Quite right! Worship Mother with all your heart, and pray to love her as much as she loves you. A very nice story, thankyou for sharing.

Although I will advise caution in worshipping Kali Ma, and Durga too - worship of them is definitely good, but I'd avoid getting murtis of those aspects of Mother, as they are such powerful amplifiers of what's around them. The level of tranquility and devotion which must be maintained all around them is outside what's practical for most of us out living in the world. Worship with all your heart, but for now if you have a murti a form such as Parvati, Lakshmi or Saraswati may be more approachable!

I have often worshipped in a Kali temple in Wales, which is an immensely powerful place. The most beautiful thing I have ever seen is the sheer love you sometimes see pouring out of the devotees after a puja.

Thank you! I do have (very) small murtis of Saraswati and Lakshmi, but that's all at the moment. I would like one of Parvati, too, sometime soon.

Just out of curiosity, is what you said about murtis of Kali, Durga, etc. true for pictures of Them as well?

 

[Kirran]

Me neither. And, yes, She is very merciful.



Thank you! I do have (very) small murtis of Saraswati and Lakshmi, but that's all at the moment. I would like one of Parvati, too, sometime soon.

Just out of curiosity, is what you said about murtis of Kali, Durga, etc. true for pictures of Them as well?

Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati are our gentle caring Mother - not so eviscerating as Kali!

I think that in general, nowhere near so much with pictures as with murtis. Still best to keep in a tranquil environment, but it seems you'd be safe having them. I know swamis will happily give pictures of Kali to devotees, and bless them in the temple

 

[DeviChaaya]

Lakshmi, Saraswati and Parvati are our gentle caring Mother - not so eviscerating as Kali!

I think that in general, nowhere near so much with pictures as with murtis. Still best to keep in a tranquil environment, but it seems you'd be safe having them. I know swamis will happily give pictures of Kali to devotees, and bless them in the temple

Durga is not nearly so fierce as people assume Her to be. She takes form whenever She is needed, whether that is because you are struggling spiritually with loss of hope and belief or battle evil tendencies. Kali, too, is not so fierce; at least to me. She has drawn me to her as Durga and Kali; murtis of Parvati are very very difficult to get your hands on as She is often depicted with Shiva. I have murtis of Her as Durga and Kali and a small, much neglected murti of Her as Lakshmi. It is difficult to find small, appealing Saraswati murtis as well... Let us not forget that Shri Ramakrishna was enamored of Kali Ma.