Devalok

Stories 2

All kinds Origin Legend Local story Folk tale From the epics Festival story Temple legend In stone and bronze How a tradition frames it
Everywhere Pan-India 95 South India 67 West India 30 East India 22 North India 15 The Himalaya 12 Northeast India 5 Southeast Asia 4 Central India 4
✕ marriage devotionbooncreationdisguisesupremacycursepenancepridetestdancepilgrimagesacrificebirthemanationfirebeheadingdemon slayingdesireiconographyausteritychurningcombined formcosmogonyhomecominglingapoisonrebirthriveratonement

Tradition: Shaiva · clear

Festival story · 2 tellings

Nanda goes to Kailash as a bride

Every twelve years Garhwal and Kumaon walk the mountain goddess Nanda three weeks from her mother's home to Shiva's Kailash as a young bride.

Nanda Devi, Shiva

The Himalaya Pan-India

Festival story · 2 tellings

Shiva the begging farmer of the Gajan

At Bengal's Chaitra Gajan devotees become Shiva and his ganas, act out his marriage and beg from house to house; the god is a poor householder scolded by his wife.

Shiva, Parvati, Shiber Gajan

East India Pan-India