Parvati

Parvati, the divine consort of Shiva and mother of the universe, occupies a quietly significant place in Premanand's *Okhaharan*. Though the narrative centres on the abduction of Aniruddha and the heroic exploits surrounding Usha's love, Parvati appears as a celestial presence whose grace and intercession shape the unfolding drama. Her role reflects the classical Puranic understanding of her as both a tender mother and a formidable goddess whose blessings carry cosmic weight.

In Premanand's characteristically vivid Gujarati verse, Parvati is rendered with warmth and dignity, embodying the ideal of divine compassion. Her interactions with other deities and her concern for the welfare of devotees lend the narrative a devotional depth that goes beyond mere storytelling. Premanand, drawing on the *Bhagavata Purana* tradition while infusing it with the sensibility of medieval Gujarati bhakti, presents Parvati as a figure through whom the poem touches on themes of maternal love, divine protection, and the harmonious order of the cosmos.