Riddhi - Siddhi

In the hindu mythology, Riddhi and Siddhi are considered as wife of lord Ganesha. Ganesha, the lord that is prayed before the beginning of any auspicious work has a confusing and problematic marital status. While some texts believe Ganesha to be a family man or a householder, others believe that Ganesha remained a brahmachari (performed celibacy) throughout his life.

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Ganesha: married or unmarried?

However, in north india, it is widely believed that Ganesha was married. There is an interesting tale behind Ganesha’s marriage. Once, lord Ganesha was meditating, when Tulsi approached. She told him that she was fascinated by lord Ganesha and wanted to marry him. However lord Ganesha declined Tulsi’s marriage proposal claiming that he has decided to perform celibacy throughout his life.

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Being rejected, Tulsi was very furious and cursed Ganesha to have two wives. Listening to this, Ganesha too got angry and cursed Tulsi that she will be married to a demon. That’s why Tulsi is never used while worshipping lord Ganesha.

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It is to note here that Ganesha decided to opt for brahmacharya because he was feeling disgusted about his body. His abdomen was protruding, his head is that of an elephant with a long trunk and extremely large ears. Thus no one was ready to marry him because of his physical form. Eventually he got frustrated and decided that if he is not able to get married, he will not let the other devtas marry as well. Thus he began creating hindrances in the marriages of other gods and goddesses with the help of his vahan, Mushak.

Riddhi, Siddhi and Buddhi

Being fed up from this behaviour of ganesha, the gods and goddesses approached lord Brahma and requested him to find a solution to this problem. Brahma then called Ganesha and had a word with him. He then created two beautiful women named Riddhi and Siddhi and told Ganesha to impart knowledge of vedas and wisdom into his daughters. Ganesha agreed to teach Riddhi and Siddhi. Now since Ganesha was busy with Riddhi and Siddhi, the other devtas were able to marry their beloved peacefully, without any hindrance. Whenever Ganesha felt about some marital ritual being performed without his knowledge, Riddhi and Siddhi used to distract him. Eventually, Ganesha finally realised that all other gods and goddesses have married without any hindrance. He was very angry and went to Brahma. Lord Brahma relaxed Ganesha and made him realise his mistake of not allowing others to marry just on the account of his being a bachelor. Brahma later handed over Riddhi and Siddhi to Ganesha and asked him to marry the Brahma daughters. Ganesha had two sons with Riddhi and Siddhi named as Subha and Labha.

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The concept of buddhi is associated with Ganesha too. Ganesha is the lord of wisdom and grants the power of wisdom and knowledge to his devotees. Ganesha is also called buddipriya, buddhi meaning wisdom and priya in love of. Ganesha is considered as a lord who loves wisdom. In marital terms, priya is called a lover or husband. Thus buddhipriya is also regarded as a lover of buddhi or buddhi’s husband.

Ganesha and Ashta Siddhis

Ganesha's relationship with the Ashtasiddhi — the eight spiritual attainments obtained by the practice of yoga — is also of this depersonalised type. In later iconography, these eight marvellous powers are represented by a group of young women who surround Ganesha. In cosmopolitan Śākta worship of Ganesha, the Aṣṭa Siddhi are addressed as eight goddesses.

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In Ganesha Purana, these personified Aṣṭa Siddhi are used by Ganesha to attack demon Devantaka. These eight consorts are fused in a single devi, Ganesha's śakti. She speculates as to whether the Aṣṭa Siddhi are a transformation of the saptamātṝikas with whom Ganesha is often sculpturally represented.