Sapt Rishi Come to Paarvatee
Now Shiv wanted to test the strength of Paarvatee's penance. Her penance had developed kindness in Shiv's heart. Still he wanted to test her mind. He sent Sapt Rishi to find out her firmness. Paarvatee Jee saluted the sages who went to her. Her friends Jayaa and Vijayaa rendered them hospitality. The sages asked of Paarvatee the reason for her penance and who her preceptor was. She told him everything. The sages said "Well, you have chosen wrong way obeying Naarad. Don't do this penance for Shiv. Nor should you marry him." But she did not listen to their advice. She had already decided that she would marry only Shiv, so she told them of herresolve thus - "I feel that I am already married to Shiv. If he does not accept me, I'm not going to marry any other person. There cannot be two marriages for me."

The sages were pleased with her firmness. They blessed her by saying "May your wish succeed!" and went to Kailaash. They narrated all this to Shiv. They said that it would not be proper to subject her to any more pain with the pretext of testing her mind. But Shiv thought that he should himself test her firmness. So he changed his real form and disguised himself as a young student and went to Paarvatee's penance grove. He sat in the shade of a small mango tree near her. Thinking that a Braahman youth had come as a guest, Paarvatee's friends went to him and made inquiries about his welfare. They gave him water to wash his feet and some good fruits to eat. The youth pointed at Paarvatee and asked them, "Who is she? Why is she performing this penance though so young? Is there none to stop her Tapas? None to check her and advise her?" Hearing this, Paarvatee became very angry. She stopped her meditation, put aside the rosary, and stared at the youth.

Then the young man, pretending to be sympathetic, began asking several questions - "Why are you engaged in this penance in this forest, ignoring cold and heat and rain, hunger and thirst at the prime of your youth?" Paarvatee looked at Vijayaa, so Vijayaa told him everything and said - "My friend desires to wed Shiv that is why she is this penance." The disguised youth laughed loudly and said. "Oh, I understand. What more can I say? It's your will and pleasure. So let me go."

When he started to go, Paarvatee went to him, saluted him, and asked him "Please wait. Can you give good advice to me in this matter? Can you guide me as to how I can win Shiv's favor?" "Listen then," the youth said. "You are innocent. Although you are a young maiden you have no wisdom. Why do you wish to marry that three-eyed person? What an ill-starred person you are. His home, appearance, nature all are peculiar. He lives in the burial-ground. His ornament is snakes. He wears he garland of skulls. His weapon is a trident and he wears only animal skin. Most of his hairs are scattered in the sky and the rest are matted locks. He has poison in his neck and ash all over the body. With Gangaa and the Moon fixed on his head. He is severely cold. He moves about on an ox, with demons and spirits as his companions. He is also a beggar. You are beautiful and tender, whereas he is ugly and austere.. Don't you think of him and don't marry him."

Hearing this Paarvatee got very angry. She could hear anything but the abuse to Shiv. She said with trembling lips - "O Vile man, you do not know anything about Shiv. The conduct of great people is not like that of the common men. Only witless people can criticize like this. Nobody else can be as great as Shiv. Those who have faith in him escape from sins. Although Shiv looks a destitute, he can confer upon others all the riches. What if he lives in the burial-ground? He is the Lord of all three worlds. His looks may be awkward, but he is the giver of felicity. He is the Lord of the universal. Although he sits on a bull, his feet are touched even by Indra who rides elephant Airaavat. There is no need to talk so much about him. None can change my views about him. I am fully aware of Shiv's form, qualities and greatness. He has neither deformity nor any defect."

Even as Paarvatee was speaking-thus, the young man's lips moved as if he would again speak, but Paarvatee called her friend and said, "This wicked man is about to abuse Shiv again. Send him away. Or I myself will leave this place." So saying, Paarvatee started to go away. Suddenly the youth in disguise assumed Shiv's form and held Paarvatee's hand. Paarvatee got surprised to see him like this. She bowed her head. Shiv told her - "O thou bowed beauty, I am pleased with your penance and your love. You have won my heart. I have caused you so much pain in testing you in so many ways. You must pardon me for this. Now come, let's go to my palace on Kailaash."

Paarvatee is Married
It was true that Shiv, whom she trusted and won with her penace, himself came to her and asked her to go with him. But Paarvatee did not think it correct to go away with him like that as his wife then and there, so she said - "Lord, my father Parvataraaj and mother Mainaa are there. You must come to my father and ask him my hand in marriage. I request that the wedding should be performed with the prescribed rites with the consent of elders and relatives." Shiv agreed to her since following the custom would be a sign of culture.

Just then Rati came there in tears with the sorrow of separation from her husband. She saluted them both. Paarvatee told Shiva - "O Lord, her husband Kaam Dev has been burnt by the fire of your third eye, while he was striving for the welfare of the world. I have assured her that I will beg you and get her husband back. You must first give her husband back to her. Shiv was merciful so he said - "Be it so. Whenever Rati will want him Manmath will come to her even without a body and make her happy. Manmath gave up his life so that the world could be happy. Whenever the people of this world remember him, he will yet come unseen and do good to them. Later in the Dwaapar eon he shall be born a the son to Shree Krishn and will be resplendent as the true husband of Rati."

Shiv after having conferred his favor to Paarvatee Jee, and then went back to Kailaash with his retinue. All his devotees, sages and retinue in Kailaash were overjoyed. Paarvatee came back to her home and told everything to her parents. She was welcomed with great splendor.

Shiv sent for Saptarshi and requested them to go to Himavant with his proposal. Parvataraja was in immense joy that the greatest of sages had come to request for his daughter to be Shiv's bride. Giriraaj exclaimed - "My good fortune has borne fruit today." Parvataraaj sent for Vishwakarmaa, the architect of Devtaa. With his help a marriage-pavilion was built, which was extremely beautiful and a wonder to set eyes upon. The extensive hall for the marriage assembly was unique. The wedding of Shiv and Paarvatee Jee was performed with great splendor.

Welfare of the World
The wedlock of Shiv and Paarvatee opened doors for world's bliss. Shiv is the world's father. Having married him, Paarvatee became the mother of the Universe. The son born to her later was Kaarttikeya. He was appointed the commander of the army of the Devtaa, attacked the Rakshasas, killed them and reestablished the path of virtue and righteousness. Taarakaasur was killed. The other son of Paarvatee is Ganesh or Gajamukh. He places obstacles to the wicked deeds of bad men and removes impediments in the way of good men. He also gives knowledge and wisdom.

Shiv, who is Mahadev or the Greatest God also, is also known as Sarvagya and Vaageesh. Sarvagya means one who knows all, Omniscient, and Vageesh is the Lord of knowledge. Paarvatee had learnt the material and the spiritual knowledge through well-qualified teachers during her childhood, still she had the desire to learn more.

She learnt the Sanskrit language and grammar from Shiv. The rules of grammar taught by Shiv are famous as "Maheshwara Sootra." Later a sage by the name of Panini publicized them on the Earth. It is now well known as Panini's Grammar (Panineeya Vyaskaran).

Prosody, or metrical science, important for poetry explains poetical structure. As Paarvatee desired to know it, Shiv taught that also to her first, later a sage by name Pingal learnt it and made it known on the Earth. His work on 'Chhand' or prosody was written in Kannad language as 'Chhandombudhi' (in 990 AD) by the poet Naagavarmaa.

Similarly several other branches of knowledge like dance, architecture, astrology, spells, painting and so on - are said to have been taught by Shiv to Paarvatee and then they became known to others on Earth through somebody. Paarvatee had great curiosity to know philosophy also. She wanted to hear the Raamaayan aso with its philosophical content. Pleased with this request, Shiv told her "Adhyaatm Raamaayana". Brahmaa Jee learnt it and in turn taught Naarad Jee. Naarad Jee narrated that story to sage Vaalmeeki who passed it on to Lav and Kush, the twin sons of Shree Raam. Vaalmeeki written Raamaayan is known as "Vaalmeeki Raamaayan". Later the sage Ved Vyaas composed Adhyaatm Raamaayan in Sanskrit and gave it to this world. It is well known to this day.

The 'Panchtantra' also, which is full of moral stories eagerly listened to and enjoyed by children even today, is also believed to be a collection of tales told by Shiv to Paarvatee in the first instance.

Paarvatee not only often discussed philosophy and worldly matters with Shiv, but also sometimes ventured into the deeds of bravery. The Mahaabhaarat says that when Shiv went to Indra Keelak in the guise of a tribal king of huntsmen to see Arjun's valor, Paarvatee also went with him as his tribal wife.

Goddess Chaamundeshwaree is believed to be one of the incarnations of Paarvatee. She took that form to kill a Raakshas by name Mahishaasur. The wicked Mahishaasur was harassing Tri-Lok. Chaamundeshwaree killed him on the Vijayaa Dashamee day. Then she took abode on a hill named Mahish Mandal where the demon ruled earlier. This is the Chaamundee Hill near Mysore City in Karnaatak. The hill is 3489 feet above sea level. The present-day Mysore is the Mahish Mandal over which Mahishaasur ruled.

Kaalee and Durgaa are also incarnations of Paarvatee. As her devotees believe, Paarvatee assumed all these forms to kill the wicked in the world and protect the virtuous.