Acccording to Padma purana, Ashoka Sundari, was born to Shiva and Parvathi before birth of Ganesha. Parvathi felt lonely many times, as Shiva would leave her alone many times to visit his devotees. Once when both of them were under karpagavriksham, the wish-fulfilling tree, Parvathi tells Shiva her problem and asks for a girl child who could be with her to wardoff her loneliness.This wish was instantly granted. She was named Ashoka as she got rid of Parvati’s shokam or sorrow and Sundari because she was very beautiful.
Ashoka Sundari was to be married to Nahusha, grandson of Yayati of the lunar dynasty. There was a demon who tries to abduct her. However she escaped fromm him and curses him that her husband would become the reason for his death. Later, Ashoka Sundari and Nahusha got married in the ashram of Sage Vashishta. After this Nahusa kills the demon and saves the life of many sages.
In many vrat-katha of Gujaratis we come to know that, Ashoka Sundari was present at the time Ganesha was beheaded by lord Shiva. She gets too afraid that she hides herself behind a sack of salt. When Parvathi comes to know of this, she gets really frustrated and letdown. She curses her own daughter, that her fame would go down and she will not be known to all and she will be one with salt always.
Since this is said to have happened in Chaitra month, Gujaratis still refrain from getting salt during the month. They believe that it would bring in the wrath of Parvathi if they get salt that month.
We learn from this mythological incident that whoever we may be we must be brave and courageous and stand for the right when there is a need. Being a witness of an evil deed is as good as doing the deed itself.
Jai Uma Maheshwara !!!
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