Parvati and Andhak
The Second Birth of Andhaka After Andhaka's death, Śiva sees that the demon's greatest tragedy was not simply his blindness, but that he had grown up separated from the mother who could have taught him love before desire and possession distorted his understanding. Śiva therefore grants him another birth. Birth High in the Himalayas, where snow-covered peaks rose above deep forests of deodar and birch, Pārvatī lived in a secluded mountain dwelling surrounded by nature. A waterfall descended through the rocks nearby, its continuous roar mingling with the sound of mountain winds. During the day, sunlight touched the distant peaks; at night, the valley was illuminated by moonlight reflected from the snow. The walls of the Himalayan cave seemed to hold an ancient celebration of desire. Between carved lotus flowers and curling vines were paintings of Kāma and Rati, their bodies posed in intimate embraces beneath flowering trees. Their faces were turned toward one another with unm...
