The Mother Goddess

© K. L. Kamat

Parvati (a.k.a, Uma, Durga, Kali  and a number of other names), Lord Shiva's wife is often described by texts and sculptures as the ferocious Durga, typically characterized by  twelve weapons:

• Sword (Khadga)
• Trident (Trishula)
• Thunderdisc (Chakra)
• Arrow (Tir)
• Javelin (Bharji)
• Club (Khitaka)
• Bow (Dhanush)
• Noose (Pasha)
• Goad (Ankush)
• Shield (Sipar)
• Axe (Parashu)

Goddess Parvati is glorified in Indian literature and sculptures as being beautiful, as a mediator in the conflicts of heaven, as a daughter of the Great Himalayan Mountains, and a sister of the sacred river Ganga (the Ganges).

See Also:

• Biography of Umabai Kundapur
• Detail of the Goddess Parvati, Tamilnadu
• Durgabai Deshmukh
• Goddess Durga's Family
• Kali is a Popular Deity in Bengal
• Romance of Uma and Shiva
• Romance of Shiva and Parvati
• Shiva and Parvati
• Shiva and Parvati riding on Nandi the bull, Lepakshi
• Shiva with Parvati and Ganesh
• Sirsi Marikamba Temple
• Temple of Goddess Durga
• Wedding of Shiva and Parvati
• Women assembled to greet Uma-Maheshwara, Lepakshi

See Also:

• Lord Shiva in Indian Art
• Ganesh -- Parvati's son widely worshipped in India
• Subramanya - Parvati's other son

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