The Aranyani
At the peaks of kailash
Lord Shiva assured, “"Oh dear Parvati! Offer your wish and see how she grants.”
Parvati became curious and meditated for a few moments and then did circumambulations along with Lord Shiva and said, “Oh Divine Mother! You, who is present everywhere, you who is the embodiment of power and Energy! Please bless to have a most beautiful girl with nine divine gifts o
f peace, purity, knowledge, energy, patience, respect, prosperity, success and happiness." At once, the wish of Parvati was fulfilled with the touch of breathing air of Lord Shiva and Parvati as a most beautiful young girl emerged at once from the Kalpavriksha. The child appeared with a snow-white body and clothed with roses and on her head a wreath of flowers falling from her golden hair. Sweetness was in her lips, life in her mouth and brilliancy in her eyes and face radiating like sun. Her anklets’ bells produced musical sounds while moving with pleasure stunningly beautiful creation and laden with vitality charm and love visible. The most joyous Parvati surprised and looked at Lord Shiva in astonishment. Aranyani is the Goddess of the Forests and Animals that dwell within them. Forests are the primary source of life and fertility. The forest as a community is viewed as a model for societal and civilization evolution, as a source of life, nature venerated as sacred and human evolution measured in terms of man’s capacity to merge with her rhythms and patterns intellectually, emotionally and spiritually. The forest has thus nurtured an ecological civilization in the most fundamental sense of harmony with nature. Such knowledge that came from participation in the life of the forest was the substance not just of Aranyakas or forest texts, but also the everyday beliefs of tribal and peasant society. The forest as the highest expression of the earth’s fertility and productivity is symbolised in yet another form as Tree Goddess.
