Skanda, guardian of the heavens, went on to destroy many demons who opposed the reign of the gods. But he could not defeat the demon Raktabija. Whenever this demon's blood touched the ground, a thousand new demons sprang to life. He seemed unconquerable.

To aid her son in his endeavor to rid the three worlds of the demon, Parvati entered the cosmic battlefield as the dreaded goddess Kali - dark as death, gaunt with sunken eyes, gaping mouth, with long disheveled hair covering her naked body.

Kali spread her tongue over the battlefield and licked the demon's falling blood catching on her long, outstretched tongue before the drop could find its way to the ground springing a demonic life anew. Raktabija, without his multiplying numbers was left powerless. Skanda was able to dispatch Raktabija and all his remaining duplicates with ease.

Skanda thanked his mother for her timely help. To celebrate her victory, Kali danced wildly on the battlefield, bedecking herself with a garland of served heads and a girdle of severed hands.

Shiva Calms Kali

Intoxicated with Raktabija's blood, Kali ran amuck across the three worlds, destroying everything and everyone in her sight.

To restrain her, Shiva took the form of a corpse and blocked her path. As the goddess, blinded by bloodlust, tripped on his lifeless body, she was jolted out of her frenzy. She wondered if she had killed her own husband. She placed a foot on Shiva's chest and brought him back to life.

Shiva then took the form of a little child and began to cry, stirring maternal love in the heart of Kali. This forced her to shed her fierce form; Kali became Gauri, the radiant mother, bestower of life.

Guardian of Thresholds

When Shiva returned to Kailas, Parvati's son failed to recognize his mother's consort and prevented him from entering the cave. Irritated by the child's insolence, Shiva raised his trident and cut off his head.

When Parvati saw her son's headless body she wept and out of her tears came her fierce handmaidens, the Yoginis, who threatened to destroy the whole world. To placate Parvati, Shiva resurrected the child by placing an elephants head on the severed neck. Shiva also accepted Ganesh as the first of his sons.

Ganesh, who had prevented Shiva from crossing the threshold of his mother's cave, became keeper of thresholds, an obstacle to all that is undesirable. He who seeks access to the wisdom, bounty and mystery of Nature worships Ganesh beloved son and sacred doorkeeper of Shakti.

The Divine Homemaker

With Parvati by his side, Shiva became a family man. But he did not abandon his ways as a hermit: he continued to meditate and immerse himself in narcotic dreams. His carefree attitude, his refusal to shoulder household responsibilities sometimes angered Parvati. But then she would come to terms with his unconventional ways and make peace. The consequent marital bliss between Shakti and Shiva ensured harmony between Matter and Spirit and brought stability and peace to the cosmos.

Parvati thus became Ambika, goddess of the household, of marriage, motherhood, and family.