Parvati
Goddess of Power
Devanagari	पार्वती
Sanskrit Transliteration	Pārvatī
Affiliation	Devi
Abode	Himalaya when unmarried, otherwise Kailash
Mantra	Om Aim Hreem Kleem Chamundai Vicche
Weapon	Trishul, Pasa (Noose), Ankusha (Elephant Goad), Conch, Chakram, Crossbow, Lotus.
Consort	Shiva
Mount	Lion (sometimes depicted on a Tiger)

Parvati (Devanagri: पार्वती, IAST: Pārvatī) is a Hindu goddess. Parvati is Shakti, the wife of Shiva and the gentle aspect of Mahadevi, the Great Goddess. Parvati is considered as complete incarnation of Adi Parashakti', with all other goddesses being her incarnations or manifestations.

Parvati is nominally the second consort of Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and rejuvenation. However, she is not different from Satī, being the reincarnation of Shiva's first wife. Parvati is the mother of the gods and goddess, Ganesha and Skanda (Kartikeya). Some communities also believe her to be the sister of Vishnu. She is also regarded as the daughter of the Himavat.

Parvati, when depicted alongside Shiva, generally appears with two arms, but when alone, she is shown having four or eight arms, and astride a tiger or lion. Generally considered a benevolent goddess, Parvati also has wrathful incarnations, such as Durga, Kali, Shitala Devi, Tara, Chandi, and the Mahavidyas as well as benevolent forms like Kathyayini, Mahagauri, Kamalatmika, Bhuvaneshwari and Lalita.

Etymology[link]

Parvati as four-armed Lalita with her sons Ganesha and Skanda, Orissa, India. 11th century sculpture from the British Museum. 1872,0701.54 .

Parvata is one of the Sanskrit words for "mountain"; "Parvati" translates to "She of the mountains" and refers to Parvati being born the daughter of Himavat, lord of the mountains and the personification of the Himalayas. Other names which associate her with mountains are Shailaja (Daughter of the mountains), Nagajaa or Shailaputri (Daughter of Mountains), and 'Girirajaputri' (Daughter of king of the mountains).^[1] Parvati's name is also sometimes considered a form of 'pavitra', meaning 'sinless' or 'holy' in Sanskrit.

She is also known by 108 names from the Durga Saptashati. These include Ambika ('dear mother'), Gauri ('fair complexioned'),^[2] Shyama ('dark complexioned'), Bhairavi ('awesome'), Kumari ('virgin'), Kali ("dark one"), Umā, Lalita, Mataji ('revered mother'), Sahana ('pure'),^[3] Durga, Bhavani, Shivaradni or Shivaragyei ('Queen of Shiva'), and many hundreds of others. The Lalita sahasranama contains an authoritative listing of 1,000 names of Parvati.

Two of Parvati's most famous epithets are Uma and Aparna. The name Uma is used for Sati in earlier texts, but in the Ramayana, it is used as synonym for Parvati.^[4] In the Harivamsa, Parvati is referred to as Aparna ('One who took no sustenance') and then addressed as Uma, who was dissuaded by her mother from severe austerity by saying u mā ('oh, don't').^[5]

The apparent contradiction that Parvati is addressed as the fair one, Gauri, as well as the dark one, Kali or Shyama, can be explained by the following Hindu myth: Once, Shiva rebuked Parvati about her dark complexion. An angry Parvati left him and underwent severe austerities to become fair-complexioned as a boon from Brahma.^[6]

Parvati is also the goddess of love and devotion, or Kamakshi.

Parvati as Goddess of Power[link]

Being the physical manifestation of Adi parashakti, Parvati is the goddess of power. She is the one who gives life energy (or 'Shakti') to all beings and without her, all beings are inert. The goddess is Shakti herself, who actually lives in all beings in the form of power. Without power, one can do nothing, including yoga.

Shakti is needed by all beings, whether the Trimurti, the devas, humans, animals, or even plants. Parvati is the provider of shakti. Without her, life is completely inert. This power is required to see, to hear, to feel, to think, to inhale and exhale, to walk, to eat, and to do anything else. The goddess is worshiped by all gods, the Trimurti, rishis, and all other beings.

A Mantra in Sanskrit is meant for her:

Sarvarupe Sarveshe Sarvashakti Samanvite Bhayebhyastrahi no devi durge devi namostute

It translates to: We bow down to Devi Durga, who is source of all forms (sarvarupe), who is the God of all beings (sarveshe), in whom all power exists (Sarvashakti samanvite) and who destroys all fear (bhaye bhyastrai no devi).

Rise to prominence[link]

Parvati herself does not explicitly appear in Vedic literature, though the Kena Upanishad (3.12) contains a goddess called Uma-Haimavati.^[7] She appears as the shakti, or essential power, of the Supreme Brahman. Her primary role is as a mediator who reveals the knowledge of Brahman to the Vedic trinity of Agni, Vayu, and Indra, who were boasting about their recent defeat of a group of demons.^[8] But Kinsley notes: "it is little more than conjecture to identify her with the later goddess Satī-Pārvatī, although [..] later texts that extol Śiva and Pārvatī retell the episode in such a way to leave no doubt that it was Śiva's spouse.."^[7] Both textual and archaeological evidence suggests Sati-Parvati appears in the epic period (400 BC–400 AD), as both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata present Parvati as Shiva's wife.^[7] However, it is not until the plays of Kalidasa (5th-6th centuries) and the Puranas (4th through the 13th centuries) that the myths of Sati-Parvati and Shiva acquire more comprehensive details.^[9] Kinsley adds that Parvati may have emerged from legends of non-aryan goddesses that lived in mountains.^[1]

Prof. Weber suggests that like Shiva is combination of various Vedic gods Rudra and Agni, the Puranic Parvati is a combination of Uma, Haimavati, Ambika and earlier Parvati, identified as wives of Rudra; of others like Kali, who could be a wife of Agni and of Gauri and others inspired by Nirriti.^[10] Tate suggests Parvati is a mixture of the Vedic goddess Aditi and Nirriti,and being a mountain goddess herself, was associated with other mountain goddesses like Durga and Kali in later traditions.^[11]

Birth and marriage[link]

The Puranas repeatedly tell the tale of Sati's marriage to Shiva against her father Daksha's wishes and her subsequent self-immolation at Daksha's sacrifice, leaving Shiva grief-stricken and having lost interest in worldly affairs. In the Brahma Vaivarta Purana, Sati appears before Shiva, in her divine form, and reassures him that she will return as the daughter of Himavat.^[12] Sati is reborn as Parvati, the daughter of Himavat and Menā and is named Kali, 'the dark one', because of her complexion.^[13] Sati, as well as Parvati, are considered manifestations of Mahadevi, the great Goddess.^[13] In the Ramayana, the river goddess Ganga is depicted as the elder sister of Parvati. In the Harivamsa, Parvati has two younger sisters called Ekaparna and Ekapatala.^[5]

Wall carvings in Ellora Caves- A scene depicting the wedding of Shiva (four armed figure, right) and Parvati (two armed, left).

Parvati is depicted as interested in Shiva's tales and appearance from her very birth and eventually remembering her previous life as Sati.^[13] As Parvati grows into a young woman, she begins tapas (austerities) to please Shiva to grant her wish to reunite with him. She is portrayed as surpassing all other ascetics in austerity, undergoing severe mortifications and fasting. Finally, Shiva tests her devotion by sending an attendant (or appearing himself in disguise) to criticize Shiva. Untouched by the act, Parvati retains her desire for Shiva, compelling him to marry her. After the marriage, Parvati moves to Mount Kailash, the residence of Shiva.^[14]

Kalidasa's epic Kumarasambhavam ("Birth of Kumara") details with matchlessly lyrical beauty the story of the maiden Parvati: her devotions aimed at gaining the favor of Shiva, the subsequent annihilation of Kamadeva, the consequent fall of the universe into barren lifelessness, the subsequent marriage of Parvati and Shiva, the immaculate birth of Kumara, and the eventual resurrection of Kamadeva after Parvati intercedes for him to Shiva.

The depiction of Parvati’s marriage to Shiva, in the Shiva Purana, could be seen as an allegory illustrating the desire of an individual to achieve a state of liberation from a life of strife and banality. If one sets aside, for the moment, the idea of Shiva as a male entity, and sees him instead as representing a state beyond human suffering, then Parvati becomes symbolic of the aspirant who wishes to achieve nirvana, and the story becomes something considerably more than a quaint romantic tale. The acharyas (scholastic saints), who wrote the Puranas, may have interpreted Parvati’s asceticism as a means of winning Shiva’s hand in marriage, in order to discourage young girls from following the goddess’s example and becoming renunciates. In modern day Hinduism the marriage aspect of this story has been inflated in importance, but the most compelling picture we are left with is Parvati as an ascetic.^[15]

Main forms of Parvati[link]

As per devi bhagwata Purana, Goddess Parvati is lineal progenitor of all other goddesses. She is one who is source of all forms of goddesses. She is worshiped as one with many forms and name. Her different mood brings different forms or incarnation.

• Durga is demon fighting form of this Goddess, and some texts suggest Parvati took the form of Goddess Durga to kill Demon Durgam.
• Kali is another aspect that was assisted by Goddess Chandi while fighting with rakta bija. She was born from the forehead of the goddess. But many interpretations of scriptures suggests that it was Goddess Chamunda who has gotten same iconography as goddess Kali who is nobody but an aspect of Kali, even Parvati is considered as Goddess Kali herself in her ferocious form.
• Goddess Chandi is the epithet of Maa Durga, who is created by the collection of all demigods and trimurti power, and then considered as power of sagun parashakti (Parvati), She is black in color and rides on lion, she is known as the original slayer of Demon Mahishasura, Considered as a form taken by Durga herself.
• Ten Mahavidyas are the ten aspects of Shakti, in tantra all have great importance in majority, they all took birth from Goddess Sati, previous Incarnation of Shakti before Goddess Parvati. There is no difference between Sati and Parvati.
• 52 Shakti Peethas of Sati, proves that all Goddesses are expansions of the Goddess Parvati.

Several Incarnation of the Goddess[link]

• Goddess Meenakshi
• Goddess Kamakshi
• Goddess Lalita, the Original Goddess of Universe, Parvati is referred as her complete incarnation.
• Goddess Akhilindeshwari And many others^[16]

Association with Shiva[link]

Ardhanarishvara, Elephanta Caves. The sculpture's left is female and the right is male, depicting Parvati and Shiva.

Parvati's legends are intrinsically related to Shiva. It is only in goddess-oriented Shakta texts, that she is said to transcend even Shiva, and is identified as the Supreme Being.^[1] Just as Shiva is at once the presiding deity of destruction and regeneration, the couple jointly symbolise at once both the power of renunciation and asceticism and the blessings of marital felicity.

Parvati thus symbolises many different virtues esteemed by Hindu tradition: fertility, marital felicity, devotion to the spouse, asceticism, and power. Parvati represents the householder ideal in the perennial tension in Hinduism in the household ideal and the ascetic ideal, re

Shiva and Parvati, India

presented by Shiva.^[17] In classical Hindu mythology, the "raison d’être" of Parvati, and before that of Sati, is to lure Shiva into marriage and thus into a wider circle of worldly affairs.^[18]

Parvati civilizes Shiva, the "great unpredictable madman" with her presence.^[17] When Shiva does his violent, destructive Tandava dance, Parvati is described as calming him or complementing his violence by slow, creative steps of her own Lasya dance.^[19] In many myths, Parvati is not as much his complement as his rival, tricking, seducing, or luring him away from his ascetic practices.^[19] Again, Parvati subdues Shiva's immense sexual vitality. In this context, Shiva Purana says: 'The linga of Shiva, cursed by the sages, fell on the earth and burnt everything before it like fire. Parvati took the form of a yoni and calmed it by holding the linga in her yoni'. The Padma Purana also tells the story of Parvati assuming the form of yoni to receive lingam of Shiva, who was cursed by sage Bhrigu to be the form of the lingam.^[20]

Three images are central to the mythology, iconography and philosophy of Parvati:

1. The theme of Shiva-Shakti
2. The image of Shiva as Ardhanarishvara (the Lord who is half-woman)
3. The image of the linga and the yoni

These images that combine the two deities, Shiva and Parvati, yield a vision of reconciliation, interdependence and harmony between the way of the ascetic and that of a householder.^[21]

Parvati as Annapurna, giving alms to Shiva.

The couple are often depicted in the Puranas as engaged in "dalliance" or seated on Mount Kailash or discussing abstract concepts in Hindu theology. Occasionally, they are depicted as quarrelling.^[6] In stories of the birth of Kartikeya, the couple are described as love-making generating the seed of Shiva. Parvati's union with Shiva symbolises the union of a male and female in "ecstasy and sexual bliss".^[22] In art, Parvati is depicted seated on Shiva's knee or standing beside him (together the couple is referred to as Uma-Maheshvara or Hara-Gauri) or as Annapurna (the goddess of grain) giving alms to Shiva.^[23]

Shaiva approaches tend to look upon Parvati primarily as the Shiva's submissive and obedient wife and helpmate. However, Shaktas focus on Parvati's equality or even superiority to her consort. The story of the birth of the ten Mahavidyas (Wisdom Goddesses) of Shakta Tantrism. This event occurs while Shiva is living with Parvati in her father's house. Following an argument, he attempts to walk out on her. Her rage manifests in the form of ten terrifying goddesses who block Shiva's every exit.

As the scholar David Kinsley explains,

The fact that [Parvati] is able to physically restrain Shiva dramatically makes the point that she is superior in power. The theme of the superiority of the goddess over male deities is common in Shakta texts, [and] so the story is stressing a central Shakta theological principle. ... The fact that Shiva and Parvati are living in her father's house in itself makes this point, as it is traditional in many parts of India for the wife to leave her father's home upon marriage and become a part of her husband's lineage and live in his home among his relatives. That Shiva dwells in Parvati's house thus implies Her priority in their relationship. Her priority is also demonstrated in her ability, through the Mahavidyas, to thwart Shiva's will and assert her own.^[24]

Mother of Ganesha[link]

Shiva pouring water on the head of baby Ganesha, who is being held by Parvati

Though Ganesha considered as son of Shiva and Parvati, the Matsya Purana, Shiva Purana, and Skanda Purana ascribe the birth of Ganesha to Parvati only, without any form of participation of Shiva in Ganesha's birth.^[25]

Once, while Parvati wanted to take a bath, there were no attendants around to guard her and stop anyone from accidentally entering the house. Hence she created an image of a boy out of turmeric paste which she prepared to cleanse her body, and infused life into it, and thus Ganesha was born. Parvati ordered Ganesha not to allow anyone to enter the house, and Ganesha obediently followed his mother's orders. After a while Shiva returned and tried to enter the house, Ganesha stopped him. Shiva was infuriated and severed Ganesha's head with his trishula (trident). When Parvati came out and saw her son's lifeless body, she was very angry and sad. She demanded that Shiva restore Ganesha's life at once. Unfortunately, Shiva's trishula was so powerful that it had hurled Ganesha's head so far off that it could not be found. Finally, an elephant's head was attached to Ganesha's body, bringing him back to life. Still upset, Parvati demanded her son be made head of the celestial armies and worshipped by everyone before beginning any activity, and gods accepted this condition.

Ganesha is identified as a god named after his mother. He is called Umaputra, Parvatisuta, Gaurisuta meaning son of Parvati and Heramba, "mother's beloved (son)".^[26]

Iconography[link]

Statue at the Mayuranathaswami Temple, Mayiladuthurai depicting Parvathi in the form of a peahen worshipping a shivalinga, the symbol of god Shiva

Naturally, Parvati’s unique characteristics have become more and more obscured, as she absorbed more and more goddesses into her iconography. Therefore, her depictions have become rather generic today. When shown with Shiva, she carries a blue lotus in full bloom, shows the abhaya mudra (hand gesture of fearlessness) and usually has one of her children on her knee. The only hint of her former occult status is the somewhat languid appearance of her eyes, as one who has recently emerged from deep meditation. Other goddesses are usually shown with large staring eyes as this is considered a mark of beauty. The consorts of the other two Gods of the trinity, Saraswati and Lakshmi, may be depicted alone, but Parvati hasn’t been depicted this way for many centuries.

The goddess is usually represented as a fair and beautiful.^[27] The colour of her vestments is milk-white, the colour of enlightenment and knowledge. Since white is a combination of all hues it shows that She has all the qualities or Gunas. Since white also depicts huelesness, it indicates that She is devoid of all Gunas. Hence, She is referred to as Trigunatmika (having the three gunas—Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas—and at the same time being Nirguna (without any gunas). She has three eyes. Her accoutrements tend to be those of a Rishi (seer). She is also usually depicted with jatamukuta or a crown of matted hair, as Shiva is usually depicted. She is also shown as having a crescent moon bound in her locks, like Shiva.

Parvati is consistently depicted with bare breasts and wearing a sacred thread in Pallava, Chola, and Jain statuary, right up until the Muslim invasion in 12th century AD. Bare breasts were considered a mark of divinity in ancient India and only those Goddesses who were exclusively divine may go about "skyclad", as it were. Clothes symbolised the body and earthly attachments whereas nudity was indicative of unfettered divinity.^[28] According to the Iconographic Dictionary of the Indian Religions by Gosta Leibert, She carries a rosary, mirror, bell, and citron in her four hands.^[29]

Images of Parvati, wearing a sacred thread something not many women are associated with and as this marks the second-birth or dwija it is seems an advanced concept far beyond early pashupatas, and with her hair styled in a top knot like a Rishi (seer) survive into the Chola period (approximately ninth century A.D.). In fact, these two particularities were the only means of distinguishing her statuary from the images of the Goddess Shri of the time.^{[citation needed]}

Her Mudras (symbolic hand gestures) are Kataka—fascination and enchantment, Hirana—the antelope, the powers of nature and the elusive, Tarjani—gesture of menace, and Chandrakal—the moon, a symbol of intelligence. Kataka must be affected by one of the foremost hands as it is a means of drawing the worshiper closer. Tarjani must be described with the left hand, which symbolises contempt, and usually in the back set of hands. If Parvati is depicted with two hands, then Tarjani and Chandrakal may be dropped but Hirana and Kataka are signature except in very modern representations, where Abhaya (fearlessness), and Varada, (beneficence), are used.

Mount[link]

Parvati’s Vahana (animal vehicle), is usually considered to be a Lion nowadays, in her form of Durga’s, but was probably originally one of the mountain lions native to the Himalayas. It was also, likely, a Lioness, as Parvati’s cult is so exclusively feminine.^[30] Although there is no documentation to support an affiliation between Goddess Parvati and this wondrous, mythic animal, it does seem an appropriate vehicle for an ascetic magical mountain goddess with an exclusively female clergy and following.^[31] In certain aspects of Parvati, such as the Mahagouri form of the Navadurga group, her vahana is Shiva's vahana, Nandi, the sacred bull.

Association with other goddesses[link]

Parvati as Meenakshi

In several myths, the presence of a dark, violent side of this otherwise benign Parvati is suggested. When approached by the gods to defeat demons, Parvati typically gets angry at the prospect of war and from her wrath emerges a violent goddess, which proceeds to fight on Parvati's behalf. This goddess is usually identified as the terrible, black aspect of the goddess, Kali.^[17] In Linga Purana, Parvati summons Kali on the request of Shiva, to destroy a female asura (demoness) Daruka. The legend further concludes with Kali breast-feeding Shiva, who appeared on the battlefield as an infant.^[32] Kali is associated and identified with Parvati as Shiva's consort.^[33]

In Skanda Purana, Parvati is said to have assumed a form of a warrior-goddess and defeated a demon called Durg who assumes the form of a buffalo. Thereafter, she is by the name Durga.^[34] In myths relating to her defeat of demons Sumbha and Nisumbha, Durga emerges from Parvati when Parvati sheds her outer sheath, which takes an identity of its own as a warrior goddess.^[34]

Although Parvati is considered to be synonymous with Kali, Durga, Kamakshi, Meenakshi, Gauri and many others in modern day Hinduism, many of these “forms” or incarnations originated from different sects, or traditions, and the distinctions from Parvati are pertinent.^[35]

The Shastras (sanctioned works of religious doctrine) attribute the golden colour of goddess Gauri’s skin and ornaments to the story of Parvati casting off her unwanted dark complexion after Shiva teased her, but the cult of Gauri tells a different story. Gauri is in essence a fertility Goddess, and is venerated as a corn mother which would seem to suggest that she owes her colouring to the hues of ripening grain, for which she is propitiated.^[36]

So whatever be said, Goddess Parvati has two main forms, what actually shaktas says out of which one is Lalita who is Supreme in Srikula family of shaktism and second one is Durga or kali who is supreme in kalikula family.

Worship and festivals[link]

Festivals[link]

Parvati worshipped as Gauri

The Gauri Festival is celebrated on the seventh, eighth, ninth of Bhadrapada Shukla paksha. She is worshipped as the goddess of harvest and protectress of women. Her festival, chiefly observed by women, is closely associated with the festival of her son Ganesha (Ganesh Chaturthi). The festival is popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka.^[37]

In Rajasthan the worship of Gauri happens during the Gangaur festival. The festival starts on the first day of Chaitra the day after Holi and continues for 18 days. Images of Issar and Gauri are made from Clay for the festival.

Another very popular festival in regard to the Mother Parvati is Navratri, in which all her manfestations are worshiped for nine days. Actually the festival is associated with Her warrior appearance is Mother Durga, with her nine forms i.e. Shailputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kashmunda, Skandmata, Katyani, Kalratri, Mahagauri, Siddhidaatri.

Another festival Gauri tritiya is celebrated from Chaitra shukla third to Vaishakha shukla third. It is believed that Parvati spends a month at her parent's home now. This festival is popular in Maharashtra and Karnataka, less observed in North India and unknown in Bengal. The unwidowed women of the household erect a series of platforms in a pyramidal shape with the image of the goddess at the top and collection of ornaments, images of other Hindu deities, pictures, shells etc. below. Neighbours are invited and presented with turmeric, fruits, flowers etc. as gifts. At night, prayers are held by singing and dancing.^[38]

Famous temples[link]

Some of the famous temples where Parvati forms are predominantly worshipped include,

• Akilandeswari temple at Thiruvanaikaval in Tamil Nadu, India
• Ambaji temple at Ambaji, Gujarat, India
• Attukal Temple, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
• Chottanikkara Temple, Near Cochin, Kerala
• Kamakshi Amman temple at Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu, India
• Meenakshi temple at Madurai in Tamil Nadu, India
• Abirami Temple in Tamil Nadu, India
• Shakti Peethas

See also[link]

• Adi parashakti
• Chandi
• Dakshayani
• Devi Gita
• Durga
• Kali
• Mahadevi
• Shakti
• Meenakshi
• Matrikas
• Devi
• Lalita
• Mother Goddess
• Devi Mahatmya

Notes[link]

References[link]

• Hindu Goddesses: Vision of the Divine Feminine in the Hindu Religious Traditions (ISBN 81-208-0379-5) by David Kinsley
• Researches Into the Nature and Affinity of Ancient and Hindu Mythology By Vans Kennedy; Published 1831; Printed for Longman, Rees, Orme, Brown, and Green; 494 pages; Original from Harvard University; Digitized Jul 11, 2005 [2]
• Hindu Mythology, Vedic and Puranic By William J. Wilkins; Published 2001 (first published 1882); Adamant Media Corporation; 463 pages; ISBN 1-4021-9308-4
• Śiva, the Erotic Ascetic By Wendy Doniger O'Flaherty
• Mythology of the Hindus By Charles Coleman
• Sacred Places of Goddess: 108 Destinations By Karen Tate

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Parvati

• Devotional hymns and eulogies on Parvati

v t e Hindu deities and texts Gods Deva Ganesha Brahma Vishnu Shiva Rama Krishna Murugan Hanuman Indra Surya more Goddesses Adi parashakti Devi Saraswati Lakshmi Sati Parvati Durga Shakti Kali Sita Radha Mahavidya Navadurga Matrikas more Texts Vedas Upanishads Puranas Ramayana Mahabharata Bhagavad Gita more Hinduism Hindu mythology

Parvati Shallow (born September 21, 1982 in Vero Beach, Florida) was the $1,000,000 winner of the reality television series Survivor: Micronesia after receiving votes from Eliza Orlins, Jason Siska, Alexis Jones, Natalie Bolton, and Cirie Fields. She had previously competed in Survivor: Cook Islands where she placed sixth,^[1] and later was the runner-up in Survivor: Heroes vs. Villains. As of July 5, 2011, Parvati stars in CBS's Around the World For Free.^[2]

Biography[link]

Shallow grew up the eldest of three siblings on a commune in Vero Beach, Florida. She and her family moved to Atlanta when she was 11 years old. Shallow put herself through college, attending the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism with minors in French and Italian. While in college, she was an active member of the Alpha Omicron Pi sorority.

Shallow began competing in boxing in 2004. She and some fellow boxers created a non-profit organization titled "Knockouts for Girls", a charity that provides scholarships and boxing lessons for underprivileged girls. She completed the Nautica Malibu Sprint Triathlon and is scheduled to compete in the Wildflower Olympic Distance Triathlon at Lake San Antonio, CA^[3]

In 2009, Shallow and fellow Survivor contestant Amanda Kimmel appeared in the movie Into the Blue 2 (as Herself). In 2010, Shallow was the host on a CBS Survivor preview segment for the 21st season, Survivor: Nicaragua.

Shallow is the new host of the webseries Around the World For Free, which began airing on July 5, 2011.^[4]

[edit] Survivor

Shallow originally auditioned for The Amazing Race along with her friend. They did not make the final cut. CBS producers, however, remembered her from her auditions and then approached her to take part in Survivor, which she accepted.[1]

Cook Islands[link]

Shallow originally appeared as part of the Rarotonga tribe, which represented Caucasians, along with Adam Gentry, Jonathan Penner, Jessica "Flica" Smith, and Candice Woodcock. Her tribe did not face any danger for the first six days as they had immunity. At the end of the second immunity challenge, Billy Garcia of the Aitu tribe told Shallow and Woodcock that he was next to go. Woodcock replied, "We love you" and Garcia belived Woodcock and he fell in love. Shallow was particularly allied with Gentry and Woodcock, who were romantically involved. When the four tribes were merged into two, Shallow and Gentry remained in Rarotonga while their other tribemates were sent to Aitutaki. Despite being stronger in number, the new Rarotonga continually lost in challenges. Shallow pressed for the eliminate of J.P Calderon, whom she thought as arrogant and he became the fourth person voted out, despite his physical strength. Shallow survived her tribe's next three Tribal Councils as John Paul "J.P." Calderon, Stephannie Favor, and Cristina Coria were voted off. When the contestants were down to 12, a 'Mutiny' twist was presented where anybody could change tribe affiliations, and for the first time it was accepted. Shallow's former tribemates Penner and Woodcock decided to jump back to Rarotonga, thus having all remaining Caucasian contestants on the same tribe. Rarotonga lost the next two Immunity challenges and Shallow remained loyal to her "White Alliance" by eliminating Brad Virata, Rebecca Borman, and Jenny Guzon-Bae. At the merge, despite coming with a 5–4 member advantage over Aitutaki, Shallow found herself at the minority as Penner betrayed his former tribemates and joined the Aitu 4 in voting out Nathan "Nate" Gonzales. Shallow was angry with Penner and even cut her thumb with a machete a day following Penner's betrayal while cutting a cocunt, saying she was imagining the coconut was Penner's head. After alliance member Candice was eliminated, Shallow and Gentry found themselves fighting for survival. Despite being on the outs, Shallow was able to retain her strength and won two reward challenges, one being the loved one challenge. This worried the Aitu 4, who were dissatisfied with how Gentry and Shallow lay around camp sleeping, while they worked and got their food. In an attempt to stay in the game, Gentry and Shallow talked to Yul Kwon about voting out Penner (who betrayed their alliance) first in exchange for their jury votes, a plan which succeeded. On day 36, Shallow was finally voted out in a 4–2 vote when the Aitu 4 saw her craftiness as more of a threat than Gentry's physical strength. As a juror, she cast her vote for runner up Ozzy Lusth. Shallow was noted for being a flirt throughout the season. She flirted with Nate Gonzales to ensure his loyalty, had 'cuddle sessions' with Gentry and sat naked in a hot tub with Kwon and Lusth during a reward challenge.

Micronesia[link]

Shallow returned as a "Favorite" and part of the Malakal tribe. She formed a close bond with James Clement and the two formed an alliance with another couple consisting of Amanda and Ozzy Lusth. After their tribe lost the first Immunity Challenge, they tried swinging Jon Dalton over to their side to gain a majority over the alliance of Yau-Man Chan, Ami Cusack, Eliza Orlins, and Jonathan Penner. However, Dalton was voted out instead as he was deemed as untrustworthy. Shallow then made a pact with Cirie Fields to go all the way to the final three with Kimmel. After losing the 3rd Immunity Challenge, Shallow was targeted by the opposing alliance but her alliance (now with Cirie) succeeded in voting off strategic threat Chan.

At the tribal switch, Shallow and Clement were separated from their alliance as they moved to Airai. However, she remained safe as her tribe won the remaining tribal Immunity Challenges. On day 20, she made a deal with Natalie Bolton to an alliance with Clement and Alexis Jones plus a final four deal with Jones and Kimmel, both of which Bolton accepted.

At the merge, Shallow found herself in a good position as she was allied with six (Jones, Kimmel, Fields, Bolton, Lusth, Clement) of the 9 people left. During the 10th Immunity Challenge, Shallow convinced Jason Siska to step down from the challenge so that she could win Immunity, which worked (under the condition that the tribe would not vote for Siska). However, Shallow's "Couples Alliance" decided to turn back on what they said and vote off Siska. Fields saw this as an opportunity to blindside physical threat Lusth and needed Shallow for it to work, which she agreed to. She recruited her Airai female allies Bolton and Jones to the plan, and Lusth was voted off 5–4. After Lusth was voted off, Shallow found herself in a failed attempt to patch things up with Clement and Kimmel (who kept her distrust to herself). The five remaining women then formed an alliance to vote off the men, starting with Siska. However, when Clement was evacuated and Erik Reichenbach won Immunity, they were forced to vote off one of their own. Kimmel was the intended target, a plan which Shallow did not want to be part of. She then helped Kimmel in her quest to find the Hidden Immunity Idol (which she found buried under the tribal flag) and together, they voted off possible jury threat Alexis.

Shallow made it all the way to the final three with Fields and Kimmel (as promised) However, she was shocked to learn that only two of them would face the jury. She was eliminated first at the Final Immunity Challenge but was chosen to be in the Final Two by Kimmel. At the Final Tribal Council, Shallow convinced the jury to vote for her because of her aggressive game play compared to her previous season. Despite being accused of being a mean person by Eliza Orlins and a backstabber (by Ozzy Lusth), the jury decided to award Shallow the title of Sole Survivor with a vote of 5–3 against Kimmel.

Heroes vs. Villains[link]

Parvati returned to play Survivor for a third time as a part of the villain’s tribe. She quickly accepted an alliance with Russell Hantz and Danielle DiLorenzo. Her tribe won the first two immunity challenges, but they lost the third on Day 8. Parvati was immediately targeted for being a huge social and strategic threat, and also for having a possible alliance with three of the heroes (James, Cirie and Amanda). She was spared, however, to get rid of the weaker link, Randy Bailey.

The Villains then continued their challenge dominance, winning 4 challenges in a row, two being reward and two being immunity. During this, one of Parvati's allies, Russell, found a hidden immunity idol, causing Boston Rob's alliance of Tyson, Courtney, Jerri, Sandra and Coach to target them. On Day 15, both tribes were to be sent to tribal council with one person from each tribe winning immunity. Parvati knew she needed immunity, but failed to get it (Boston Rob won it). The majority alliance would split their votes with Sandra Diaz-Twine, Rob Mariano, and Tyson Apostol voting for Hantz and Jerri Manthey, Benjamin "Coach" Wade, and Courtney Yates voting for Shallow. If one of them played the Hidden Immunity Idol, a revote would occur and the alliance would vote for whoever was left among the two. Russell knew that Rob's alliance would split the voted between him and Parvati, so he tricked Tyson to switch his vote to Parvati. At tribal council, Russell gave his idol to Parvati, negating her four votes and blindsiding Tyson with votes and Russell getting two.

On Day 18, the villains lost immunity, and the Parvati, Russell and Danielle alliance were still struggling to gain control of the game. They finally gained control when they persuaded Jerri to switch sides and vote out Russell's rival, Rob "Boston Rob" Mariano. The Heroes were beginning to think that the villain’s side was being run by an all female alliance, led by Parvati. When the villains lost immunity again do Day 21, they decided to vote Coach out to further confirm the Heroes belief of that. Coach became the first jury member. On Day 22, the villains won a reward challenge where they got to go to outback steakhouse. There, Parvati found a clue to the hidden immunity idol and showed it to Danielle, to get her to trust her more than their other ally, Russell. The next day, Parvati and Danielle both found the idol together. They decided not to tell Russell, to keep him out of the loop for awhile. On Day 24, the villains lost immunity again and James "J.T" Thomas Jr. gave his idol to Russell, in hopes that he would use it to vote out Parvati. Russell, however, showed it to Parvati, along with Danielle and Jerri, and began to laugh about it. They then discussed on whether to get rid of Sandra or Courtney. Parvati wanted to get rid of Sandra, trusting Courtney more, but ended up voting with the rest of the villains to vote Courtney out.

On day 25, the Heroes and Villains merged into Yin Yang and went to the Heroes camp. The heroes were surprised to see Parvati still in the game. Parvati and Russell came up with this story that they both played their idol, negating all votes and that in the revote they voted out Courtney. The new tribe quickly alienated Parvati, making Parvati swear to get revenge on all of the heroes. For the immunity challenge on Day 27, Parvati and Danielle were the last two remaining. Parvati decided to give it to Danielle, because Parvati already had the idol. Before tribal council, Russell gave Parvati his idol, making Parvati the most dangerous player in the game with two idols. Parvati went and then talked to Amanda, to see if she could trust her. Amanda told Parvati to play the idol for herself. Parvati didn't believe her, and at tribal council, she made the biggest move of the game, by playing both idols. One of them went to Sandra and the other to Jerri. All of the hero’s votes against Jerri did not count and JT was sent home in a 5-0 vote.

Russell was furious with Parvati for keeping her idol a secret from him. The heroes began to work on flipping Sandra to their side, to get rid of Russell. After Jerri won immunity, the heroes switched their target to Parvati in case Russell played a hidden immunity idol. However, the villains had already flipped Candice to their side but their plan failed, with Amanda begin sent to the Jury in a 6-3 vote. Parvati won immunity on day 31, and then Candice was voted out in a 5-3 vote. On day 33, Russell won immunity, and decided to turn on his alliance. He tried to pit Parvati and Danielle against each other, but failed. Russell then aligned with the heroes to vote Danielle out, and with a little help from Jerri, Danielle was voted out in a 4-3 vote. On day 34, the final six were visited by their loved ones. Jerri won immunity and chose to bring Parvati and Sandra with her. Russell then aligned with the heroes and decided to target Parvati. However, his plan was ruined when she won immunity on day 36. They then voted Rupert out in a 4-0 vote (Sandra played her idol, negating two votes). Parvati then won her third challenge on Day 37, and they voted the last hero, Colby, out of the game in a 4-1 vote. After Parvati failed to win the final immunity challenge, it seemed that she would be voted out, since everyone wanted her gone. Parvati wanted to get rid of Sandra, thinking she would get a lot of votes in the end. However, they voted out Jerri Manthey in a 3-1 vote, because Russell believed he would get her vote on the jury.

At the final tribal council, Parvati started with her opening statement by saying that she came into the game not knowing of the threat that she was to everyone. She said she put a line of defense together and that's where Russell came in. She said that Russell was the dragon and instead of slaying him, she kept him, as her pet. She ended her opening statement by saying that she felt that she played the ultimate strategic game, physical game, and social game. Colby asked Parvati what strategic plays she made beyond challenges and what makes her more impressive than either Russell or Sandra. Parvati argued that she was the target throughout the entire game, pointing out that everyone on the jury wanted her out and that JT wrote it in his letter. She continued by saying that she felt she needed to make bolder moves than the other two and that the riskiest move she made was when she had two idols and Amanda told her she needed to play it for herself. She gave them to Jerri and Sandra to ensure their loyalty to her for the rest of the game. Coach was next and called Parvati the charmer and manipulator of the three sitting beside her. He then went on to say that he was wrong about Parvati, saying that he thought she was going to be weak in the challenges. He said that she was, however, a "warrior" in them. He then said that the "ironic twist of fate" was that the day he finally trusted her, was the day that she blindsided him.

Amanda did not ask Parvarti any questions. Courtney started her statement by congratulating all three of the final villains. Courtney said that Parvati played a great game and was "athletic as hell". JT asked Parvati how well she thought she did in the game. Parvati said that the biggest difference in her and Sandra's game was that Sandra didn't need to work as hard in challenges, because post-merge Sandra wasn't a threat. She said that she had to work in challenges because she was always the threat. Danielle congratulated Parvati, but said nothing else. Jerri asked Parvati what happened the night she was voted out. Parvati responded by telling her that Russell wanted her on the jury because 100% he knew that he was getting her vote. Candice was next and told Parvati that she played this game "under Russell's thumb." Then she went on to compare it that she was like a "spouse in a bad abusive relationship" and that she wanted her to get out of it. She went on to say that she likes Parvati, but can't support that. Rupert was next and referred to Parvati as a "very strong player." He also stated that he was very disappointed that she aligned with Russell. Parvati then went on to say that she didn't have a choice and that by the first day, seven people on her tribe wanted her out. Rupert then went on to say that Parvati and Sandra both deserved the vote because Parvati worked to get here. He also stated that she fought in the challenges and deserved to be in the final three.

In the end, Parvati came in second, gaining the jury votes of Coach, Danielle and Jerri. She beat Russell Hantz, who received no votes, and was beaten by Sandra Diaz-Twine, who got the votes of all heroes, plus Courtney. At the reunion, it was revealed that Parvati had played more days than anyone else in survivor history, with 114 days in three seasons, a record that was surpassed in 2011 by "Boston" Rob Mariano, who played a total of 117 days in four seasons.

External links[link]

• Parvati Shallow bio for Survivor: Cook Islands at CBS.com
• Parvati Shallow bio for Survivor: Micronesia at CBS.com
• Parvati Shallow at the Internet Movie Database

References[link]

Parvati Melton
Parvati Melton
Born	Parvati Melton (1989-01-07) 7 January 1989 (age 23) California
Residence	Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India
Nationality	American
Other names	Paro
Ethnicity	Indian, German
Occupation	Model, Actress
Years active	2004 – present

Parvati Melton (born 7 January 1989^[1]) is an Indian American actress and former model who mainly works in Telugu Film Industry. She appeared in several Telugu and Malayalam movies. She acted with Raja in the film Vennela, which turned out to be a success. She acted in the super hit Malayalam film Hallo with South Indian star Mohanlal.^[2] She again shot to fame with item song in Telugu movie Dookudu opposite Mahesh Babu.^[3]

Biography[link]

Parvati was born in California to a German father Sham Melton and an Indian Punjabi mother Darika Preet.^[4] Parvati stated that she was named by her father, who though being German practices Hinduism. She has one younger sister Ariana Sitara Melton.^[5] She is a trained Bharatanatyam dancer. She graduated from Emeryville High School and attended Vista Community College in Berkeley, California. She took part in several beauty pageant's and won the Miss. Teen India Bay Area pageant in 2004 and the Miss India Le Visage USA pageant in 2005. She speaks fluent English, Hindi, Urdu and rudimentary Punjabi, Gujarati and Telugu. While still studying in Vista College, she was offered the lead role in the Telugu film Vennela. Although she intended to go back to school but the film's success kept her away.^[6]

Filmography[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Parvati Melton at the Internet Movie Database

Pooja Bose (Bengali : পুজা বোস) is an Indian Television actress. She had played the role of Radha in Balaji Telefilms' Kahaani Hamaaray Mahaabhaarat Ki.^[1] She played the lead role Vrinda in the Balaji serial Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajna with her co-actor Kunal Verma, which aired on STAR Plus.^[2]

After starting her television career with Ekta Kapoor's Kahani Hamare Mahabharat Ki, Pooja Bose would now be seen in Balaji's upcoming romantic show Tujh Sang Preet Lagai Sajana, in which she is playing the role of a simple Punjabi girl, Vrinda. Pooja only views the shows in which she works in and hence couldn't compare her shows with the other shows aired on television. But the actress confidently declared her show to be a hit since the show belongs to Ekta Kapoor.^[3]

She has also acted in a Telugu film titled Veedu Theda^[4]. She did her debut in the film Macho Mustaana with Hiran formerly titled Macho Mustanaa(formerly called Macho Mustafaa but it changed its title due to objections from Muslim clerics regarding the use of the word "Mustafaa"^[5] ). She bagged a role in Dev's next film Challenge 2 starring, Dev, Raj Chakrabourt, Prosenjit & others. Another unconfirmed movie is Diwana Holo Mon opposite Hiran.

Filmography[link]

Television[link]

References[link]

Sonarika Bhadoria is a new face in TV. She is playing the lead role of Abhilasha in a TV show named Tum Dena Saath Mera which is airing on a new channel Life OK. She completed her high school from Yashodham High School, Goregaon, Mumbai (Bombay) and now she is doing her first year BA from Dhanukar College of Commerce.^[1][2][3]

References[link]

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