Siddhi and Buddhi

Siddhi and Buddhi are the two consorts of Gaṇeśa. In the Gaṇeśa Purāṇa they are daughters of Brahmā himself. Siddhi means “divine attainment” or “power”. Buddhi means “divine intelligence” or “wisdom”. They are two great śaktis (powers) that cannot be separated from Gaṇeśa’s nature: the power to accomplish every purpose, and the wisdom to direct it rightly.

They are present in Gaṇeśa’s eternal realm Svānandabhuvana, where they serve him at the Kāmadāyinī pīṭha (seat). In the Gaṇeśa Purāṇa’s account of his avatāras in the yugas, they marry Māyūreśvara at the victory celebration after Sindhu is defeated. At a svayaṃvara (a ceremony where the bride chooses her husband) both choose Māyūreśvara by garlanding him, and Brahmā performs their marriage.

Identity

The Gaṇeśa Purāṇa says that Siddhi and Buddhi are the two daughters of Brahmā. They were born from his creative intention, as the two chief powers through which Parabrahman works in creation.

• Siddhi is divine attainment, the power by which all aims and purposes are achieved. She is the fruit of right action and devotion.
• Buddhi is divine intelligence, the power of discernment and understanding that guides every effort. She is the light of jñāna (knowledge).

Together they show the fullness of Gaṇeśa’s grace. A person who honours Gaṇeśa receives both Siddhi (the achieving of wishes) and Buddhi (the wisdom to wish rightly). (Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 125)

In Svānandabhuvana

Gaṇeśa’s highest realm, Svānandabhuvana, lies in the Ikṣusāgara, beyond Goloka, Vaikuṇṭha and Kailāsa. There Gaṇeśa rests on the Kāmadāyinī pīṭha, and Siddhi and Buddhi attend him. They are eternal consorts present in the Parādhāma (the supreme abode) itself, and not only wives born at one time in history. (Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapters 49–53)

The svayaṃvara

Māyūreśvara defeated Sindhu, and the devas were freed from prison. The victory was celebrated in Sindhu’s old capital, Gandakī-nagara. Brahmā held a svayaṃvara for Siddhi and Buddhi, so that they could choose their husbands freely.

Both garlanded Māyūreśvara, the victorious avatāra. Brahmā himself carried out the whole Vedic marriage rite. The gathered devas, ṛṣis and gandharvas celebrated with music, dance and the chanting of stotras (hymns of praise). (Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 125)

Their sons

The Gaṇeśa Purāṇa names the sons of Gaṇeśa born of Siddhi and Buddhi as Kṣema (well-being) and Lābha (gain).

The Kumāra Khaṇḍa account

In the Kumāra Khaṇḍa of the Śiva Purāṇa, Siddhi and Buddhi are daughters of Viśvarūpa Prajāpati. They are given in marriage to Gaṇeśa after he wins the contest of walking around the world. Their sons, Kṣema from Siddhi and Lābha from Buddhi, are named in this account as well. (Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20)

Sources

• Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapter 125
• Gaṇeśa Purāṇa, Krīḍā Khaṇḍa, Chapters 49–53 (Svānandabhuvana)
• Śiva Purāṇa, Rudra Saṃhitā, Kumāra Khaṇḍa, Chapter 20