She is a reincarnation of Siti who had killed herself in response to her father's scorn of her love for her husband Shiva. Shocked at Sita's death Shiva wandered to the Himalayas to meditate and practice a life cellibacy. Here he was approached by Parvati, a simple mountain girl who, hoping to gain his attentions, followed the same ritual excercises as he.

Shiva, shot with an arrow of desire by Kama broke from his meditation and promised to fulfill Parvati's dearest wish. Sita loved Siva still, and she had been reincarnated in Parvati.

Shiva is described at this time as a hirsute, filthy, wandering individual but Parvati was madly in love with him anyway and allowed him anything. She represented the energy of god, the power which creates and maintains (and also destroys).