Of all the love stories I have read or heard so far, there is only one that has stood out - the eternal love between Shiva and Sati.
This one intrigues me because this is between two completely different personalities, who come from different backgrounds, lifestyles.
Iam not even getting into religion or the fact that they are supposed to be god/goddess in the Hindu mythology. Iam just looking at them as two individuals.
Sati was a princess, she was born and brought up in a royal household that had all the luxuries in life. On the other hand, Shiva led a life of an ascetic. His abode was the Mount Kailash which was an extremely cold and rugged place. He was also presumed to live in the graveyards.
Sati was fair and beautiful. She was a princess and dressed like one. She probably wore beautiful dresses and adorned ornaments made of precious metals and stones. Shiva is always seen wearing a tiger skin and adorning a snake around his neck. His whole body is smeared in ashes, his hair matted. Rudraksha beads are the only ornaments he wears on his body.
In spite of these differences, Sati fell in love with Shiva and grew up to be his ardent devotee. She put herself through several trials, tribulations and spent many years in meditation to please him. Shiva was pleased with her devotion and love. He fell madly in love with her and married her.
Her father, Dakshak was against the marriage since Shiva was not the husband he wanted for his daughter. He lived a yogi's life and was not a suitable match for her. They still went ahead and got married.
The tale does not end there. Sati could not tolerate the insult meted out to her husband and ended her life since she could not take it anymore. And Shiva flew into a rage when he heard of her death. It is said that he destroyed everything and everyone there. He was grief stricken and carried her body on his shoulder until Vishnu cut her body into many pieces.
A definite tale of rebellious, intense and passionate love between two contrasting personalities.
This one intrigues me because this is between two completely different personalities, who come from different backgrounds, lifestyles.
Iam not even getting into religion or the fact that they are supposed to be god/goddess in the Hindu mythology. Iam just looking at them as two individuals.
Sati was a princess, she was born and brought up in a royal household that had all the luxuries in life. On the other hand, Shiva led a life of an ascetic. His abode was the Mount Kailash which was an extremely cold and rugged place. He was also presumed to live in the graveyards.
Sati was fair and beautiful. She was a princess and dressed like one. She probably wore beautiful dresses and adorned ornaments made of precious metals and stones. Shiva is always seen wearing a tiger skin and adorning a snake around his neck. His whole body is smeared in ashes, his hair matted. Rudraksha beads are the only ornaments he wears on his body.
In spite of these differences, Sati fell in love with Shiva and grew up to be his ardent devotee. She put herself through several trials, tribulations and spent many years in meditation to please him. Shiva was pleased with her devotion and love. He fell madly in love with her and married her.
Her father, Dakshak was against the marriage since Shiva was not the husband he wanted for his daughter. He lived a yogi's life and was not a suitable match for her. They still went ahead and got married.
The tale does not end there. Sati could not tolerate the insult meted out to her husband and ended her life since she could not take it anymore. And Shiva flew into a rage when he heard of her death. It is said that he destroyed everything and everyone there. He was grief stricken and carried her body on his shoulder until Vishnu cut her body into many pieces.
A definite tale of rebellious, intense and passionate love between two contrasting personalities.
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