Week 13 Storytelling -- Parvati: Hopelessly Devoted to Shiva

Parvati and Shiva
Image Source: Flickr

*Below there is a video embedded to kind of add to the ambiance you could say. :) *


   This couldn't be happening to her, not after she felt some sort of spark with him. That look he gave her was unmistakable, and it wasn't just her imagination running wild. Lord Shiva looked at her with a tender love when their eyes met, and it was magical. But, just as quickly, that look vanished and was replaced with fury and Parvati could not understand why. Did she offend him? Was he upset for setting his eyes on someone that he felt was below him? She desperately wanted to know why he wouldn't let her in. Why did Shiva push these feelings away if they were in fact there? So many questions ran through Paravati's head as she stood rooted to the very spot where Shiva stormed off without saying a word to her. She stood there until her father came to the grove for his daily visit and asked her why she looked so defeated and confused. Without a word, Parvati simply embraced her father with such sadness and vulnerability that he simply brought her home. She ran to her room and sat in her favorite spot, the window sill overlooking the beautiful mountains. They were bathed in moonlight and the stars seemed dim, mirroring her spirits. Parvati began to softly sing, her voice full of longing and sorrow,

"Guess mine is not the first heart broken

My eyes are not the first to cry

I'm not the first to know

There's just no getting over you

You know I'm just a fool who's willing

To sit around and wait for you

But, baby, can't you see

There's nothing else for me to do?

I'm hopelessly devoted to you

But, now there's nowhere to hide

Since you pushed my love aside

I'm out of my head

Hopelessly devoted to you

Hopelessly devoted to you

Hopelessly devoted to you

My head is saying, "Fool, forget him."

My heart is saying, "Don't let go.

Hold on till the end."

And that's what I intend to do

I'm hopelessly devoted to you."

   After a few days of self-pity and much needed venting to her dear mother, Parvati was struck with a huge sense of determination. She would win his heart if it was the last thing she did. It didn't matter if it took years, she would find a grove and win him with her everlasting devotion and penance. Parvati realized that it was not her exceptional beauty that would win Lord Shiva's love, but her inner beauty and devotion. She spoke with her father and asked him to give her a grove in which she would fast and pray without end. Her devotion to Lord Shiva would win his love. And she set off on her mission, which would last her for years, but would most defiantly bring her the reward she was seeking.

"Hopelessly Devoted to You" by Olivia Newton John

From the movie "Grease" 

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Author's Note: Not going to lie, I had a serious case of writer's block. Seriously. It wasn't until Hopelessly Devoted to You by the amazing Olivia Newton John came on my Pandora station at work. Did I mention I absolutely love the movie Grease? It clicked! In the comic Parvati Shiva, Parvati shows unwavering devotion to win Shiva's love and eventually it does work after being put to the test by Shiva in disguise. Parvati goes into deep prayer, penance and fasting until Lord Shiva comes disguised as a hermit and begins to bad mouth himself to Parvati and asks her to stop her prayer and penance. Parvati becomes annoyed and offended that this stranger would speak ill of her love and asks him to leave at once. Shiva reveals himself to Parvati and proclaims that she has won his love. Although a love like theirs was destined to happen, since it was foretold by an old sage that Parvati would belong to Lord Shiva eventually. Her father was told this shortly after their initial quest to find her a husband. Of course Parvati's father wanted nothing but they best so he decided to wait until the prophecy came true. Eventually, the King got tired of waiting and decided to take matters into his own hands. Parvati and a couple of her friends were brought to Lord Shiva and were offered into his service while he prayed. That is how Parvati began to fall in love with Lord Shiva and this story began to blossom!

Check out the comic at the site here!
It can also be found at the Bizzell for check out!