In order to obtain the Amrit or ambrosia, the Devas of the heavens and the Asuras of the nether world started to churn the Ksheera Sagara or the Ocean of Milk . If the Asuras were to drink it, they would acquire indomitable strength, and the Devas feared there would not be any end to the harm the Asuras would do to them. So, they approached Lord Vishnu. To solve their problem, Lord Vishnu assumed the form of an enchantress, Mohini who hoodwinked the Asuras and managed to distribute the divine drink among the Devas alone. The Devas now became immortal and this made them arrogant.
When the Asuras realized that they had been cheated, they decided to teach the Devas a lesson. One of them, Tarakasura, began to meditate on Lord Brahma. The Lord was pleased over his tapas and appeared before the Asura leader, and asked what boon he wanted.  Let me be immortal!? said Tarakasura.
“No mortal can avoid death”, said Brahma, “so you may ask for anything else”
In which case, please bless me that I shall die only at the hands of a son of Shiva?, said Tarakasura. The boon was granted.
Around that time, Shiva’s consort Dakshayini had ended her life by jumping into the fire at the yaga being conducted by her father, King Daksha. Shiva was beset with uncontrollable grief. He wandered among the peaks of the Himalayas seeking peace to his troubled mind. He then sat in deep meditation.  Meanwhile, Tarakasura led a formidable army of asura’s and challenged the Devas to a fight. The two sides fought a fierce war in which the demons inflicted an inglorious defeat on the Devas. The Devas ran to Lord Brahma for help. Brahma explained to them about the boon he had granted Tarakasura and told them that they would all go to Lord Vishnu for advice and help. So they proceeded to Vaikuntha, the abode of Vishnu.
After listening to the Devas, Vishnu said: “Dakshayini has now taken birth as Parvati, daughter of King Himavan. You must ensure that she is married to Shiva. The son born to them would put an end to the atrocities of Tarakasura”.
On hearing this, the Devas sent Narada as their emissary to Himavan, who was carried away by Narada’s suggestion that Parvati deserved nobody other than Lord Shiva for a husband. Himavan then went up to the Lord who was still in deep meditation. After paying his obeisance to Shiva, Himavan said: “O Mahadeva! Please permit me to send my daughter Parvati to look after your needs and comforts”. There was no response from Lord Shiva, who continued his meditation. Himavan thought, as the Lord had not indicated any objection, he must have accepted his prayer.
So, he went back and sent Parvati to look after Shiva.  She was just waiting for this moment, as she had already started worshiping the Lord in her heart, and she had also listened to Narada’s praise of Shiva. She had, therefore, decided that she would not marry anyone other than the Lord Himself. Parvati lost no time in reaching the presence of Lord Shiva.  She engaged herself in chores like clearing and cleaning the precincts where Shiva was sitting in meditation and gathering fruits and leaves that he liked to eat. Besides, she also sang songs extolling the virtues of the Lord. This daily routine continued without any hindrance or a halt. But Shiva never for once opened his eyes to look at Parvati who, patiently waited for the Lord to open his eyes and take a look at her.
Now, the Devas led by Indra were marking their time to see that Parvati and Shiva were married and Parvati bore him a son. Indra sought the help of Kamadeva, the god of Love. At first, he was not willing to extend any help, but when he realised that his help would benefit the Devas, he agreed.

Kamadeva and his consort Rati flew in their chariot to where Shiva sat in meditation. Kamadeva carried the Arrow of Love with him. The moment the divine couple alighted on the Himalayan peak, the flowers around blossomed and the whole place was enveloped by all kinds of sweet fragrance. The birds  chirped melodious songs. Bumble bees encircled the place whirring softly. Peacocks spread their gorgeous feathers and began to dance. All these disturbed Lord Shiva who was meditating and he opened his eyes. The penance grove of Lord Shiva looked a hypnotic realm. All this was Manmatha’s influence. He then stood before Shiva. A little away stood Rati. She prayed to God that no evil should befall her husband.
Just at that time Parvati had also come as usual with fruits and flowers to worship Shiva. Her friends were also there. Parvati stood with folded hands singing in praise of Shiva. Pleased with her devotion and delighted with her sweet voice, Shiva just for a moment stopped his meditation and looked at her once. Kama decided that was the most opportune moment and got ready to make Shiva fall in love with Parvati. Unafraid of the eye of fire on Shiva’s forehead, he shot five of his arrows of flowers at his heart. Shiva’s tapa was broken. This made Shiva terribly angry. He opened the fiery eye on his forehead. With a frightening noise a fierce blazing flame burst forth. It seemed the fire of final destruction had struck the body of Kama. As he stood, he was reduced to ashes. Shiva, smearing his body with the same ash, disappeared.
Seeing Kama burnt to ash Rati was unconsolable.  She implored Parvati to give back to her husband as alms.   Meanwhile Parvati was greatly pained at the way in which Shiva had treated her. She told her companions, “The merciful lord Shiva has not shown any kindness to me. Alas! He has gone away rejecting me. While I was coming here to the spot of his meditation every day and rendering service to him, He has disappeared without speaking a word to me. I know that he cannot be won over by mere beauty or charm but will yield only to devotion. I won’t give up my devotion. I will please him with the hardest penance and draw him to myself.   Parvati went to the sacred spot of Gangavatara. The same spot later came to be called the Gowri peak. Jaya and Vijaya also went with her to facilitate her tapas. Parvati’s penance was rigorous.
In the summer of sweltering heat she lighted fire on all four sides and did her penance amidst five fires. In the rainy season she sat on the rock in pouring rain and meditated. In winter she stood neck deep in the cold water of the pond and meditated on Shiva. She never cared for any kind of difficulty, sorrow or pain, and focused her mind fully on Shiva. She wore flaxen cloth with twisted hair top and chanted the mantras or prayers with the rosary in hand. She excelled the rishis or sages in going on with the penance conquering hunger and thirst. In early stages she was eating fruits; gradually she gave up that also. She ate leaves or ‘parna.’ Then she left off that also and got the name ‘Aparna,’ continuing her hard penance. Many came to her penance grove now and then, and returned with wonder at her determination and with sympathy too.

Shiva disguised himself as a young student and went to Parvati’s penance grove to test her firmness. He abused Shiva with many menial words not able to hear these abuse of Shiva, with trembling lips Parvati said, “Vile man, you do not know anything about Shiva.  Shiva’s glory cannot be had by anyone else. Those who trust Him escape from sins. Shiva’s assumed his true form and held Parvati’s hand. She bowed her head. Shiva told her, “O thou bowed beauty I am pleased with your penance and your love. You have won over my mind. I have caused you much pain in testing you in many ways. You must pardon that. Now come, let’s go to my palace on Kailasa.”

Though Parvati was now in her happy days, she had not forgotten the sorrows of others. She did not ignore the need to remove the sufferings of others. Shiva, who was merciful, said, “Be it so. Whenever Rati wants him Manmatha will come to her even without a body Manmatha gave up his life so that the world could be happy.
Parvataraja was in immense joy that the greatest of sages had come to request for his daughter to be Shiva’s bride.  The wedding of Shiva and Parvati was performed with great splendor.

Shiva Weds Parvati

Shiva sent for the Saptarishis, the seven sages who were very wise and pious, and requested them to go to Himavanta. Parvataraja was in immense joy that the greatest of sages had come to request for his daughter to be Shiva's bride. Giriraja exclaimed "My good fortune has borne fruit! My righteousness has yielded a fragrant flower! The tree of my good race has borne fruit!" That he would be the father-in-law of Shiva, the world's, preceptor, put him into a , transport of joy. The marriage was fixed.Parvataraja sent for Vishwakarma the architect of the angels. 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 Shiva and Parvati was performed with great splendour.

Shiva and Parvati