Parvati's Childhood Pastimes

Brahma said

Before Mena, the immensely radiant one took a daughter's form and, following worldly custom, began to cry. Sage, as she lay on the couch in the delivery chamber her great radiance spread in every direction and made the lamps burning in the night look dim. Hearing her lovely cry, all the women of the household came quickly and gladly. A messenger from the inner quarter swiftly told the mountain of Parvati's birth, an auspicious event that gave happiness and would accomplish the gods' task. On hearing the happy news of his daughter's birth from the messenger there was nothing the mountain would not instantly give him, even his white umbrella. With the priest and a brahmana the mountain went happily in. He saw his daughter, very radiant and beautiful, her fine pleasant glow dark like blue lotus petals. Seeing such a daughter the lord of mountains rejoiced, as did all the townsfolk, men and women. There were great festivities and many musical instruments, auspicious songs and dancing courtesans. He gave to brahmanas and performed the prescribed jatakarma. Himachala came to the gate and held great festivities, and pleased, gave riches to those who asked. At a muhurta thought good, Himachala with the sages named his daughter Kali, and gave her other names that bring joy as well. Lovingly he gave to brahmanas and arranged many kinds of festivities with singing. With his wife he repeatedly looked at Kali. Though he had many sons, she made him rejoice.

In the king of mountains' home Devi Shivaa grew like the Ganga in the monsoon or the moon in autumn. Devi Kalika was beautiful in every limb and charming to see. Every day she grew lovelier, as phases are added to the moon's disc. As befitted the family she was called Parvati. She loved all her relatives and was a friend to everyone, with the qualities of good conduct. Sage, her mother tried to stop Kalika from doing austerities, exclaiming "Uma!" and so afterwards the lovely-faced girl became known on earth as Uma. Although he had sons, the mountain's eyes could not be satisfied with looking at the child called Parvati, who had all the marks of good fortune. Lord among sages, in spring there are endless flowers, yet swarms of bees are especially drawn to mango blossoms. Mount Himalaya was adorned and purified by her as learned men are by polished speech. A lamp in a house gains radiance from its leaping flames, and followers of the virtuous path from the Ganga. So it was for the mountain because of Girija. In her childhood, among her friends, the girl played again and again on the sandy bed of the Ganga with toy balls. Sage, then came the time for Devi Shivaa to receive her instruction. With joy and attention she learnt the various branches of learning from a virtuous guru. In autumn the swans return to the divine river; at night radiance returns to the herbs. In the same way she got back the learning of her former life. So I have told you some of Shivaa's sports. Sage, now hear of her other pastimes, lovingly.