Devon Ke Dev...Mahadev

Plot

The series follows Lord Shiva’s transformation from a solitary ascetic into a husband and householder. During the world’s creation, Adi Parashakti separates from Shiva’s Ardhanarishvara form. To shape the universe, she attempts to marry Shiva through 106 different births, but each fails, leading Shiva to become an ascetic. Lord Brahma then advises his mind-born son, Prajapati Daksh, to appease Adi Shakti and ask her to be born as his daughter.

She is born for the 107th time as Daksh’s daughter, Sati. Meanwhile, Shiva cuts off Brahma’s fifth head, causing Daksh to despise him. Sati falls in love with Shiva and marries him, angering Daksh. At his yagna, Daksh humiliates Shiva in front of Sati.

Unable to bear her husband’s insult, Sati sacrifices her life. Enraged, Shiva orders Virabhadra to behead Daksh, but later revives him at Prasuti’s request and enters deep meditation for centuries. Adi Parashakti is then born for the 108th time as Parvati, daughter of Himavan and Menavati. Aware of her divinity, she grows up in Dadichi’s hermitage and from childhood calls Mahadev her husband, which her mother dislikes.

As an adult, Parvati tries to convince Mahadev she is Sati reborn, but he rejects her and turns Kamadev to ashes. Kama’s wife Rati curses Parvati. Parvati then agrees to marry as her mother wishes, but she and Himavan eventually make Menavati realize Parvati’s true identity, and Menavati relents. Parvati meditates for 3,000 years to win Mahadev’s hand, and they finally marry.

Later, Mahadev teaches Parvati tantric knowledge, enabling her to take forms such as Nav Durga, the Mahavidyas (Kali, Tara, Tripura Sundari, Bhuvaneshvari, Tripura Bhairavi, Chhinnamasta, Dhumavati, Bagalamukhi, Matangi, and Kamala), and the Matrikas, which she uses to destroy demons like Raktabeej, Shumbha Nishumbha, Chanda Munda, Durgmasura, Arunasura, and Banasura.

Production

Ritoo Jenjani had done the prosthetic makeup for the presentation of Kali. 90 people were working in the graphic department of the series. An episode of the series cost ₹14 Lakhs for production. In April 2014, a fire broke out on one of the show's sets in Mumbai. However, none were injured with only minor damages to property.

Sonarika Bhadoria was replaced by Puja Bannerjee as Parvati in July 2013. However, in June 2014 Bannerjee quit citing health issues and was replaced by Suhasi Dhami. Mouni Roy who quit the series with the end of her role in 2012 returned as Sati in 2014.

Reception

The series started with a viewership rating of 0.7 TVR. Following which in the initial six months, it ranged between 2 and 3 TVR. Later, the episode of 9 September 2012, featuring Kali killing the demon Raktabija rated the show its highest viewership with an 8.2 TVR being the highest TVR of Hindi television program during the year.

In week 3 of 2013, it garnered an average rating of 3 TVR. In week 7, it was one of the top ten watched Hindi GEC program with 3.6 TVR. Amar Ujala claimed that some events mentioned in the series were distorted and not mentioned in any Puranas and Shastra.

Did You Know?

• Mohit Raina featured in Limca Book of Records for portraying about 52 characters in the series, with his main role being Shiva.
• The series was released on DVD in 2014 by Ultra Media & Entertainment.