Parvati Maa
माँ पार्वतीపార్వతీదేవిபார்வதி தேவி
Also known as: Gauri · Uma · Girija · Shailaputri · Haimavati · Gaura · Bhavani · Karwa Mata · Ahoi Mata
Parvati Maa is the wife of Shiva and the mother of Ganesha and Kartikeya, worshipped as Gauri, the gentle and auspicious form of the Goddess. Married women pray to her for a long and happy married life, and mothers pray to her as Karwa Mata and Ahoi Mata on Karwa Chauth and Ahoi Ashtami.
- Day of worship
- Monday
- Festivals
- Karwa Chauth · Ahoi Ashtami
Texts for Parvati Maa
Vrat Katha 2
- Karwa Chauth Vrat Katha 10 min The Karwa Chauth vrat katha is the story married women read or hear on Karwa Chauth evening, before the moon rises. Its main story is of Veeravati, whose seven brothers tricked her into breaking her fast with a false moon, and who won her husband back by keeping the fast faithfully. A shorter second story tells how a devoted wife named Karva saved her husband from a crocodile. 17 verses · Traditional story; this retelling is by Nitya
- Ahoi Ashtami Vrat Katha 7 min The Ahoi Ashtami vrat katha is the story mothers read on Ahoi Ashtami, the fast they keep for their children a few days after Karwa Chauth. It tells of a merchant's wife who accidentally killed a porcupine's cub while digging clay, lost her seven sons, and had them restored by Ahoi Mata after she owned her mistake and kept the fast. It is read in the evening, before the fast is broken at the sight of the stars. 11 verses · Traditional story; this retelling is by Nitya
The story
Parvati is Sati born again. Sati, Shiva's first wife, gave up her life in the fire of her father Daksha's sacrifice after he insulted Shiva. She was reborn as the daughter of Himavan, king of the mountains, and his queen Mena, which is why she is called Parvati, 'daughter of the mountain', and Shailaputri. Shiva had withdrawn into deep meditation, so Parvati set out to win him through tapas. She fasted and prayed in the forest for years until Shiva himself came, tested her, and agreed to marry her. Tradition remembers this tapas on Hartalika Teej.
With Shiva she lives on Kailash, and their sons are Ganesha and Kartikeya. In one well-known story she shapes Ganesha from the turmeric paste on her body and sets him at her door. As Gauri, the fair and gentle one, she stands for a steady and loving married life. The same Shakti takes fierce forms as Durga and Kali when the world needs protecting.
In North India, women worship Gauri on Teej, Gangaur and Karwa Chauth, where she is also honoured as Karwa Mata, the Mother of the karva pot. On Ahoi Ashtami, mothers worship Ahoi Mata for their children's wellbeing, and many families see her too as a form of Parvati. Mondays, Shiva's day, are also kept for her.