'... the marriage of Siva and Parvati, typified in its original idea the union of Purusha and Prakriti, the supreme Soul and dynamic Nature by which the world is created; but this type of divine legend was used esoterically to typify also the Nature-Soul's search for and attainment of God, and something of this conception pierces through the description of Parvati's seeking after Siva.'
~
the Parvati-Parinaya परुषस्तपोविशेषस्तव पुनरङ्ग शिररीषसुकुमारम् | व्यवसितमेतत्कठिनं पार्वति तद् दुष्करमिति प्रतिभाति, a fine Vyasian couplet.
"Harsh is this austerity of thy choosing; thy body again is tender as a Sirisha flower; yet iron firm is thy resolve, O Parvati; a hard thing truly this seemeth."
Sri Aurobindo -CWSA - The Poetry of Kalidasa/Notes on Kumarasambhavam
A chloritic schist from the Hoysala period of Indian history. The carving depicts the god Shiva, his goddess wife Parvati, and various other deities and creatures. [Birmingham Museum of Art]
Chola fresco - Siva and Parvati
Brihadeshwara Temple. Researchers have discovered the technique used in these frescoes. A smooth batter of limestone mixture is applied over the stones, which took two to three days to set. Within that short span, such large paintings were painted with natural organic pigments. [wikipedia]
God Shiva and Goddess Uma Seated with Their Son, Skanda (Somaskanda). Tamil Nadu, India. Bronze 13-14thC [Art Institute of Chicago]