An early but post-Vedic (see Vedic entries) Hindu (see Hinduism entries) personification of divine wisdom, Umā like Pārvatī (see Pārvatī), with whom she is identified, is the wife of Śiva (see Śiva). Thus Śiva is sometimes called Umāpati, the spouse of Umā. As the daughter—like Pārvatī—of Himavat, the King of the Himālayas, Umā represents a high state of spiritual being. In the Kena Upaniṣad (see Upaniṣads), it is Umā who explains to the other gods that the “Supreme Spirit” is Brahman (see Brahman).
