Lord Ganesh: Married or Bachelor???

[Guest guest]

Any attempt to penetrate the depths of the Ganesha phenomenon must note that he

is born from Goddess Parvati alone without the intervention of her husband

Shiva, and as such he shares a very unique and special relationship with his

mother. The sensitive nature of his relationship with Parvati is made amply

clear in the following tale:

As a child, Ganesha teased a cat by pulling its tail, rolling it over on the

ground and causing it great pain, as naughty young boys are wont to do. After

some time, tired of his game, he went to his mother Parvati. He found her in

great pain and covered with scratches and dust all over. When he questioned

her, she put the blame on him. She explained that she was the cat whom Ganesha

had teased.

His total devotion towards his mother is the reason why in the South Indian

tradition Ganesha is represented as single and celibate. It is said that he

felt that his mother, Parvati, was the most beautiful and perfect woman in the

universe. Bring me a woman as beautiful as she is and I shall marry her, he

said. None could find an equal to the beautiful Uma (Parvati), and so the

legend goes, the search is still on...

In variance with the South Indian tradition, in North India Ganesha is often

shown married to the two daughters of Brahma (the Lord of Creation), namely

Buddhi and Siddhi. Metaphorically Buddhi signifies wisdom and Siddhi

achievement. In the sense of yoga, Buddhi and Siddhi represent the female and

male currents in the human body. In visual arts this aspect of Ganesha is

represented with grace and charm.

In a different, slightly erotic version from Tantric thought, Ganesha is

depicted in a form known as "Shakti Ganpati". Here he is depicted with four

arms, two of them holding symbolic implements. With the other two arms he

fondles his consort, who is comfortably balanced on his left thigh.

Sai bhakt,

Deepa H

debu7366

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