Māyūreśvara Vivāha and Prasthāna

This narrative follows the death of the asura Sindhu. It is told in Chapters 124 to 126 of the Krīḍā Khaṇḍa of the Gaṇeśa Purāṇa. The devas who had been in prison are freed. Brahmā gives his two daughters Siddhi and Buddhi in marriage to Māyūreśvara. Māyūreśvara shows the Pañcāyatana Viśvarūpa, sets up four guardian devīs, begins a four-day festival in Bhādrapada, and then departs after giving his peacock to Kārttikeya.

The devas are freed

After Sindhu fell, the devas who had been held in his capital on the Gaṇḍakī were set free. They had been captives since the conquest of Amarāvatī. They came before Māyūreśvara with deep thanks and offered hymns of praise. Indra was made king of the devas again. The joy of the freed devas filled the three worlds. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 124)

The svayaṃvara of Siddhi and Buddhi

Brahmā arranged a svayaṃvara (a ceremony in which the bride chooses her husband) in Sindhu’s former capital, now called Māyūreśvara-purī, for his two daughters Siddhi and Buddhi. Both came forward in the assembly and put their garlands on Māyūreśvara. Brahmā himself did the whole Vedic wedding rite. He presided over the union of the two divine śaktis of attainment and wisdom with the victorious Tretāyuga avatāra.

All who had gathered, the devas, ṛshis, siddhas, gandharvas, kinnaras and apsarās, celebrated with music, song and dance. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 125)

The Pañcāyatana Viśvarūpa

At Māyūreśvara-purī, Māyūreśvara gave a great darśana (blessed sight) to all who were gathered. This was the Pañcāyatana Viśvarūpa. Five forms of the one supreme reality were shown together within his own divine form:

  • Gajānana (Gaṇeśa) in the centre, the supreme Parabrahman
  • Śiva in the south-east
  • Sūrya in the south-west
  • Pārvatī in the north-west
  • Vishṇu in the north-east

This vision showed that the five devatās of the Pañcadevatā are forms of one final reality. Worship of any one of them with full śraddhā (faith) leads to the same goal. The Gaṇeśa Purāṇa presents this darśana as the Tretāyuga beginning of the Pañcāyatana pūjā tradition. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 126)

The four guardian devīs

Māyūreśvara set up four guardian devīs in the four directions of Māyūreśvara-purī. They made a lasting sacred maṇḍala (circle) that protects the city:

  • Mārjārī in the east
  • Virajā in the south
  • Āśrayā in the west
  • Muktā in the north

These devīs are to receive worship every day as part of the religious life of the city. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 126)

The four-day festival in Bhādrapada

Māyūreśvara began a four-day yearly festival. It starts on Bhādrapada śukla pratipadā and ends on Bhādrapada śukla caturthī. He laid down the full pūjā-vidhi (rule of worship) for each of the four days, including the way of worship, the offerings, the mantras and the way to hold the celebration. The Gaṇeśa Purāṇa presents this four-day Bhādrapada festival as the origin of the yearly Gaṇeśa Caturthī kept across Bhārata. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 126)

Prasthāna and the gift to Kārttikeya

The work of the Tretāyuga was done. Sindhu was killed, the devas were freed, the Pañcāyatana teaching was given, and the festival was set up. Māyūreśvara got ready for his prasthāna, his departure from the role of the avatāra.

Before leaving, he gave Kārttikeya a last gift. It was his own peacock, the mount that had carried him through the whole Tretāyuga avatāra. As he gave the peacock to Kārttikeya, he also gave him a new name. From then on Kārttikeya would be called Māyūradhvaja, “the one whose banner is the peacock”. From then on the peacock is Kārttikeya’s vehicle.

Māyūreśvara then departed, his work in the Tretāyuga complete. (Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 126)

Sources

  • Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapters 124–126