What Shiva & Parvati Teach Us About Raising Children Right

Today we live in a time period in which parenting advices come from every direction, whether it is through social media or books and magazines. However, if we dig deep into the traditional wisdom of Hinduism, we can attain true parenting lessons from the Gods themselves. Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi are two of the perfect of examples of ideal parents. In this article, we will explore 3 timeless parenting lessons from two of the most revered Gods of Hinduism.

When we observe the character traits of Kartikeya and Ganesha, we can we understand that both of them are unique in their own ways. Kartikeya is action-oriented, competitive and brave. Whereas, Ganpati is strategic, calm and thoughtful. When Lord Shiva asked them to circle around the world, one chose to circle around his parents and the other went on and conquered the world. The truth is, both of them are different and became successful in their own ways. Like Lord Shiva and Paravati Devi, today’s parents should understand the temperaments and fundamental natures of their kids and support their strengths early on. Instead of comparing, we have to appreciate the unique qualities of each child.

Even though Lord Shiva is detached from material life and wanders as an ascetic, He is fiercely protective when it comes to the dilemmas faced by his family and children. Similarly, Goddess Parvati is also protective and strong. Nevertheless, She also makes sure that the children launch themselves in their purposeful journeys. Hence, we can see Kartikeya leaving home at an early age in order to carve out his path. Lord Ganesha also becomes responsible early on in his life. Their parents ensured that neither of the kids stayed in the comfort and safety of parental care forever. Therefore, as modern parents, we should know when we should shield our kids from hurts and when to let them fly independently. The whole process can be compared to how we fly a kite. Each moment, we have to slowly raise them into the air, till they reach absolute independence.

When we look at the character traits of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, we see that they are opposite in a number of ways. The Lord is meditative, engaged in profound stillness and detached. Parvati Devi, on the other hand, is nurturing, grounded and deeply engaged in family matters. Lord Shiva punished Ganesha for not allowing him inside when Goddess Parvati was taking a bath. Nonetheless, realising the other side of the story, Maha Dev restored balance and the whole family came together. The key is that each parent can have their own temperaments and character traits. However, children feel safest when they see that the parents respect each other. Parents have to stand together even if they don’t think in similar ways.

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