Parvathi

Matha Parvathi, the mother of the entire world, is delineated in this book in her three forms- as Sati, Parvathi and Kathyayani. Sati was Dakshabrahma and Prasuti's daughter. Her consort, Shiva, didn't get up to pay respects to her father due to which he was cursed. Getting to know that her father was performing a yagna for which all her sisters were invited, Sati sought Shiva's permission to attend the yajna. As Shiva refused to accompany her, she went alone and as expected, her father insulted her husband. Unable to bear it, Sati entered the sacrificial fire. Shiva lost no time in sending Veerabhadra who not only spoilt the yagna but killed Daksha as well. Later, upon Brahma's request, he brought back Daksha to life who completed the yagna and offered havis to Shiva. Shiva retreated to the Himalayas as he had lost Sati and engaged himself in severe penance.  Parvathi was born to Meena devi and Himavantha. She served Shiva with all devotion so that he would marry her. When he declined, Manmatha was sent to make him fall in love. Shiva was so enraged that his penance had been disturbed that he burnt Manmatha to ashes. In spite of the devas begging him to marry Parvathi, Shiva didn't relent. So she gave up all her royal finery and continued to serve him through severe tapas. She recognized Shiva when he came to her disguised as a Brahmin after which they got married. A divine child, Kumaraswamy, was born to them in course of time. Devendra vested Kumaraswamy with the responsibility of getting the world rid of Tarakasura.  Kathyayini was born of a divine light due to the yogic power of Sage Kathyayana. The purpose of her birth was to destroy the rakshasas as Mahishasura had wrested power over heaven from the devas. She laid a condition to Mahishasura when he desired to marry her – that he must defeat her in battle. A terrible battle ensued in which Kathyayini crushed the marauding Mahishasura with her tender feet.