In her form as Durga Ji, she is adored most. In fact most of the goddesses including Lakshmi Ji and Saraswati Ji, are believed to be manifestations of this goddess, whoc is considered as the ultimate source of all the powers energise Vishnu Ji, Brahma Ji & Shiv Ji and hence also called Maa SHakti. Unless inspired by this shakti (power), Vishnu Ji can not act as the preserver of the universe, Brahma Ji can not cause creation of the universe and Shiv Ji can not do his task of destruction.
ORIGIN
Parvati Ji is daughter of king Himalaya. Earlier she was born as sati, daughter of King Daksha, (one of the ancestors of mankind and originator of Sanatan Dharm) but sacrificed herself on the fire, being unable to bear insult of husband Shiv Ji
ABODE
Alongwith Shiv Ji at Mount Kailash
IMPORTANCE
She is the most revered goddess aming Hindus and is identified as the greates goddess Devi, wife of SHiv Ji and mother og Ganesh JI and Kartikeya Ji. In her mild form, she is Paravati Ji, wile in her fierce form , she is Durga Ji who assumed nine other forms to kill demons Mahishasur, Shumbh, Nishumbh etc. who had displaced gods from heaver.
As Annapurana Ji she is worshipped as goddess of fertility and abundance, with particular reference to food. Parvati Ji is worshipped by young girls to become successful wives like Parvati Ji.
SOME OTHER NAMES/EPITHETS
Like Shiv Ji, she also has 1008 names. Some very popular names are:
Ambika Kalyani
Kali Shitala
Shyama Chandi
Bhawani Mahamaya
Tripurasundari Uma
Durga Jagdamba
Mansa Sheranwali
Gauri Naina
Jwala Rati
TYPICAL DEPICTION
As Parvati Ji, she is golden faced wears silky white dress and carries no weapons.
As Durga Ji, she sits on a lion, has ten arms, one arm holding long pointed spear or trident, shown killing demon Mahishasur. As Kali, she is black and terrifying but herself, she is fearless. She is the killer of demon Raktabeej, drinking his blood before it can touch ground (since otherwise more Raktabeejs would sprout from ground). After killing Raktabeej, she is shown dancing in ecstasy, causing earth to shake. To control this, Shiv Ji lays himself on ground in front of Kali, who steps on him, gets embarrassed, her tongue protrudes out and the dreadful dance comes to a halt.
RELATED FESTIVALS/CEREMONIES
· Durga Pooja or Navratri in the month of a Ashwin (more popularly celebrated in Bengal) celebrating return of Parvati Ji to her father’s home to stay for 9 days. On the 10th day, she is giver farewell by immersing her image in waters, signifying her return to Mount Kailash.
· Navratri is observed twice a year (Oct/Nov & Mar/Apr). It is said that Ram Chandr Ji wanted to pray Durga Ji for help in his fight against the ten headed demon Ravan but could not wait till Oct/Nov, the conventional time for Durga Pooja and therefore, prayed her at that very time (Mar/Apr) when he was proceeding to Lanka to kill Ravan. Thus started the custom of observing Durga Pooja twice a year.
· Gangaur is observed as a day of fasting by young girls to become good housewives like Parvati Ji hersef.
· Annakoot festival (More Particularly celebrated in Brijbhoomi and Varanasi) is in honour of Parvati Ji’s appearance as Annapurna Devi to assist Shiv Ji during his days in Varanasi.
SOME TEMPLES
There are several temples where Parvati Ji’s idol is placed along with Shiv Ji.
There are also many temples exclusively for Durga Ji, in many parts of the country.
Temples at Kalka Ji and Jhandewalan in New Delhi & Vaishnav Devi Ji in J&K , are very popular.
Shitala Mata temple in Amritsar.
Annapurna temples in Varanasi.
OTHER INTERESTING/INFORMATION
Association of Shiv Ji with Sati and Parvati Ji can be described in following sequence:
When Shiv Ji did not permit his wife sati to visit her father’s house during a special religious ceremony, she got furious and to demonstrate her superiority, she disclosed her several forms including the soft one like Gauri and more importantly her fierce form of Durga. After this demonstration, Shiv Ji realized her true powers and agreed to let her go. When she arrived at her father’s place, she felt insulted by the fact that her father considered her husband Shiv Ji as an unwelcome ascetic and jumped into the ceremonial fire. Sati’s death caused Shiv Ji great grief. He took her body in his arms and wandered all over the world in anger, causing great turmoil. Gods requested Vishnu ji to calm down Shiv Ji. Vishnu Ji fired his Sudarshan Cahkra on Sati’s body (or with arrows). Spots where parts of her body fell, become holy spots and world was saved from destruction. But Shiv Ji took up life of an ascetic. Sati was reborn to himmavat as Parvati who was very serious about marrying Shiv Ji, much against the advice of her father. Parvati came to Shiv Ji’s side, fasted and did prayers, ultimately pleasing Shiv Ji and they were then married.
Apart from Parvati Ji’s manifestation as Durga Ji with the beautiful face to lure demons, she assumed nine fierce forms to kill demons, These according to one of the several descritios available, can be briefly described as follows.
Dash-Bhuja: Having ten arms, each arm carrying a different weapon, to destroy a part of the demon army.
Sinh-Vahini: Riding lion, to fight demon Rakta beej who had the power of springing up many demons from each drop of his blood falling on the ground.
Mahishasur-Mardini: Killer of demon Mahishasur when he appeared in the form of a buffalo.
Jagatdhatri: Another manifestation to kill an army of demons
Kali: As dark complexioned, to drink the blood of demon Rakta Beej while fighting him to ensure that his blood does not reach the ground, which would otherwise cause springing up of more demons.
Muktakeshi: With flowing har, she killed another army of demons.
Tara: The manifestation in which she killed demon Shumbh
Chhinamatika: To kill demon Nishumbh
Jagadgauri: The manifestations in which Durga Ji was worshipped by al the gods, for their salvation from demons.
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