Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c10.s2.t18.15

v2.c10.s2.t18.15

only the first eight cantos, with the remaining nine cantos being added by later generations. The poem describes the marriage of Lord Shiva (destroyer of the world) to Uma (goddess Parvati). Shiva at that time abstained from all desires and was conducting penance at the snow mountain, however, since the Tarakasura caused turmoil in the heaven and on the earth. Brahma suggested to the Gods to promote the marriage of Shiva to Uma, so that their son Kumara born out of this union could lead deities to destroy Tarakasura. Kumara was successful in defeating him in a single battle. Though *Vikramorvasiya* is a religious poem about divine characters, however, the poet has created a strong atmosphere of secular life, for example, the portrait of the Himalaya landscape and the divine marriage that has almost the same process as a secular marriage. It also incorporates the poet’s political opinion.