Two of Parvati's most famous epithets are Uma and Aparna. Shaktas consider the Parvati as an incarnation of Lalita Tripurasundari. Other names which associate her with mountains are Shailaja (Daughter of the mountains), Adrija or Nagajaa or Shailaputri (Daughter of Mountains), Haimavathi (Daughter of Himavan), Devi Maheshwari, and Girija or Girirajaputri (Daughter of king of the mountains). Parvati is known by many names in Hindu literature. Aparneshar Temple of Mantalai, Udhampur in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir is considered as the birthplace of Parvati and site of Shiv-Parvati Vivah. King Parvat is considered lord of the mountains and the personification of the Himalayas Parvati implies 'she of the mountain'. Parvata ( पर्वत) is one of the Sanskrit words for 'mountain' 'Parvati' derives her name from being the daughter of king Himavan (also called Himavat, Parvat) and mother Mena. 11th century sculpture from the British Museum. Parvati as a two-armed consort goddess of Shiva (left), and as four-armed Lalita with her sons Ganesha and Skanda, Odisha, India.

She is found extensively in ancient Indian literature, and her statues and iconography are present in Hindu temples all over South Asia and Southeast Asia. In Hindu temples dedicated to her and Shiva, she is symbolically represented as the argha. She is also well known as Kamarupa (the embodiment of one's desires) and Kameshvari (the lady of one's desires). In Shaivism, she is the recreative energy and power of Shiva, and she is the cause of a bond that connects all beings and a means of their spiritual release.

Parvati is generally portrayed as a gentle, nurturing mother goddess, but is also associated with several terrible forms to vanquish evil beings such as Durga, Kali, the ten Mahavidyas, and the Navadurgas. For Vaishnavites, she is respected as Vishnu Vilasini, or 'she who dwells on Vishnu', as stated in the Mahishasura Mardini Stotram. For Shaivites, she is considered to be the divine energy between a man and a woman, like the energy of Shiva and Shakti. The Puranas also reference her to be the sister of the river goddess Ganga, and the preserver god Vishnu. Parvati is the mother of the Hindu deities Ganesha and Kartikeya. Parvati is the daughter of the mountain-king Himavan and queen Mena.

She is the reincarnation of Sati, the first wife of Shiva who immolated herself during a yajna (fire-sacrifice). Parvati is the wife of the Hindu god Shiva. Along with Lakshmi and Saraswati, she forms the Tridevi. She is one of the central deities of the goddess-oriented sect called Shaktism, and the chief goddess in Shaivism. She is also revered in her appearances as Durga and Kali. In her complete form, she is a physical representation of Mahadevi, also known as Adi Shakti, the primordial power behind the creation of the universe, the creator and destroyer. Parvati ( Sanskrit: पार्वती, IAST: Pārvatī), Uma ( Sanskrit: उमा, IAST: Umā) or Gauri ( Sanskrit: गौरी, IAST: Gaurī) is the Hindu goddess of power, energy, nourishment, harmony, love, beauty, devotion, and motherhood.

Harmony synonym