English
Ganesha and Kartikeya's Race Around the World
Source: Shiva Purana, Rudra Samhita, Kumara Khanda; the Mallikarjuna episode: Shiva Purana, Kotirudra Samhita
On Kailasa, Shiva and Parvati had two sons: the elder, Kartikeya, commander of the gods' army, and the elephant-faced Ganesha. Both had grown up, and their parents began to think of their marriages.
But a difficulty arose. Each brother wanted to be married first. Kartikeya said, “Me first.” Ganesha said, “No, me first.” There seemed no way to settle it.
Then Shiva and Parvati found a way. They said, “Whichever of you goes around the whole earth and returns first will be married first.”
Hearing this, Kartikeya was delighted. His mount was a peacock, swift as the wind. Without losing a moment he mounted his peacock and set off around the earth.
Ganesha was left standing there. His body was heavy, and his mount was a little mouse. How could a mouse compete with a peacock? The earth is vast: oceans, mountains, forests… who knew how long it would take to go around it?
Everyone thought the race was over before it began. But Ganesha stood quietly, eyes closed, thinking.
Then a smile came to his face. He went to bathe, and when he returned he folded his hands and said to his parents, “Please, both of you, sit on these seats. I wish to worship you…”
Shiva and Parvati sat on the seats. Ganesha worshipped them properly, and then, with folded hands, walked around them seven times. Then he said, “I have gone around the earth. Now arrange my marriage.”
His parents smiled. “The earth is vast, and you never moved from here. How is this going around it?”
Ganesha said humbly, “The Vedas and shastras say that whoever worships their mother and father and walks around them gains the merit of going around the whole earth. For me, you are my world. And if this is not true, are the words of the scriptures false?”
Shiva and Parvati were delighted by his wisdom. They agreed that Ganesha had spoken the truth. Ganesha was married with great celebration to Siddhi and Buddhi, the two daughters of Prajapati Vishvarupa. In time, Siddhi bore him a son named Kshema and Buddhi a son named Labha.
Meanwhile Kartikeya returned after circling the whole earth. Narada told him all that had happened. Kartikeya was hurt. He bowed to his parents and, though everyone tried to stop him, left Kailasa for Mount Krauncha in the south.
Parvati grieved at being parted from her son. The Shiva Purana tells that Shiva and Parvati go to visit him there, and there Shiva dwells as the Mallikarjuna Jyotirlinga, today at Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh.
There is also a famous folk version of this story, in which the race is not for marriage but for a fruit of wisdom brought by Narada. This version is especially popular in South India.
What this story teaches
Greater than speed is wisdom, and greater than wisdom is reverence for one's parents. For one whose world is in their parents, the journey around the world is completed at home.
The Sankashti Chaturthi vrat is kept every month on Krishna Paksha Chaturthi. Ganesha is worshipped, and the fast is broken at night after offering water to the moon.
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