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In the mythological stories of Sanatan Dharma, the marriage of Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati is not just the union of two divine powers, but is a proof of the culmination of loyalty, sacrifice and unwavering love. When Mother Parvati was reborn in the house of mountain king Himalaya and Maina after Sati was burnt to ashes, she had taken a vow since childhood to choose Devadhidev Mahadev as her husband. After the advice of Devarshi Narad, he chose the path of severe and difficult penance to attain Shiva. When the entire world of gods was astonished by this obstinacy and unwavering insistence of the mother, then seven highly revered Saptarishis reached her place of penance. The common belief is that the sages had come to make them understand and return them to family life, but the reality was that they had come to put the mother’s love and patience to the toughest test. Now the big question arises that who actually sent the Saptarishis to take this test?
A very beautiful and subtle description of this incident is found in the Parvati section of ‘Rudra Samhita’ of Shiv Purana. When Mother Parvati’s penance reached its peak – in which she endured the sun, rain and cold, gave up eating even dry leaves and was called ‘Aparna’ – then all three worlds started burning due to her power of penance.
Due to this intense devotion to the Mother, the renunciation of Lord Shiva himself started melting. However, Mahadev wanted to ensure whether Parvati’s affection was merely an external attraction or whether her soul had completely surrendered to Shiva. so On the orders of Lord Shiva himself Saptarishi had reached the holy place of Goddess Parvati. Lord Bholenath had asked the Saptarishis to go and probe the mind of Parvati, test her resolve and see if her mind could be shaken by any temptation or fear.
On receiving the permission of Lord Shiva, the seven sages (Marichi, Atri, Angira, Pulastya, Pulah, Kratu and Vashishtha) reached the deserted forest of the Himalayas where Mata was doing penance. The sages began their conversation with very sweet and wise words, but their aim was to shake Parvati’s resolve.
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Criticism of Lord Shiva’s form: The sages deliberately drew a very horrifying and strange picture of the recluse and Avadhuta form of Shiva. He said, “O princess! You are the beautiful daughter of King Himalaya. How can Shiva be a suitable groom for you? He has neither a beautiful house nor clothes. He resides in the cremation ground, burns ashes, wears poisonous snakes around his neck and carries a procession of ghosts and ghosts with him.”
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Vaikunthapati Srihari’s proposal: The sages tempted Parvati ji with worldly and divine opulence and said that if you have to get married, then choose Lord Shri Hari Vishnu, the lord of all opulence, beauty and happiness, who is the ruler of Vaikuntha and wears Pitambar. Why are you wasting your precious youth chasing a Digambara and Aghori?
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Narada ji’s sermon was called an illusion: The sages even said that following the words of Sage Narad, you have chosen this disastrous path. Narad’s only job is to mislead people and make them recluses, so leave his advice and return to your parents’ palace.
Hearing these sharp and disturbing words of the Saptarishis, Mother Parvati did not get angry or confused at all. He gave such an answer in a very calm and serious voice which became immortal for ages.
Mother Parvati folded her hands and said, “O sages! Your knowledge and policy may be appropriate in their place, but my resolve is as firm as the sunlight. Just as gold becomes brighter after being heated in the fire, in the same way your words have made my love for Shiva even stronger. Whether Shiva is without qualities or good, beautiful or ugly, Digambara or Sarveshwar – my mind and soul have been dedicated to Him alone.”
Mother further reiterated her unwavering vow in clear words and said:
“My love for births has been immense. I hope I don’t remain unmarried.”
That is, even if I have to take millions of births, I will remain adamant that I will either choose only Shambhu (Shiva), otherwise I will remain a virgin all my life; Even if Brahma and Vishnu themselves come and propose to me, my mind cannot imagine anyone other than Shiva.
Seeing this immaculate and immense devotion of Mother Parvati, Saptarishi became emotional. He realized in his mind that this is not an ordinary human being, but a real Jagdamba and Parashakti. The sages bowed their heads at her feet and said that they had come only on the instructions of Mahadev to test her loyalty, and she had passed this test completely.
After this, the seven sages returned to Kailash and narrated the entire story of their mother’s sacrifice and steadfast resolve to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva became very happy after listening to the sages. Thereafter, Mahadev himself took the form of an old Batuk (Brahmin) and tested the mother for the last time and finally appeared in his real four-armed divine form and gave the boon of accepting Mother Parvati as his better half.