The marital status of the Hindu deity Ganesha varies widely in mythological stories and the issue has been the subject of considerable scholarly review.For a review, see: Cohen, Lawrence. "The Wives of ", in: . Several patterns of associations with different consorts are identifiable. One pattern of myths identifies Ganesha as an unmarried brahmacārin with no consorts. Another mainstream pattern associates him with the concepts of Buddhi (intellect), Siddhi (spiritual power), and Riddhi (prosperity); these qualities are sometimes personified as goddesses who are considered to be Ganesha's wives.For a review of associations with Buddhi, Siddhi, Riddhi, and other figures, and the statement "In short the spouses of are the personifications of his powers, manifesting his functional features ...", see: . Another pattern connects Ganesha with the goddess of culture and the arts, Sarasvati. In the Bengal region he is linked with the banana tree, Kala Bo (or Kola Bou).For discussion of the Kala Bo, see: Cohen, Lawrence, "The Wives of ", in: . Usually Ganesha's consort is portrayed as his shakti, a personification of his creative energy.
Some of the differences between these patterns can be understood by looking at regional variations across India, the time periods in which the patterns are found, and the traditions in which the beliefs are held. Some differences pertain to the preferred meditation form used by the devotee, with many different traditional forms ranging from Ganesha as a young boy (Sanskrit: ; ) to Ganesha as a Tantric deity.For pictures of the 32 meditation forms along with the Sanskrit descriptions appearing in the Śrītattvanidhi, see: and .For descriptions of the 32 meditation forms appearing in the , see: Martin-Dubost, pp. 120–123.
Unmarried
According to one non-mainstream tradition, Ganesha was a brahmacārin, that is, unmarried.For statement that "According to ancient tradition, was a , that is, an unmarried deity; but legend gave him two consorts, personifications of Wisdom (Buddhi) and Success (Siddhi).", see: . This pattern is primarily popular in parts of southern India.Brown p.126 This tradition was linked to the controversial concept of the relationship between celibacy and the commitment to spiritual growth.Heras, p. 59. Heras quotes from Herbert's Ganesa, which says, "La couleur rouge de son corps est celle que donne aux grandes yogins la pratique intense de la meditation" (translation: The red color of his body is that which the intense practice of meditation gives to great Yogis). Bhaskaraya alludes to the tradition in which Ganesha was considered to be a lifelong bachelor in his commentary on the Ganesha Purana version of the Ganesha Sahasranama, which includes the name Abhīru (verse 9a).. (, 1991). Includes the full source text and the commentary by Bhāskararāya in Sanskrit. In his commentary on this verse Bhaskaraya says the name Abhīru means "without a woman," but the term can also mean "not fearful."Apte, p. 720.
Buddhi, Siddhi, and Riddhi
The Ganesha Purana and the Mudgala Purana contain descriptions of Ganesha flanked by Siddhi and Buddhi.Mudgala Purana VI.9.8 and Ganesha Purana II.125.39, II.6.24, II.31.9. Citations for the Ganesha Purana are from the Yogindra Mata 1985 (Part II) editions. In these two Puranas they appear as an intrinsic part of GanapatiMudgala Purana VIII.43.26-7 and Ganesha Purana II.130.22. and according to ThapanThapan, pp. 192–193. do not require any special rituals associated with shakti worship. In Chapter I.18.24–39 of the Ganesha Purana, performs worship in honor of Ganesha, and during it Ganesha himself causes Buddhi and Siddhi to appear so that can offer them back to Ganesha. Ganesha accepts them as offerings.. In Ganesha Purana I.65.10–12 there is a variant of this incident, in which various gods are giving presents to Ganesha, but in this case Siddhi and Buddhi are born from 's mind and are given by to Ganesha.
The Ganesha Temple at Morgaon is the central shrine for the regional complex. The most sacred area within the Moragaon temple is the sanctum (), a small enclosure containing an image of Ganesha. To the right and left sides of the image stand Siddhi and Buddhi.Courtright, pp. 212–213. In northern India the two female figures are said to be Siddhi and Riddhi. There is no evidence for the pair, but the pairing parallels those of Buddhi and Siddhi in Shiva Purana and Riddhi and Buddhi from Matsya Purana.For statement, see: Cohen, Lawrence, "The Wives of ", in: .
Interpretation of relationships The has a story in which Ganesha and his brother Skanda compete for the right to marry the two desirable daughters of Prajāpati, Siddhi and Buddhi, and, Ganesha wins through a clever approach. 2.5.19.15–20. Translation. Courtright, pp. 123–125. This story adds that after some time Ganesha begat two sons: Kshema () (Prosperity), born to Siddhi, and (Acquisition, Profit) born to Buddhi. In Northern Indian variants of this story, the sons are often said to be (Hindi Shubh) (auspiciousness) and .Brown p.130 In discussing the Shiva Purana version, Courtright comments that while Ganesha is sometimes depicted as sitting between these two feminine deities, "these women are more like feminine emanations of his androgynous nature, Shaktis rather than spouses having their own characters and spouses."Courtright, pp. 124, 213. "They are his śaktis (the feminine emanations of his creative powers)."
Ludo Rocher says that "descriptions of as siddhi-buddhi-samanvita 'accompanied by, followed by siddhi and buddhi.' often seem to mean no more than that, when is present, siddhi 'success' and buddhi 'wisdom' are not far behind. Such may well have been the original conception, of which the marriage was a later development."For quotation regarding phrase "siddhi-buddhi-samanvita" see: Rocher, Ludo, "'s Rise to Prominence in Sanskrit Literature", in: . In verse 49a of the Ganesha Purana version of the Ganesha Sahasranama, one of Ganesha's names is Ŗddhisiddhipravardhana ("Enhancer of material and spiritual success"). The Matsya Purana identifies as the "Owner of the Qualities of Riddhi (prosperity) and Buddhi (wisdom)".Matsya Purana 260.55. Edited by Jamna Das Akhtar (Delhi: Oriental Publishers, 1972), 310.
In the Ajitāgama, a Tantric form of Ganesha called Haridra Ganapati is described as turmeric-colored and flanked by two unnamed wives. The word "wives" (Sanskrit: ; ) is specifically used (Sanskrit: ; ).Macdonell, p. 118. These wives are distinct from shaktis.Ajitāgama Vol. III. 55.18.
Ashta Siddhi
Ganesha's relationship with the Ashtasiddhi — the eight spiritual attaintments obtained by the practice of yoga — is also of this depersonalized type. In later iconography, these eight marvellous powers are represented by a group of young women who surround Ganesha.Martin-Dubost, p. 332. Raja Ravi Varma's painting (shown in this section) illustrates a recent example of this iconographic form. The painting includes fans, which establish the feminine figures as attendants. In cosmopolitan Śākta worship of Ganesha, the are addressed as eight goddesses. In Ganesha Purana, these personified are used by Ganesha to attack demon Devantaka. These eight consorts are fused in a single devi, Ganesha's śakti, according to Getty. She speculates as to whether the are a transformation of the with whom Ganesha is often sculpturally represented.Brown p.122
Devi Santoshi Ganesha was depicted as a householder married to Riddhi and Siddhi and the father of Santoshi Ma (Devanagari: संतोषी माँ), the goddess of contentment, in the 1975 Hindi film Jai Santoshi Maa. The movie script is not based on scriptural sources. The fact that a cult has developed around the figure of Santoshi Ma has been cited by Anita Raina Thapan and Lawrence Cohen as evidence of Ganesha's continuing evolution as a popular deity.For discussion of the depiction of Ganesha in the film see: Cohen, Lawrence, "The Wives of ", in: .Thapan, pp. 15–16, 230, 239, 242, 251.
Buddhi (Wisdom) Ganesha is considered to be the Lord of Intelligence.Nagar, p. 5. In Sanskrit the word buddhi is a feminine noun that is variously translated as intelligence, wisdom, or intellect.Apte, p. 703. The concept of buddhi is closely associated with the personality of Ganesha as of the Puranic period, where many stories develop that showcase his cleverness and love of intelligence. One of Ganesha's names in the Ganesha Purana and in the Ganesha Sahasranama is Buddhipriya.Ganesha Purana I.46, v. 5 of the Ganesha Sahasranama section in GP-1993, Sharma edition. It appears in verse 10 of the version as given in the Bhaskararaya commentary. The name Buddhipriya also appears in a special list of twenty-one names that says are of special importance at the end of the Ganesha Sahasranama.Sharma edition, GP-1993 I.46, verses 204–206. The Bailey edition uses a variant text, and where Sharma reads Buddhipriya, Bailey translates "Granter-of-lakhs." The word priya can mean "fond of" or in a marital context it can mean "a lover, husband",Practical Sanskrit Dictionary By Arthur Anthony MacDonell; p.187 (priya); Published 2004; Motilal Banarsidass Publ; so Buddhipriya means "fond of intelligence" or "Buddhi's husband".Krishan 1999; pp. 60–70 discusses Ganesha as "Buddhi's Husband".
This association with wisdom also appears in the name Buddha, which appears as a name of Ganesha in the second verse of the Ganesha Purana version of the Ganesha Sahasranama.. (, 1991). Includes the full source text and the commentary by Bhāskararāya in Sanskrit. The name "Buddha" is in verse 7 of the volume cited, which corresponds to verse 2 of the śasahasranāma proper. The positioning of this name at the beginning of the Ganesha Sahasranama indicates that the name was of importance. Bhaskararaya's commentary on the Ganesha Sahasranama says that this name for Ganesha means that the Buddha was an avatar of Ganesha.Bhaskararaya's commentary on the name Buddha with commentary verse number is: "नित्यबुद्धस्वरूपत्वात् अविद्यावृत्तिनाशनः । यद्वा जिनावतारत्वाद् बुद्ध इत्यभिधीयते ॥ १५ ॥" This interpretation is not widely known even among Ganapatya, and the Buddha is not mentioned in the lists of Ganesha's incarnations given in the main sections of the Ganesha Purana and Mudgala Purana. Bhaskararaya also provides a more general interpretation of this name as simply meaning that Ganesha's very form is "eternal enlightenment" (), so he is named Buddha.
Motif of shaktis