Vatsala Sperling Reviews

Added June 2, 2005

How Parvati Won the Heart of Shiva

Author: Vatsala Sperling
Publisher: Bear Cub Books, an imprint of Inner Traditions
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2004
Genre: Children: Mythology/Hinduism/Illustrated
Format: Hardback
Price: $15.95
ISBN: 159143042-9
Reviewer:Ayden Delacroix
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

Contained in a classic folk tale and nestled among beautiful illustrations is a timeless message on the importance of patience and determination.

The Mother Goddess Adishakti and Shiva, Lord of All Gods, are an eternal couple. No matter what form they take when visiting Earth, they will always find each other and marry again.

Touched by the prayers of King Himalaya and his wife Mena, Adishakti determines to be born on Earth as their daughter. Given the name Parvati, she is beloved by all. The Sage Narada visits Himalaya and tells him his daughter Parvati is destined to marry Lord Shiva. Himalaya is dismayed until he learns Parvati is really the Goddess Adishakti.

In this lifetime, Shiva is a wandering wise man or yogi. He is so preoccupied with his meditations and spirituality; he doesn't recognize his beloved Adishakti when she comes before him with offerings. Disheartened by his dismissal of her, Parvati meditates and ceaselessly chants "Om Namah Shivaya". Many seasons pass before her chants reach Shiva and he recognizes her for his beloved and comes to marry her once again.

A classic Indian folktale How Parvati Won the Heart of Shiva both teaches and entertains. Parvati's devotion, patience and intense love for Shiva give her the strength to endure hardship. Even when others attempt to persuade her to abandon her quest, she refuses. My boys loved both the illustrations and the story. Discussing the many aspects of this story with them have been interesting, informative and fun.

How Parvati Won the Heart of Shiva is a treat for all ages!

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Added May 8, 2005

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head

Author: Vatsala Sperling
Publisher: Bear Cub Books, an imprint of Inner Traditions
Available At: Bookstores Everywhere
Publishing Date: November 2003
Genre: Children: Illustrated/Folk Tales/Mythology/India
Format: Hardback
Price: $15.99
ISBN: 159143021-6
Reviewer: Ayden Delacroix
Rating: 9 Gargoyles

What a beautiful retelling of a classic Indian tale.

The great mother goddess Parvati loved her husband Shiva, the god of destruction, but she hated when he intruded upon her relaxing baths. As she lay in a bath she realized she hadn't seen her husband in many weeks and the thought of him bursting in and disrupting her bath made it impossible for her to relax and enjoy her bath. Using sandalwood paste, she created a small boy, named him Ganesh, gave him a wand and asked him to guard the door and not let anyone enter until her bath was finished.

Shiva returns home and is surprised to find a little boy guarding his door. Even worse, the little boy denies him entrance. Having better things to do, he asks his pet bull Nandi to investigate further. When Nandi reports he was unable to enter as well, Shiva is visited by the other gods. Together they raise a massive army and hurricanes to fight and drive off the small boy.

When Parvati learns of the army threatening her son she is furious. She transforms her herself into Nav Durga, and on the back of a fearsome tiger helps drive back the army threatening her son. Horrified that a small boy was able to defeat their great army, Vishnu uses his razor-sharp chakra to destroy the boy's wand. Still refusing to let him enter, Ganesh throws the broken wand at Vishnu. Shiva angry the child attacked Vishnu comes up behind Ganesh and beheads him.

Parvati's rage knows no bounds and aided by host of goddesses, she wars against the earth, showing no mercy. Lord Brahma, the wise god of creation, speaks to her and in his quiet way asks her to stop. She rails at him saying they are the ones who killed her son and if they want to make things better they would have to give him back to her.

Faced with a mother's fury and goddesses threatening both Heaven and Earth, Vishnu searches the world over for a suitable head. Finally, they settle on an elephant for he possesses the qualities they wish, loyalty, strength, keen senses, long memories, calm minds and great wisdom. The elephant mother is asked to give up her child and after some thought she agrees to let the gods use her son. Vishnu passes to the infant elephant his love and compassion and brings the head is brought back and placed on Ganesh's lifeless body, restoring him to life. So pleased to have her son back, Parvati never notices and doesn't care that he looks different than before.

There are so many wonderful elements to this classic tale it's hard to know where to begin. You have Ganesh's fierce devotion to his mother, devotion so fierce he faces an army of gods just to obey her and protect her privacy. There is the unwavering love of mother for son; Parvati loves Ganesh no matter what he looks like and is proud of his devotion for her. Beautiful illustrations and great storytelling combine to create a tale children and adults will love reading over and over again.

How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head has become one of my sons' favorite stories. I love to hear the questions they ask even though they've heard the stories dozens of times. One of the most thought-provoking came from my oldest: "Why didn't Shiva ask why he couldn't come in?". This shed new light on the story for me, because all of the gods with all of their wisdom didn't ever stop to ask why they couldn't enter. If they had perhaps things would have been different.

Beautiful, exotic, fun, and unforgettable, How Ganesh Got His Elephant Head is a keeper.

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