Shiva Purana — Rudra Samhita, Shloka 18
गणेश-षण्मुखयोः विवाहविचारः / Deliberation on the Marriages of Gaṇeśa and Ṣaṇmukha
यश्चैव पृथिवीं सर्वां क्रांत्वा पूर्वमुपाव्रजेत् । तस्यैव प्रथमं कार्यो विवाहश्शुभलक्षणः
yaścaiva pṛthivīṃ sarvāṃ krāṃtvā pūrvamupāvrajet | tasyaiva prathamaṃ kāryo vivāhaśśubhalakṣaṇaḥ
যি সমগ্ৰ পৃথিৱী পৰিক্ৰমা কৰি প্ৰথমে উভতি আহিব, তাৰেই শুভলক্ষণযুক্ত বিবাহ প্ৰথমে সম্পন্ন কৰা হ’ব।
Sūta Gosvāmin (narrating the Kumārakhaṇḍa account to the sages of Naimiṣāraṇya)
Tattva Level: pasha
Sthala Purana: Not a Jyotirliṅga episode; ‘traversing the earth’ functions as a dharmic-competitive ordeal that later highlights the superiority of inner realization over outer motion.
FAQs
It affirms dharma through rightful precedence: the one who completes the prescribed feat (symbolizing resolve, tapas, and worthiness) should receive the first auspicious saṃskāra, showing that worldly rites become sanctified when aligned with merit and divine order.
Though the verse speaks of marriage order, its spirit is Shaiva: social harmony and auspicious rites are upheld under Shiva’s governance as Pati (Lord). Performing saṃskāras with śubha-lakṣaṇa reflects living in alignment with Saguna Shiva’s sustaining grace within dharmic life.
The practical takeaway is to perform major rites only with śubha (auspicious observances)—beginning with Shiva-smaraṇa, Panchākṣarī japa ("Om Namaḥ Śivāya"), and customary purity practices (bhasma/tripuṇḍra where traditional), so the saṃskāra is grounded in devotion and dharma.