Lord Ganesha Marriage – An Interesting Story
Lord Ganesha Marriage:
Lord Ganesha Marriage is one of the exciting stories in the Hindu Puranas. He is the first to worship God to the Hindus. Lord Ganesha is the Son of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Their second son is Shanmukha, also called Skanda. He was born to kill Taraka Asura, the demon God. The devotees called him ‘Kartekeya’ in South India, but the Universe adored Him with Subrahmanya. The devotees worship him for the knowledge of Brahman.
The story behind Lord Ganesha Marriage:
One day Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi wanted to get married to their two sons and revealed the decision to their sons. Then the boys began to quarrel about whom first to get married. The quarrel came towards Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi. Then They both planned to appease them and called Lord Ganesha and Lord Subrahmanya. Both came and stood before their parents. They said we brought up you equally and had the same affection for both. Now we wanted to settle your quarrel for goodness. So among you, who travelled around Mother Earth and appeared before we shall be married first.
Lord Ganesha Win the Race:
As soon as the competition started, Lord Subrahmanya set off on His peacock with great speed to complete his travel around the Earth before his brother Lord Ganesha. But Lord Ganesha didn’t prepare to leave their parents to revolve around the Earth. Instead, he started walking around the Universal Gods, Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi, worshipping with great devotion. Like this, He circumambulated seven times. After His seventh salutation, Lord Subrahmanyam arrived by completing His journey around the entire Earth. Then Lord Subrahmanyam asked his parents, according to the condition of the competition. He had gone around the Earth and returned first. So His marriage is celebrated first, and he accused his brother Lord Ganesha of only roaming around His parents and not going around the Earth.
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After Lord Subrahmanya’s words, Lord Ganesha explained that according to the Vedas, whoever goes around their parents, those who obtain the fruit of Bhu-Pradakshina. So I also went around the Universal Parents seven times to go around the Earth and the Universe. Therefore I am the winner of this competition, celebrate my marriage first. Then Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi were pleased with the explanation of their Elder son Ganesha and decided to celebrate Ganesha’s marriage first.
Lord Ganesha Marriage with Siddhi and Riddhi:
The Universal Parents searched for a suitable bride for Lord Ganesha and selected Riddhi and Siddhi, the beautiful daughters of Prajapati Vishwaroopa. They called the divine sculpture Vishnukarma to construct a beautiful and magnificent palace to celebrate Lord Ganesha marriage. On an auspicious day, Lord Ganesha married Riddhi and Siddhi. They have blessed two beautiful sons named Sabha and Kshema. His wives were his eternal powers. Riddhi means illumined mind; Siddhi means attainment. These illumined minds and attainment are the powers of Lord Ganesha. His sons Kshema and Labha here Kshema means complete protection at every level for everyone. Labha means getting good profit and gaining good wealth. So Lord Ganesha’s wives and sons are nothing but the powers of Lord Ganesha.