Parvati's Penance

Parvati is seen performing extreme austerities in order to win the favour of her Lord Siva in a subject known Tapasvini Paravati. As the supreme yogi, Siva would not unite with his bride, and so Parvati decided to secure his affection by demonstrating her own advanced mastery of yogic skills through the performance of severe penance. She stands on one leg, in the yogic vrksasana (‘tree-posture’) attitude, with her upper arms held raised above the head. As if anticipating Siva’s approval, she holds a string of rudraksas beads (holy to Siva) in her raised hands, so that the string of beads resemble a victory garland (mala). In her lower left hand she holds the holy water bottle and with the other makes the protective abhayamudra. The presence of four burning pyres indicates that she is performing her austerities in a cremation ground, one of Siva’s favoured locations. A second meaning also attaches to the fire imagery, its ability to test the purify of an untarnished soul.