SAHIVA-PARVATHY, ANOTHER LOVE STORY
Sathy was reborn as the daughter of Himalaya. (In Samskrutham, parvathy means daughter of parvatham, parvatham is mountain). She started tapasya at the tender age of three, for her reunion with Shiva.
As Shiva was in a very sad and aggressive mood, ever since his beloved Sathy’s self immolation (see my blog), he never came out of the trance and was totally unaware of the young girl’s wish. When he understood it, Parvathy, now sixteen years, with coiled hair and emaciated body, eating fruits to keep her alive, was still in her tapasya. So he came to her, disguised as a Brahman, and enquired about her wish, for which she was doing such hard meditation and prayers.
He tried to dissuade her, but ultimately yielded to her desire to marry him. According to one story, this day, day of their meeting, is celebrated every night, as Ladies’ night, today in the Malayalam month of Dhanu. All night, in the bright moon light, they play about in the ponds, swimming and throwing water on each other, or enjoying the improvised swing, hung from the branches of trees.
Each one chews 101 betel leaves, one after another, smeared with lime and mixed with areca nut pieces, after chewing which their lips become red. This betel chewing is common among ladies in olden days, after dinner.
They do fasting, taking only tender coconut water and plantain. Needless to say, men are totally prohibited in this night activities.
This is observed only in God’s own country, Keralam.
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