King Himavantha and his wife Menadevi were the devotees of Lord Shiva. They performed an austere penance without having food and water for many years to please Gauridevi, the wife of Lord Shiva. Gauridevi was pleased with their devotion and promised to be born as Menadevi’s daughter. After this, Gauridevi jumped into a sacrificed fire and died. She was then reborn as Menadevi’s daughter Parvati. She grew up to be a beautiful girl and wished to marry Lord Shiva. Meanwhile, Lord Shiva was in deep meditation. Parvati went to the place where Lord Shiva was meditating. Day and night she worshipped and served Shiva. Shiva was pleased with her devotion and came out of his meditation. But he still decided to test her. He transformed himself into a Brahmin and told Parvati that it would not be nice for her to marry Lord Shiva who lived like a beggar and could not give her a happy life. Parvati got very angry when she heard these words about Lord Shiva. She ordered the Brahmin to go away and told him that she would marry only Lord Shiva. Pleased with her answer, Lord Shiva came back to his real form and their wedding was performed with great splendour.
SHIVA AND PARVATI
