Lord Shiva Leela

Parvati, the Fisherwoman

 

 

Shiva once took it upon himself to explain the Brahmandayana, or mysteries of the universe, to his wife Parvati. She herself was eager to learn all there was to know.

 

 

So, Shiva began to explain the story behind the creation of this vast universe to her. She listened attentively at first, concentrating on what her husband was saying. She listened and listened and listened…and this went on for several years. But there was no end in sight to Shiva’s lesson. Finally, though she tried very hard, Parvati lost her focus. Shiva saw this and got angry at her change of behaviour.

 

 

“Parvati, if you think what I am saying is boring, I shall stop. If you cannot concentrate on something so important, you should have been born to fisher folk so that you could do hard work and not think about such matters.”

 

 

Parvati was hurt but Shiva felt even worse for his harsh words. Alas, before he could do anything about it, Parvati had disappeared from their home. Shiva felt extremely sad and regretted his words. “How am I to live without my beloved wife,” he thought to himself.

 

 

 A Parvara Girl Is Born

 

 

His words had come true! Far away down on earth, Parvati had taken birth as a baby girl and lay sheltered under a tree. Within no time, a group of fishermen, the Parvaras, walked by and their chief saw the baby. He picked her up and was immediately enchanted by the baby’s beauty. “The gods have blessed me. What a lovely child. I will bring her up as my own daughter,” he said. The chief took the baby home. He named her Parvati. Little did he know that the baby he called his daughter was actually the goddess who was revered by all.

 

 

Parvati grew up to be a lovely girl. She would accompany her father on his boat as he went fishing. Everyone in the clan adored her. But the one who loved her most was far away on Mount Kailash, pining for her and wondering how to get her back. He was upset at being alone in his abode. He could not bear the separation from the goddess.

 

 

Observing this, one day, his trusted guard, Nandi, appealed to him, “O dear Lord, why don’t you bring her back? You know she is living with the Parvaras.” Shiva shook his head sorrowfully and replied, “No, Nandi. She was raised by the fisher folk and she will marry a fisherman in this life. That is the law of the world.” Sighing, he went back to his brooding. Nandi, however, did not give up. He had a plan to unite his master and mistress.

 

 

 Nandi the Shark

 

 

He went down to earth and taking the form of a shark, jumped into the sea. Then he set off for the coast where the Parvaras lived. Suddenly, two Parvaras fishermen out at sea saw this great big shark coming towards them. They started to turn away but it was too late. The shark had capsized the boat and the two fishermen fell into the water.

 

 

Over the next few days, the shark continued to trouble the fishermen. It tore their nets, overturned their boats and was a nuisance. Finally, the chief called for a meeting and said, “Anyone who can capture this shark can claim my daughter’s hand in marriage.”

 

 

Many brave young men tried to take the shark but failed. Giving up hope, the Parvaras offered prayers to the Shivalinga. Parvati too prayed very hard. “O Lord Shiva, please help us. We are all suffering because of this shark. Please help us.” Shiva, even in his sorrow, heard this voice and knew it was time to help the Parvaras. Besides, he would finally get to meet his wife.

 

 

Taking the form of a young fisher boy, he went to the coastal village of the Parvaras and met the chief, “I will stop this shark. Do not worry. It will not bother you after today.”

 

He then took a large net and waded into the water. Nandi, in his shark form, saw the young boy approach and recognised that he was none other than Shiva. He smiled to himself, “Ah! My Lord has come. My work here is now done.” He did not put up a fight when the boy threw the net over him.

Everyone in the clan rejoiced. Parvati, too, was glad that such a courageous and skilled fisherman was going to be her husband. The chief, as promised, gave Parvati’s hand in marriage to the boy. Shiva was finally united with his wife and together they made their way back to Kailash.