Kaam Dev is Brought Back to Life

The marriage ceremony of Shiv and Paarvatee was proceeding with Sage Garg. He helped Himaalaya in performing the rites of Kanyaa Daan, amidst the chanting of Vaidik Mantra. The women presented there were singing auspicious songs. Himaalaya presented large quantities of dowry to Shiv. Paarvatee's companions were engaged with Shiv in jocular and humorous conversation. Rati, the wife of Kaam Dev, seeing the moment opportune, arrived and requested Shiv to bring back her dead husband back to life. Her wailings made the other goddesses very sympathetic towards her. They too requested Shiv to make her dead husband back to life. Feeling pity on her condition. Shiv brought back Kaam Dev back to life from the ashes which Rati had given to him. On seeing her husband alive, Rati's heart was filled up with extreme joy. Both of them eulogized Shiv and expressed their gratitude.
[In Shiv Puraan from what is told above it is not clear that Kaam Dev will be visible to Rati only or to all.]

Birth and Death of Ganesh

Shiv remained at his in-law's house for many days. One day he sought the permission of Himaalaya to go back. Everybody became sad hearing about Shiv's departure. At last it was time for Shiv to depart for Kailaash, accompanied by Paarvatee. Shiv and Paarvatee were blissfully enjoying their marital life, unaware of the eagerness with which the deities were awaiting the arrival of their progeny (Murugaa for annealing Taarakaasur).

Once Naarad had a desire to listen to the tales of Ganesh, so he went to Brahmaa Jee and requested him to tell him about him. Brahmaa Jee replied - "There were various Ganesh in different Kalp during the period of Shwet Kalp. Ganesh was born to Shiv and Paarvatee, when they went to Kailaash Mountain shortly after their marriage. (This is told as the Avataar of Ganapati)

Once while going to take her bath, Paarvatee instructed Nandee, to stand guard at the entrance and not to allow anybody to enter the premise without her permission, not even Shiv. Shiv arrived there and Despite of Nandee's refusal to enter the premise, in he went inside. Paarvatee did not like this. She thought something. So next time when Paarvatee went to take her bath, she made an idol from the dirt of her body. She brought the idol alive and instructed him not to allow anybody without her permission. She also gave him a stick for his protection.

Incidentally Shiv arrived once again. He found an unknown figure on the guard. He tried to enter inside but Ganesh refused to let him go inside. But when Shiva tried to go inside forcibly, Ganesh hit him with his stick. Shiv became furious and ordered his Gan to kill him. The Gan of Shiv attacked Ganesh but all of them were no match for him. After being defeated by Ganesh, the Shiv Gan went to Shiv and narrated everything.

While the Shiv Gan were narrating their stories, Brahmaa, Vishnu and some other deities arrived there. Brahmaa then went to Ganesh to convince him, but as soon as Ganesh saw him he tried to attack Brahmaa also. Brahmaa also came back without achieving anything. After this Shiv himself came to fight with Ganesh. A fierce battle was fought between Shiv and Ganesh. When Shiv realized that Ganesh was dominating the fight, he severed his head with his Trishool.

Ganesh is Brought Back to Life

Paarvatee Jee became extremely furious at the death of Ganesh. Her anger resulted into the manifestation of innumerable goddesses, who started creating havoc on the deities. The deities became frightened and they were forced to take the refuge of Paarvatee. They eulogized her and requested to be pardoned. Paarvatee told them that they could be saved only when Ganesh becomes alive and becomes worshippable just like other Devtaa. So the deities went to Shiv and requested him to bring Ganesh to life once again. Shiv instructed them to go in the Northern direction and bring the head of any creature they might find and join it with the trunk of Ganesh. The deities followed the instruction and went in the Northern direction. In the Northern direction, they found an elephant which had only one tusk. They severed the elephant's head and joined it with the trunk of Ganesh. By the blessings of Shiv, Ganesh became alive once again. The deities worshipped Ganesh and returned to their respective abodes.

Three Reasons to Select This Story
1. Ganesh as son of Shiv and Paarvatee is one of Shiv's Avataar.
2. The birth occurs immediately after the marriage of Paarvatee and before the Kaarttikeya's birth, hence Ganesh is the elder brother of Kaarttikeya.
3. Shiv Puraan gives the reason for the one tusk from the beginning of his birth. Other versions give various other reasons for it.

Ganesh's Marriage

Both Kartikeya and Ganesha grew up to become handsome youths in due course of time. Shiva and Parvati started to think about their marriage. When Ganesh and Kaarttikeya came to know about the plan of their marriage both of them started quarreling among themselves as to who should get married first. Shiv and Paarvatee devised a plan to sort out this problem. They told them that whoever between them returns after circumambulating the earth, will get married first of all. Kaarttikeya and Ganesh agreed. Kaarttikeya proceeded on his journey to circumambulate the earth. Ganesh was very intelligent. He requested his parents - Shiv and Paarvatee; to sit at a place together and circumambulated them for seven times and said - "According to Ved circumambulating one's parents give virtues equivalent to that of circumambulating the whole Earth. So now you must get me married first." Shiv and Paarvatee were very impressed by his intelligence. They decided to get him married with Siddhi and Riddhi - the daughters of Vishwaroop Prajaapati. In due course of time two sons were born to them Kshem and Laabh.

While Kartikeya was returning after circumambulating the whole earth, he met sage Naarad on the way. He told Kaarttikeya about Ganesh's marriage. Kaarttikeya became very sad and felt like having been cheated by their parents. When Kaarttikeya reached Kailaash Mountain he made salutations to his parents, Shiv and Paarvatee and without saying anything, went to Kraunch Mountain to do his penance. Paarvatee was very sad seeing this. She went to Kraunch Mountain to meet Kaarttikeya accompanied by Shiv. When Kaarttikeya saw them coming he moved to another place. Shiv and Paarvatee followed him and ultimately met him.

Both these places have religious significance. Having a Darshan of Kaarttikeya on the Full Moon day in Krittikaa Nakshatra is considered to bestows immense auspicious and destroys all the sins of a man.

Three Reasons to Select This Story
According to Shiv Puraan -
1. Ganesh was married to Buddhi and Siddhi - daughters of sage Vishwaroop Prajaapati.
2. The two sons born to him are Laabh and Kshem.
3. As Ganapati, the son of Shiv and Paarvatee, was one of the incarnation of Ganesh.