When Parvati saw her mother’s distress, she spoke thus gently and discreetly: ‘Grieve not, my mother, for whatever is ordained by Providence cannot be altered.

If I am destined to have a crazy husband, why should anyone be blamed? Mother, can you erase the lines drawn by Providence? Then take no reproach on your head unnecessarily.

Mother, refrain from bringing profitless reproaches on your head; cease lamenting; this is no occasion for it. The amount of joy and sorrow that has fallen to my lot I must experience wherever I may go.’ Hearing Parvati’s soft and polite words, all the ladies became sad and, with tears flowing from their eyes, they blamed the Creator in many ways.

On hearing the news Himachala hastened to his house just then along with Narada and the Seven Seers.

Then Narada reassured them all, narrating to them the story of Uma’s former life. He said, ‘Hear, O Maina! My words are true; your daughter is Bhavani (Shiva’s eternal consort), Mother of the world.

She is without birth or beginning, the imperishable divine energy, Shiva’s immortal spouse and inseparable half. She creates, maintains and then dissolves the world and at will assumes an illusory body.

First she was born in Daksha’s house, where she grew into a beautiful maiden named Sati; and there (even in that incarnation) Sati married Shankara, as the whole world knows well.