One day, Lord Shiva was explaining Vedas to his wife, Goddess Parvati. The discussion went on for several years. One day, Goddess Parvati lost her concentration in the discussion. This angered Lord Shiva, who in a fit of anger said “Go to earth and take birth as a fisherwoman.”
Goddess Parvati pleaded, “What have I done?” But Lord Shiva did not reply.
In the absence of Goddess Parvati, Lord Shiva grew sadder day by day. His servant Nandi could not bear the anguish of his master. He thought that his master would be happy only is his beloved would come back to Mount Kailasha.
Meanwhile, Goddess Parvati took the form of the baby girl. The chief fisherman noticed her by the tree, picked her up and got her home. The fisherman brought the girl up as his daughter and named her Parvati. Soon, years went by, and Parvati grew into a beautiful girl. She would assist her father in fishing and could even row faster than anyone else in the village.
On the other side, Lord Shiva was still yearning for his wife. Nandi went to him and asked, “Why don’t you call Goddess Parvati back?” Lord Shiva replied. “I cannot! According to her birth, she is destined to marry an angler”.
Hearing this, Nandi came up with a plan. He turned himself into a large whale and went to the sea where the fishermen would go fishing. He annoyed and troubled the fishermen by upturning their boats and tearing off their nets.
The fishermen then went to complain the chief of the fisherman. The fisherman announced “Whoever catches the whale would win the hand of my daughter”. Many fishermen tried, but none could catch the whale.
Dismayed, the chief then prayed to Lord Shiva, “Oh Lord, help us get rid of the large fish”. Even Parvati prayed, “Oh Lord, please come to our help”.
Lord Shiva heard Parvati’s pleadings and transformed into a young and handsome fisherman. He appeared in front of the Chief Fisherman and said that he will catch the whale. Seeing his master,
Nandi happily let Lord Shiva catch him.
The marriage of Shiva and Parvati was arranged, and they were again reunited.
