Letters from Sri Ramanasramam, by Suri Nagamma

Opening it, Bhagavan said, “Here is the story. Sati Devi,
the wife of Siva and the daughter of Daksha, gave up her life
as she was insulted by her father during the yajna performed
by him. She was subsequently born to Himavantha and
Menaka. She wanted only Lord Siva as her husband, and to
achieve that purpose she set out for doing tapas. Menaka,
while trying to prevent her from doing tapas, said, ‘U (no),
Ma (give up)’. That is how she got the name of Uma.” After
reading that out, he gave me the book. While I was turning
over the pages, Bhagavan was laughing quietly. I could not
make out the reason. After a while, Bhagavan himself told
us the following:
“Look! There is another story to it. Parvati started out
for tapas, even though Menaka tried her best to dissuade
her. Finding dissuasion of no use, Himavantha took her
(Parvati) to the tapovana (hermitage) where Siva was staying
in the form of Dakshinamurthy and said. ‘This little child of
mine wants to do tapas. Please allow her to be under your
care.’ Seeing Parvati, Siva said, ‘Why tapas at this tender age?
Why does she not go home with her father?’ Parvati said,
‘No, I won’t go.’ Parameswara tried to dissuade her skilfully
by saying, ‘I have conquered prakriti (nature) and so could
concentrate on this tapas. If you are to be here, you will be
exposed to the ravages of prakriti. So please go back.’ Parvati
was equally skilful; so she said, ‘Oh Lord! You say you have
conquered prakriti. Without some relationship with prakriti
how could you do tapas? You have just spoken. How could
you do that without prakriti? How could you walk? Without
your knowing it prakriti is occupying your heart. If it is not
for the sake of arguments, if you are really above the influence
of prakriti, why are you afraid of my staying here?” Siva was
pleased with this and said, “Ingithagna! (you who are skilled
in thought-reading), Madhurvachani! (you who are sweet of
speech). Stay on!’ and sent Himavantha home. This story is
in this book in detail.”
I said, “The story of Dakshayani is in the Bhagavatham
also, but this conversation is not given there. The story itself
is very interesting.” Bhagavan said laughing, “Yes, yes. I read
another story somewhere in which it was stated that after
Kama was burnt to ashes, Parameswara came in a Brahmin’s
garb, made love to Parvati and married her. Himavantha
was worried over the caste of his son-in-law. What could he
do? Whomsoever he asked, pleaded ignorance of the matter,
and there was no one who could enlighten him. So he kept
quiet. Subsequently Parvati closed the eyes of Parameswara
for fun, whereupon the whole world fell into turmoil.

Parameswara saved the world by opening his third eye. Then
Parvati realised her fault and started doing tapas, and after
staying here and there for that purpose she at last came
here to Arunachala where she got the approbation of
Arunagireeswara, and obtained Ardhanareeswara (half the
body of Siva). When Himavantha came to know of it, he
said, ‘Oh yes, the son-in-law is not of another caste but he is
of our own caste’ and felt pleased and happy. This Arunachala
is a mountain. Himavantha too was a mountain.”