PARVATIJI-GODDESS OF FERTILITY

In her form as Durgaji, she is adored most. In fact most of the goddesses including Lakshmiji and Saraswatiji, are believed to be manifestations of this goddess, who is considered as the ultimate source of all the powers which energise Vishnuji, Brahmaji & Shivji and hence also called MAA SHAKTI. Unless inspired by this shakti (power), Vishnuji cannot act as the preserver of the universe, Brahmaji cannot cause creation of the universe and Shivji cannot do his task of destruction.

ORIGIN

Parvatiji was daughter of king Himalaya. Earlier she was born as SATI, daughter of King Daksha, (one of the anceshtors of mankind and originator of Sanatan Dharm) but sacrificed herself on the fire, being unable to bear insult of husband Shivji.

ABODE

Along with Shivji at Mount Kailash.

IMPORTANCE

She is most revered goddess among Hindus and is identified as the greatest goddess DEVI, wife of Shivji and mother of Ganeshji and Kartikeyaji. In her mild form, she is Parvatiji, while in her fierce form, she is Durga who assumed nine other forms to kill demons MAHISHASUR, SHUMBH, NISHUMBH etc. who had displaced gods from heaven.
AS ANNAPURNAJI she is worshipped as goddess of fertility and abundance, with particular reference to food.
Parvatiji is worshipped by young girls to become successful wives like her.

SOME OTHER NAMES/EPITHETS

Like Shivji, she also has 1008 names. Some very popular names are:

Ambika	Kali	Shyama
Bhawani	Kalyani	Shitala
Chandi	Mahamaya	Uma
Durga	Mansa	Gauri
Naina	Jwala	Rati
Jagdamba	Sheranwali

TYPICAL DEPICTION

As Parvatiji, she is golden faced, wears silky white dress and carries no weapons.
As Durgaji, she sits on a lion, has ten arms, one arm holding long pointed spear or trident, shown killing demon Mahisasur. As Kali, she is black and terrifying but herself, she is fearless. She is killer of demon Raktabeej, drinking his blood before it can touch ground (since otherwise more Raktabeejs would sprout from ground). After killing Rakhtabeej, she is shown dancing in ectasy, causing earth to shake. To control this, Shivji lays himself on ground in front of Kali, who steps on him, gets embarrased, 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 (hindu month and more popularly celebrated in Bengal) celebrating return of Parvatiji to her father's home to stay for 9 days. On 10th day, she is given 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 Chandrji wanted to pray Durgaji for help in his fight against the ten headed demon Ravan but could not wait till Oct/Nov, the conventional time for Durga Puja 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 a day of fasting by young girls to become good housewives like Parvatiji herself.
-Annakoot festival (more paricularly celebrated in Brijbhoomi and Varanasi) is in honour of Parvatiji's appearance as Annapurna Devi to assist Shivji during his days in Varanasi.

SOME TEMPLES

There are several temples where Parvatiji's idol is placed along with Shivji.
There are also many temples exclusively for Durgaji, in many parts of the country.
-Temples Kalkaji and Jhandewalan in New Dehli and Vaishnav Deviji in Jammu & Kashmir, are very popular.
-Shitala Mata temple in Amritsar.
-Annapurna temples in Varanasi.

INTERESTING INFORMATION

-Association of Shivji with Sati and Parvatiji can be described in following sequence :
When Shivji 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, Shivji realised 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 Shivji as an unwelcome ascetic and jumped into the ceremonial fire.
Sati's death caused Shivji great grief. He took her body in his arms and wandered all over the world in anger, causing great turmoil. Gods requested Vishnuji to calm down Shivji, Vishnuji fired his Sudarshan Chakra on Sati's body (or with arrows). Spots where parts of her body fell, become holy spots and world was saved from destruction. But Shivji took up life of an ascetic.
Sati was reborn to Himmavat as Parvati who was very serious about marrying Shivji, much against the advice of her father. Parvati came to Shivji's side, fasted and did prayers, ultimately pleasing Shivji and they were then married.
Apart from Parvatij's manifestation as Durgaji with the beautiful face to lure demons, she assumed nine fierce forms to kill demons. These according to one of the several descriptions available, can be briefly described as follows :
-Dash-Bhuja: Having ten arms, each aarm carrying a different weapon, to destroy a part of the demon army.
-Sinh-Vahini: Riding lion, to fight demon Rakta Beej who had power of springing up many demons from each drop of his blood falling on the ground.
-Mahishasur-Mardini: Killer of demonn Mahishasur when he appeared in the form of a buffalo.
-Jagatdhatri: Another manifestation to kill an army of demons.
-Kali: As dark complexioned, to drinnk the blood of demon Rakta Beej while fighting him and ensure that his blood does not reach the ground, which would otherwise cause springing up of more demons.
-Muktakeshi: With flowing hair, she killed another army of demons.
-Tara: The manifestations in which sshe killed demon Shumbh.
-Chhinamatika: To kill demon Nishumbbh.
-Jagadgauri: The manifestations in wwhich Durgaji was worshipped by all the gods, for their salvation from demons.

-The attainment of the name Durga, by Parvaatiji is an interesting tale. On one occasion, sage Agastya asked Kartikeya why Parvatiji, his mother was called Durga. Kartikeya replied that some time back there was a demon, named Durg, the son of Ruru. He with his austerities pleased Brahma and by the god's blessing became very powerful. He conquered the three worlds and even dethroned Indr, the king of Gods. He abolished all religious ceremonies as a result of which Brahmanas were terrified and stopped reading Vedas. All the gods assembled and prayed to god Shiva to protect them from the tyranny of this demon. Shivji took pity on them and asked Parvatiji to go and destroy the evil demon. She calmed the gods and accepted the commision. There ensued a long and fierce battle. She repelled every attack and in the end the demon assumed the shape of a fearful buffalo and with his thorns cast trees, rocks and mountains at the goddess, who in turn crushed everything into pieces. Then goddess Parvati pierced him with her trident and subdued him. The gods pleased with this deliverance praised the goddess and honoured her with the name of Durga.