Parvati sat before Lord Siva and started chanting the Lord's name. Years passed. Both were in deep penance.

Parvati was fed every day without her knowledge by a mysterious same divine figure which protected her. Lord Siva refused to stop his penance.

The Gods feared to see this. They were worried about Parvati who was in penance which was unfulfilled for years. They did not want Lord Siva to be in penance forever.

Devaraja Indra immediately called Kama deva, the God of Love and Lust. 

"Kama, shoot your arrows at Lord Siva and make him fall in love with Parvati."

"O Deva, I fear to do so. Lord Siva may destroy me for doing so."

"This is the order of King of Devas. It is your responsibility to follow it."

Kama left the palace with great disappointment. He reached his home to take his bow and arrows. His wife Rathi saw her husband's arrival.

"Deva, I was waiting since for a long time. I have a very long time wish which I want you to fulfill."

"What is it, Rathi?"

"I want to have a child through you. I want to become a mother and become the most fortunate person by begoting the son of Love."

"I am currently ordered by Indra deva to disturb the penance of Lord Siva."

"What? No, Deva. You should not do like that. Your life will be in great danger by doing so."

"No, Rathi. It is the order of Lord Indra. I should follow it."

Kama left Rathi in devastated. He saw Lord Siva and Parvati opposite to each other in deep penance.

He took his arrow and fixed it in his bow chanting mantras and shot it against Lord Siva.

 As soon as it hit Lord Siva's chest, the world shook suddenly. 

Lord Siva opened his 3rd eye!! All the 3 eyes were redish in colour. His long hairs swayed ferociously.

As the 3rd eye looked at Kama deva, it started burning the Kama. The Kama moaned in grave pain. Soon he turned into mere ashes.

Parvati opened her eyes by hearing the moans of Kama. The eyes of Parvati and Siva met. Lord Siva saw Sati in Parvati. They both fell in love with each other instantly.

All the devas cherished seeing this scene except one person- Rathi. As soon as she heard the news about her husband's death, she getting enraged reached Kailash.

Seeing her husband's ash, she started grieving in pain. Her all wishes went in vain. She looked at Parvati furiously.

"O Parvati, it is because of you that I lost my husband. I lost my motherhood. So, I, Rathi, wife of Kama, curse you that you will never be able to begot a child in your womb through your husband. "

Hearing this curse, Parvati got shattered.

To be continued...

(Published on 17th July 2020, Friday)

NEXT EPISODE: Parvati-Siva Marriage (Surely, this will be a very long post :) )

||Om namah Sivayah||