Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati had four children: Ganesha, Lakshmi, Saraswati, and Kartikeya. Each had their own mount. The god of wisdom, Ganesha, rode a mouse; the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi, rode a white owl; the goddess of knowledge, Saraswati, rode a swan; and the god of war, Kartikeya, rode a peacock. One day, Lord Shiva and Mother Parvati were seated. Ganesha and Kartikeya were playing nearby. Lord Shiva wished to test them. He declared that whoever first circumambulated the universe would be deemed the more powerful.
Kartikeya immediately mounted his peacock and set off to circle the universe. He crossed oceans, mountains, Earth, the moon, and the Milky Way. He was racing to defeat Ganesha, believing that Ganesha, with his bulky frame and mouse mount, couldn't compete.
Meanwhile, Ganesha remained seated peacefully at the feet of his parents. After a while, he stood and quickly circumambulated his parents three times. When Kartikeya returned, he was astonished to find Ganesha smiling, seated in Lord Shiva's lap. He was perplexed at how Ganesha could have returned before him. Having a fiery temper, he accused Ganesha of deception. Ganesha replied that his parents were his universe, and circling them was equivalent to circumambulating the universe.
Lord Shiva was immensely pleased with Ganesha's wisdom. He declared that from then on, all auspicious endeavors would begin with the worship of Lord Ganesha. This tradition continues to this day.
