With the marriage completed, Shiva again devoted himself to maintaining cosmic order. Through violent dances, Shiva destroys what he deems unnecessary or unworthy. Shiva's wild arms and hair are said to crash into heavenly bodies, knocking them off their course or destroying them. In contrast, Parvati is depicted as the patient and gentle presence. She has concern for the beings and objects he demolishes, and she therefore attempts to lessen their pain by softening Shiva's blow of destruction. As proclaimed by the seven sages, her goal in the marriage, was to domesticate Shiva, to refine him, to lessen his anger, and to modify his unruly passions.
While the union of Shiva and Parvati is generally portrayed as a happy one, the two do indeed have marital difficulties. Once as sunlight streamed into a cave in which Parvati and Shiva were lying, Shiva looked at Parvati and laughed for he thought she looked as dark as the pit of death. As she had always been sensitive about her dark color, Parvati was hurt by Shiva's words and moved into the Deodar Forest. Once there, she performed a rigorous set of ceremonies to lighten her complexion. She was successful, and the color that drained from her skin manifested to form the goddess Kali.
Parvati thus gained a Golden complexion and came to known as Gauri.
Shiva is shown in the picture completely captivated by Parvati's beauty, now turned fair with a Golden complexion.
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