Love myths and legends

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Parvati Performing Severe Fasting and Penance in the Freezing Mountains to Win Shiva

🕉️ Hindu MythologyGauri Kund, Uttarakhand, IndiaParvati • Lord Shiva • Himavan

The story of Goddess Parvati's unwavering determination and severe austerity to regain the love of Lord Shiva. Through intense meditation and fasting in the freezing Himalayas, she transforms her physical self and proves her devotion to the Mahadeva.

Ceyx and Alcyone’s Transformation into Halcyon Birds

🏛️ Greek MythologyTrachis, Malian Gulf, GreeceCeyx • Alcyone • Zeus

Ceyx and Alcyone were a devoted royal couple whose love was so profound they compared themselves to the gods Zeus and Hera. Their hubris led to a tragic shipwreck where Ceyx perished, but the gods ultimately took pity on their grief, transforming the pair into kingfishers and granting them the 'Halcyon Days' of calm weather for their nesting.

Nanna Dying of a Broken Heart and Joining Baldr on the Pyre

🪓 Norse MythologyBorre Mound Cemetery, NorwayNanna • Baldr • Odin

Following the tragic death of the god Baldr by a mistletoe arrow, his wife Nanna is overwhelmed by a grief so profound that her heart physically breaks. During the grand funeral at the shore, as she witnesses her husband being laid upon his great ship Hringhorni, her spirit leaves her body. She is placed on the funeral pyre alongside Baldr, ensuring their union continues into the halls of the...

Völundr Forging Seventy Golden Rings for His Lost Swan Maiden

🪓 Norse MythologyLake Ämmern, SwedenVölundr • Hervör alvitr • Egil

Völundr, a master smith and son of a Finn king, lived in the Wolf-dales with his two brothers and their swan-maiden wives. After nine years of marriage, the maidens flew away to fulfill their destinies, leaving Völundr alone in his grief. While his brothers departed to search for them, Völundr remained at his forge, crafting seventy identical golden rings as a testament to his love and a...

Devayani Cursing Kacha and the Failure of the Sanjivani Vidya

🕉️ Hindu MythologySomnath, Gujarat, IndiaKacha • Devayani • Shukracharya

To level the playing field in the war between gods and demons, the sage Kacha is sent to learn the secret of immortality from the Asura guru Shukracharya. After surviving multiple murder attempts and eventually learning the secret from within the guru's own body, Kacha is cursed by the guru's daughter, Devayani, when he refuses to marry her on moral grounds. The curse ensures that while Kacha...

Bharata Falling at Rama's Feet in Chitrakoot

🕉️ Hindu MythologyChitrakootRama • Bharata • Sita

In a poignant meeting at Chitrakoot, Bharata confronts his exiled brother Rama, pleading with him to return to Ayodhya and reclaim his rightful throne. Despite Bharata's deep devotion and humility, Rama remains steadfast in his commitment to his father's promise, teaching a lesson in duty and righteousness.

Susanoo Chasing Okuninushi but Ultimately Blessing His Union with Suserihime

⛩️ Japanese MythologyYomotsu Hirasaka, Shimane, JapanOnamuchi (Okuninushi) • Suserihime • Susanoo-no-Mikoto

This myth tells of the young god Onamuchi, later known as Okuninushi, who flees to the underworld to escape his murderous brothers. There, he falls in love with Suserihime, the daughter of the storm god Susanoo, who subjects Onamuchi to a series of deadly trials. After escaping with Suserihime and Susanoo's sacred treasures, Onamuchi is chased to the gates of the underworld, where Susanoo...

Okuninushi Tying Susanoo's Hair to the Rafters and Escaping with His Treasures

⛩️ Japanese MythologyIzumo Taisha, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Susanoo • Suseri-hime

To escape his eighty jealous brothers, the young god Onamuji travels to the underworld, where he falls in love with the storm god Susanoo's daughter, Suseri-hime. Susanoo subjects him to a series of deadly trials, but with the help of Suseri-hime and a helpful field mouse, Onamuji survives them all. Finally, Onamuji outwits the storm god by tying Susanoo's hair to the palace rafters while he...

Princess Suserihime Falling in Love with Okuninushi When He Flees to Ne-no-kuni

⛩️ Japanese MythologySuga Shrine, Shimane, JapanOkuninushi • Suserihime • Susanoo

This myth recounts how the young deity Okuninushi fled the murderous plots of his eighty jealous brothers and sought refuge in Ne-no-kuni, the dark netherworld ruled by Susanoo. Upon his arrival, Okuninushi met Susanoo's daughter, Princess Suserihime, and the two immediately fell in love. Despite the grueling and lethal trials Susanoo forced upon his daughter's suitor, Suserihime's devotion...

The Princess Yakami-hime Choosing Okuninushi Over His Eighty Jealous Brothers

⛩️ Japanese MythologyHakuto Shrine, Tottori, JapanOnamuchi-no-Kami • Yakami-hime • The White Hare of Inaba

This myth tells the story of the gentle god Okuninushi, then known as Onamuchi, who traveled to the land of Inaba alongside his eighty jealous brothers. Along the way, he showed compassion to the flayed White Hare of Inaba, who prophesied that Onamuchi would win the hand of the beautiful Princess Yakami-hime. Despite his brothers' cruelty and attempts on his life, the princess rejected the...