This is the Story about Tapasya of Shreemati Parvati-Devi from “Shree Skanda-Purana”, very beautiful Verses, emphasizing Siddhanta according to which Shreemati Parvati-Devi always Worships Bhagavan Shiva in consonance with Shaiva-Agamas.
3.18.49-52. On being permitted by the ascetic The Daughter of the Mountain had a Hermitage got ready and engaged Herself in the task of performing a great penance.
In order to protect the Hermitage She appointed Satyavati, Kananavasini, Subhaga and Dhundhumari in the east and other quarters.
For the over-all defence of the entire penance grove She commanded Durga of unthwartable impetuosity who was capable of carrying out all orders.
Thereafter Parvati converted Her ornamented braid of hair accustomed to wear Mandara (Erythrina Indica) flowers into a matted hair for the sake of penance.
3.18.53. The Lady of delicate limbs cast off Her silk cloth as light as mist with the fringe as soft as the down of a swan and began to wear rough bark garments.
3.18.54. Her delicate fingers, tender like sprouts, could not bear even the strain of plucking flowers (formerly), but now with them She cut sharp-edged Kusha grass without any adverse effect.
3.18.55. As soft and tender as Shirisha (Acacia Sirissa), She gathered the sprouts of Bilva tree full of thorns as hard and sharp as diamond needles.
3.18.56. Early in the morning She used to have Her holy dip in the sanctifying river Kamala. She then duly worshipped the Sun-god with red lotuses.***
*** Verses 56ff give the daily routine of the performance of penance by Parvati. The procedure of Siva-Worship as detailed here is based on Shaiva-Agamas.
3.18.57. With the waters of the river Shreenadi mixed with Darbha grass, Aksata ('raw rice') and Tila ('gingerly seeds') Goddess Gauri performed the water-libations to the Devas, sages and Manes.
3.18.58. In a mystic circle made of sands She invoked the Sun-god and worshipped him with lotuses. Thereafter Gauri circumambulated it and bowed to it a thousand times.
3.18.59. She Herself installed a Linga of Shankara. Parvati worshipped The Linga in accordance with the injunctions laid down in the Agamas.
3.18.60-61. She propitiated the Sun-god by offering seat, making Murtis and reciting Mula Mantras. She performed the various ancillary rites.
In the different quarters She worshipped (the attendants) the chiefs of whom were Dandin and Pingala, Shaktis beginning with Dipta, the planets beginning with the Moon in the different quarters.
She showed the mystic gestures (mudras) of Dhenus (cows) etc.
The Nirmalya (निर्माल्य - 'remnants of the worship') was dedicated to the fierce splendour (of the Sun).
She then offered the foodstuffs prepared.
3.18.62. With the extremely good Argha (i.e. water and other materials of worship) She sprinkled all round. She worshipped the door and the site of the abode. She performed the Nyasa and other rites too.
3.18.63-67. She performed the purificatory rite of the Bhutas (elements). Afterwards She performed the Antaryaga (internal sacrifice).
Assuming the lotus-posture in Her heart She worshipped Jnana (Knowledge), Dharma (Virtue) and others in due serial order.
She assigned Vama and other Saktis on the petals (of the heart-lotus). The Sun and god Brahma were posted at the tip of the Petal, the Moon-god and Bhagavan Shree Vishnu at the end (tip) of the filaments, the Fire-god and god Shiva at the tip of the pericarp (of the heart-lotus).
Above that She placed the group of Shaktis and had the Pancha Brahmans installed then.***
***The Pancha-Brahmans are The Five Faces (Aspects) of Bhagavan Shiva, viz. Sadyojata, Vamadeva, Tatpurusha, Aghora and Ishana.
With the limbs (of Her Mental Self) She received them with Padua ('water to wash feet') and other relating formalities of reception and performed their ablution.
She offered them sandal-paste, flowers and other articles of worship.
She offered them incense and waved lamp (light) before them.
She again worshipped The Pancha-Brahmans and 6 Angas. She performed all the due formalities of worship of Indra and others and of (their weapons like) Vajra and others according to injunctions.
She then scattered flowers in 8 directions.
3.18.68. After worshipping The Five Faces of Shiva She completed the worship of ChandEshvara.
She always worshipped Shiva by means of circumambulation, obeisances and other due formalities.
3.18.69-70. She performed the Homa rite by means of those materials which yield conjugal felicity in accordance with the injunctions laid down in Shaiva Agama.
At the end of The Worship when the fire is removed, She made the customary Upacharas ('services').
She Herself then welcomed and rendered services to guests with bulbous roots, roots, fruits etc.
3.18.71-73. She performed various types of penances in various seasons.
During summer She used to stand on the tip of Her big toe in the middle of the five fires.
During early winter She used to stand in whirlpools and get nourishment from the nectar of the Moon.
During the nights of rainy season despite the downpours of rain She stood motionless in darkness. She appeared as a streak of lightning accompanying a cloud.
She spent the nights of late winter season displaying lotuses in the form of Her hands and feet and the Moon in that of Her face. She could display these without any fatigue.
3.18.74. By offering the seeds of Nivara paddy She nurtured the deer staying in the neighbourhood—the deer that had never experienced violence.
3.18.75. With great love and affection She brought up and nursed all the trees in the Hermitage by regularly pouring water in the basins at their roots, the water brought in big pots by excellent girl-attendants.
3.18.76. That daughter of the leader of Mountains circumambulated The Sona mountain everyday in the company of Her friends for the fulfillment of Her ambition.
3.18.77. She performed the Japa of the five-syllabled Mantra (viz. Namah Shivaya). She uttered and recited Hymns to Shiva.
Mentally She meditated upon the Lord in the form of The Sona mountain.
3.18.78. Everyday The Daughter of the Mountain offered obeisance to the Lord of Arunacala by a regular performance of circumambulation etc.
Conversant with the injunctions laid down in the Shaiva Agamas She performed the penance for a long time.
from Volume 03 of the English edition
by Motilal Banasirdass,
Volume 03, pages 158-161
