PĀRvatĪ

(Sanskrit: “Daughter of the Mountain”), wife of the Hindu god Śiva (Shiva). Pārvatī is the benevolent aspect of the goddess Śakti and is sometimes identified with Umā.

The legendary account of her marriage relates that she won Śiva's notice only after severe ascetic discipline. The couple had two children, the elephant-headed Ga&nsubdot;eśa and the six-headed Skanda. Pārvatī is often represented in sculpture with Śiva—as an attendant figure, or looking on as he performs a miraculous feat, or engaged in a game with him in their mountain kingdom Kailāsa—and is always depicted as a mature and beautiful woman. The Tantras—texts of sects worshiping Śiva—are written as a discussion between Pārvatī and Śiva.