In the early days of creation there lived a divine couple in love. The woman was radiantly beautiful and brought joy wherever she moved. The man was serious and brought peace wherever he resided. It was a strange union of opposites between life’s creativity and Spirit’s withdrawal. Each needed and lived for the other. The whole universe was their palace of love. Everywhere they went life reflected their bliss and serenity. But on the dark side of the universe there were the masters of materialism. These wizards of the lower powers planned to turn creation in a path entirely opposite that seen by the divine couple. The masters of materialism wanted a world to develop that was governed only by ego, strife, and short lived sensual pleasures. So all the lords of the lower powers decided to perform a sacrifice whose success would determine the future course of life’s evolution in this world. Everyone was invited to attend this pompous grand sacrifice except the divine couple. With the ingredients of wealth, desire, and violence being magically poured into the sacrificial flame the ceremony of the masters of materialism moved ever closer to completion. Only one force could stop this sacrifice of the wizards of the lower powers.

The divine woman of bliss and beauty decided to end this dark sacrifice by throwing her life into the flames. So while her divine husband was lost in the Spirit’s contemplation, she separated from him and went toward the place where the sacrifice was being held. She was an uninvited guest, and her appearance startled all the masters of materialism. It was an absolute contrast of characteristics. On one side was all the darkness and limits of ego’s growth in matter, while on the divine woman’s side was all the hope and possibilities of the Spirit’s growth in creation. To make the world’s evolution into Spirit safe, she jumped into the flames of the evil sacrifice. Her body was burnt to ashes, but she vowed never to separate from her ascetic husband. She would return and join with the divine ascetic in a love that would never die for the welfare of all of creation.

The divine ascetic awoke from his meditation with a shock of anger. He saw in his yogic vision his wife’s supreme sacrifice to end the scheme of the lords of the lower powers to conquer and control the future evolution of life in the universe. From out of the divine ascetic’s third eye materialized a fiery ghost of vengeance armed with a trident and a sinister grin. The ancient yogi commanded the ghost of vengeance to march toward where the sacrifice was being held and to annihilate it from the face of the earth. So bowing low to the lord of yoga, the ghost of vengeance set off to destroy the evil sacrifice being armed with his thunderbolt trident. Soon the ghost of vengeance reached the spot where the pompous sacrifice of the masters of materialism was being held. Without showing any trace of mercy the ghost of vengeance began to immediately destroy, with his punishing trident, every article and utensil used in the sacrifice. The area of the sacrifice swiftly became one chaotic shambles. Next the ghost of vengeance, with supernatural speed, appeared to be everywhere at once engaged in the cruel task of slaughtering all the evil wizards of the lower powers. There was no escape for anyone responsible for the death of the ascetic’s wife. Finally with his mission of destruction completed, the ghost of vengeance returned to his lord of yoga and became absorbed into his third eye.

Now all existence seemed full of loneliness and sorrow for the once great ascetic. Every place he wandered, he was haunted by the lovely face of his departed wife. There was no peace of mind for the divine ascetic. He tried to lose himself in meditation, but instead only tears of loneliness ran down his eyes. His love for his wife remained although the ages slowly passed on. The divine ascetic’s only meditation was a hope beyond hope to be again reunited with his departed wife. Then a new age arose. In this cosmic cycle divine love would triumph over death and materialism. The goddess reentered this world by being born on the same icy high Himalayan Mountain that Siva was meditating on. Siva suddenly felt love’s warm embrace expanding in his heart. The great yogi opened his eyes and saw Parvati worshipping her husband.