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| The Story of Ganesa: 8. Obstacles to Kumara’s Wedding | INDIAN MYTHOLOGY |
The Story of Ganesa: 8. Obstacles to Kumara’s Wedding
Kailas, the abode of Siva and Parvati, wore a festive
look. Preparations were in full swing for the marriage of Kumara and Devayani,
the daughter of Lord Indra. Kumara had just returned after his victory over the
demon Tarakasura. But he thought his marriage could wait, because his elder
brother was still not married. Kumara announced that he would marry only after
Ganesa had taken a wife.
Parvati sought out Vighneswara and told him, “My son,
it’s only right and proper that you get married first before your younger
brother is married.” To which Ganesa responded by saying, “Mother, it is
surprising that you, of all people, believe in such superstitions. You know
very well that I’m averse to marriage. Then, why should you insist on my
marrying?”
Parvati would not leave the matter there. A few days
later, she again spoke to Vighneswara. Till then, Ganesa was putting forth one
excuse or another. That day, he said, “Mother, brother Kumara is in the habit
of doing tapas under one pretext or another. I, too, would like to
undertake a tapas.” A loving mother that she was, Parvati could not but
agree to his wish.
Now it was the turn of Indra to put obstacles to prevent
Ganesa going into tapas indefinitely. He asked the nymphs of heaven to disturb
Ganesa’s meditation. However, one of them named Arka refused to obey Indra’s
instructions. So, he cursed her to turn into a thorny plant.
Meanwhile, after selecting a secluded quiet spot,
Vighneswara was about to begin his tapas. The nymphs landed there and
began dancing in front of Ganesa. As they danced, their feet trampled on the
thorny shrubs growing there and they began crying with pain. Ganesa was
disturbed and he opened his eyes. His sympathy was with the thorny plants. He
blessed them, and the nymph Arka got back her original form, and she went back
to heaven. And Ganesa returned to Kailas.
Parvati thought that Ganesa had returned on conclusion
of his tapas. “My son, now that you are back here, you must get married.”
Ganesa then told her what had happened. “I must continue
my tapas, mother. I don’t know how long it will last. Kumara should not wait
for me.”
Ganesa now chose a place full of snake-pits. When he
began his tapas, the snakes came out and stood guard at the place. Lord Indra
called the followers of Mooshikasura and said, “Your master is now serving as
the mount of Ganesa. He is doing tapas only to destroy all of you. You must go
and force him to stop his tapas.”
The demons went to where
Ganesa was meditating and tried
to disturb him. The serpents surrounded them and bit many of them. They were
killed. Whichever demons survived the attack ran away from the place, cursing
Indra.
The Lord then thought of another strategy. He called
some devas and asked them to accompany the nymphs to arouse feelings of passion
and love in Ganesa. When they came and disturbed Ganesa’s tapas, the snakes
once again attacked them. The devas and nymphs could not resist the snakes and
ran back to heaven. Ganesa showed his gratitude and affection to the snakes by
wearing some of them around his neck as garlands and ornaments. He returned to
Kailas. Parvati was surprised to see her son in that state. “Mother, isn’t it
only natural for a son to follow his father?” said Ganesa by wayof explanation.
“These snakes saved my life. I have befriended them, and in future I shall be
known as Nagabhushana.”
At that moment, Lord Siva arrived on the scene and
blessed his son. Parvati turned to him and said, “Look at our son! Ganesa
himself puts obstacles to his marriage, and before he marries, how can Kumara
get married to Devayani?”
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