As I Know: The Lord of the Mountains – Shiv Purana: 130

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Parvati is disturbed when Shiva comments on the complexion of goddess…Shiva is disconcerted, retreats a little but goddess decides to undergo austere penance so that she pleases Brahma and seeks blessings… white complexion and alluring features – a woman’s natural desire

Shiva felt immensely shaky and feared that love and warmth Parvati nursed may be tainted or stultified. He realised the mistake and tried genuinely to pacify the great goddess.

He kept silent for some time, contemplated on the awkward situation deeply and then, saluting the goddess, said, “O beloved, I said modestly to tease you and…I said in lighter vein. You did not comprehend the real and deep objective I had, and therefore, you are angry. If I do not love you then, who is the object of my deep feelings and love? You are the mother of the universe and I am the father and its adhipati (presiding deity). Then, how it is possible that I do not love you? I love you immensely. Do you think that love is born of the inspiration of Kamadeva? It is not so O goddess Parvati. O holy woman, you know that the universe came into existence even before the birth of Kamadeva. I created Kamadeva and Rati for inspiring love and feelings of passion among the people. Kamadeva thought me an ordinary god, exhibited impertinence and therefore, I reduced him to ashes.”

The lord was pleasant and assuring in tone. Parvati looked at him a bit seriously, gave a smile and now, found no irony or satire in what he said.

He resumed after a pause, “The garden of joy and pleasure where we wander and relax was also created for the protection of the universe. Therefore, if I said something in a lighthearted way, I said with this objective in view. The security of the universe is supreme. The truth will be revealed very soon.”

Parvati said, “O lord, if a woman is deprived of the love and warmth of husband and she does not sacrifice life out of disillusionment and rejection, it is not praiseworthy. In the eyes of wise men, she is an object of ridicule and denunciation, even if she is an inseparable part of the family, and is an embodiment of virtues. I am not a fair-complexioned woman and therefore, it irks and hurts you. Otherwise, how was it possible that you call me black and ugly while both played, enjoyed and wandered lovingly in the garden? You do not love my black complexion and therefore, I understand, virtuous people dislike it. Therefore, I will not live here. I shall get rid of the imperfection and so, I would undergo tapasya.”

Shiva said, “If you are not of fair complexion and feel agonised and disconsolate then, I feel no need that you undergo tapa and meditation. You can get another colour only if you express a simple desire or you may become fair if I wish and think likewise.”

Parvati said, “I do not want any change of colour …but I am worried. I do not wish to transform or have a fair colour of skin simply through a thought. One ought to make genuine efforts to attain the objective, O lord. Now, I shall meditate on Supreme Brahma. I shall please Brahma with intense tapa and severe penance and then, become a fair complexioned woman.”

Shiva said, “O goddess Mahadevi, after I blessed and was generous to Brahma, in ancient times, he attained the Supreme status of Brahma. Therefore, what would you do if you call him after you undergo severe tapa?”

Goddess said, “O lord, no doubt that the gods of heavens attained an exalted and divine status because of your grace and blessings yet I wish to undergo tapa and meditation and through deep penance I want to gratify Brahma. I want to achieve the most desired objective and therefore, O lord, I want you to give consent so that I undertake tapa. During earlier life, I was born as a daughter of Daksa, the great prajapati, and then, undertook stern tapa and meditation. The Supreme lord was delighted and therefore, he blessed me with a husband in you, O lord of the universe. Therefore, today in this life, after engaging in penance I want to delight Brahma and thereafter, I want to become a white-complexioned beautiful woman. It is not a flaw or fault. Do you think so? Please tell.”

She was silent. Even lord could not say anything. He did not persuade goddess to abandon thought of tapa and penance, for he wanted the gods to achieve the objective. The great god desires that created beings must make genuine efforts to attain the solemn purpose they harbour and cherish and in the light of this providential and divine wish, even goddess does not enjoy the privilege of exclusion.

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