Vijayā
Vijayā is the close sakhī (female companion) of Pārvatī. She stayed with Pārvatī through the years of her tapas (austerity) at the mountain āśrama (hermitage). When Śiva came, disguised as an old brahmacārī, to test Pārvatī, Vijayā spoke for her. She told him the whole story of Pārvatī’s tapas and why Pārvatī wanted Śiva.
Who she is
The Pārvatī Khaṇḍa of the Rudra Saṃhitā in the Śiva Purāṇa names Vijayā as the chief sakhī of Pārvatī during her tapas. Her name comes from vijaya (victory). It suits the companion of a tapas that ended in the greatest victory, the union of Pārvatī with Śiva. She was with Pārvatī through the hard years of her sādhanā (spiritual practice).
The Kaumārika Khaṇḍa of the Skanda Mahā Purāṇa also places sakhīs with Pārvatī during her tapas and her service at Śiva’s āśrama. The Śiva Purāṇa is the text that names Vijayā in the account of the brahmacārī test. (Chapter 26)
At the brahmacārī test
Śiva came to Pārvatī’s tapas āśrama disguised as an old brahmacārī, a Vedic student who had given up worldly life. Pārvatī welcomed him fully, as a visitor deserves. She gave him water, a seat and fruits. Vijayā was with her.
After the welcome, Vijayā spoke to the brahmacārī and told him why Pārvatī was at the āśrama. She told him:
- Who Pārvatī was: the daughter of Himavān and Menā, the young woman doing this great tapas.
- Why she was there: to win Śiva as her husband through the power of austerity.
- How long her tapas had lasted and what kind it was, including the strict niyamas (vows) she had kept.
- What she wanted: Śiva and no one else.
Vijayā’s telling came before the brahmacārī‘s long criticism of Śiva. That criticism was the test, and Pārvatī passed it with her passionate defence of Śiva. Because Vijayā had told him everything, the brahmacārī knew exactly what Pārvatī wanted and could test the depth of her resolve. (Chapter 26)
Sources
- Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Pārvatī Khaṇḍa, Chapter 26
- Skanda Mahā Purāṇa, Kaumārika Khaṇḍa (sakhīs with Pārvatī during her tapas)