Uma is called the Trinity Goddess. She is also called as, ‘Mountain Goddess’, ‘Lady of the Mountains’ or the ‘Goddess of Light’. She is also known as Mahadevi, Chandi, Parvati, Umaa, Ambika, Shyama, Kali, Bhairavi, Rudrani, Kanyakumari, Jagadmata, Maheshwari, Durga, Dakshayani, Sati and Gauri. She has been portrayed as beauty with benign power. Uma imparts the vital virtue of balance to humans being the ancient Mountain Goddess. Uma represents light which makes understanding possible and also illumines and is born of love.
Her consort is Lord Shiva. She is Mena, the celestial nymph and daughter of Himavat or Giriraj Himalaya (personification of the mighty Himalayan Mountains) and his wife Menaka. When Uma was born, her parents were overjoyed to see their beautiful daughter. Ganga, the sacred river is Uma’s sister. According to Hindu scriptures, Uma is also a fierce form of Goddess Durga. She helps in sorting out conflicts in heaven by playing the role of mediator.
Uma is believed to be the daughter of Daksha Prajapati in her previous life and was named Sati. A huge Yagya was performed by Daksha her father, but he didn’t invite Lord Shiva as he didn’t like him. Uma couldn’t bear the insult of her husband not being invited to the Yagna and in anger she jumped into the sacrificial fire after condemning her father, Daksha.
It is believed that Uma is Shiva’s immense strength. A Shiva Pooja is not complete without the Uma Devi Pooja. It was Uma Devi who foiled the attempt of Pralayasur, the demon king when he attempted kidnapping Ganga Devi.
