Gaṇeśa Vivāha

The Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa tells of the marriage of Gaṇeśa. It comes after the contest in which Gaṇeśa walked around his parents in place of the earth. Gaṇeśa is given in marriage to Siddhi and Buddhi, the daughters of Viśvarūpa Prajāpati. A son is born from each: Kshema from Siddhi and Lābha from Buddhi.

Nārada tells Kārttikeya what has happened. Kārttikeya is hurt and, in vairāgya (detachment from the world), goes to Krauñca Mountain.

The marriage

Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī had accepted Gaṇeśa’s wisdom in the contest of walking around them. They then arranged his marriage. Gaṇeśa was given in marriage to Siddhi and Buddhi, the two daughters of Viśvarūpa Prajāpati. Both were given to Gaṇeśa at the same time.

The Kumāra Khaṇḍa names Viśvarūpa Prajāpati as the father of Siddhi and Buddhi. The Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, in its Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, names Brahmā as their father.

Kshema and Lābha

Two sons were born from these marriages.

• Kshema was born from Gaṇeśa’s union with Siddhi.
• Lābha was born from Gaṇeśa’s union with Buddhi.

The name Kshema means auspiciousness and wellbeing. The name Lābha means gain and attainment.

Nārada tells Kārttikeya

Nārada, the devarshi (seer among the devas), went to Kārttikeya. Kārttikeya had been away on his long journey around the earth. Nārada told him all that had happened. The contest was over. Gaṇeśa had won by walking around their parents. The marriage had been done. Sons had been born. All this took place while Kārttikeya was still travelling.

Kārttikeya was deeply hurt. He felt that his parents had favoured Gaṇeśa.

Kārttikeya goes to Krauñca Mountain

In the spirit of vairāgya, detachment from family, hope and the ordinary bonds of belonging, Kārttikeya left Kailāsa. He went to Krauñca Mountain and made his home there for good. What began as a hurt withdrawal became a sacred place, the lasting home of Kārttikeya on earth, apart from Kailāsa.

The Kumāra Khaṇḍa goes on to tell of the visits of Bhagavān Śiva and Pārvatī, and of the origin of the Mallikārjuna jyotirliṅga (liṅga of light).

Sources

• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20
• Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa