24 Sep 2021
Ms. Laxmi Thrylokya asked: Pādanamaskāram Swami, Kumārasambhavam, an epic poem written by Kālidāsa is one of the finest works that describes the divine love between Shiva and Paarvati. In a Hinduphobic facebook page, I saw some people criticising the lovemaking between Lord Shiva and Paarvati. I kindly request You to enlighten us with the correct lesson to be learnt from Kumārasambhavam. Is the devotion of Paarvatii to Shiva similar to the Madhura Bhakti of Gopikas to Krishna? -At Your Divine Lotus Feet, Laxmi Thrylokya]
Swami Replied:- Paarvati means Satii Devi, who sacrificed her life on hearing the abuse of Shiva from the mouth of her own father. In fact, she is born again as Paarvati for the form of God Shiva. God Shiva and God Vishnu are one and the same and since God Vishnu and God Krishna are one and the same, God Krishna and God Shiva are one and the same. All these incarnations are different forms of the same one God called Datta. Satii Devi was also born as the Gopika called Chandralekha, who again collapsed when she was obstructed by her family members from reaching God. Since Satii Devi or Chandralekha belong to the same mental setup (samskaara) and Satii Devi is same as Paarvati developing some patience in the place of vigorous emotion, we can say that the love of Paarvati to God is almost equal to the love of Satii Devi or Chandralekha to God.
I don’t know the reason for which the love of God Shiva and Goddess Paarvati is criticised. You should have mentioned the criticism in detail. The love of Goddess Sarasvatii to God Brahmaa in Brahmaloka, the love of Goddess Lakshmi to God Vishnu in Vaikuntha and the love of Goddess Paarvati to God Shiva in Shivaloka are almost in the same level of the love of Gopikas to God Krishna. Brahmaloka, Vaikuntha and Shivaloka are almost close to Goloka and the distance is very marginal. The reason for the Goloka to be in the topmost level is that there was lot of opposition force in the love of Gopikas to God Krishna, which is certainly higher than the love of the three divine couples. More the opposition force, more shall be the risk and naturally more shall be strong the love of devotee to God.
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