This is the tale of Kusumeśvara, whose story unfolds amidst divine beings and wondrous blessings. It began with a son, a child who brought delight to the eyes of all who beheld him. When my words reached you, you sent Vijayā. Obediently, Vijayā approached the Gaṇa who dwelled among his fellows, and questioned him: “Why are you, as if possessed, so utterly captivated by the dance and music?” Thus addressed, the Gaṇa—adorned with flowers but trembling in fear—stood before her. Seeing Vīraka, crowned in blossoms and quaking, she called out to him with affection, “Come, come! You are now my son, a gift from the god himself; henceforth, you shall be known as Vīraka.” With a mother’s tenderness, Vijayā inhaled the sweet fragrance from his head, gently smoothed his limbs, and adorned him with her own divine ornaments. She then decorated him with beautiful, variegated leaves—pure and radiant, born from sacred mantras. A garland was arranged upon his head, bright marks of gorocana and leaf fragments were placed, and with these auspicious signs, you spoke words of blessing. Amidst the Gaṇḍa mountain, thronged with Siddhas, where gem-studded meeting places intertwined with thick vines, Vīraka and his companions played joyfully. Sometimes they frolicked in shallow mud and water, entangled among lotuses; at other times, they rested upon flawless, auspicious pieces of wood. Thus did the heroic boy and his troop delight in their play. Moved by this, a prayer rose: “Let sovereignty be granted to this son of mine, O Śaṃkara. Bestow upon him the state of the liṅga, imperishability, and a divine station—rarest even among Brahmā, Indra, Varuṇa, Āditya, the guardians of the worlds, and the lords of lords. Let him be praised alongside these very gaṇas by the great-souled ones. Therefore, let him be known as Kusumeśvara. May he possess a divine power equal to mine, ever served by the gaṇas.” A wondrous scene unfolded: Kinnara women sang enchanting melodies, and Vidyādharas surrounded Kusumeśa, leading him with honor to the state of Kusumeśvara, the Lord adorned with flowers. In the north, a sacred place was consecrated for the Śivaliṅga. Those who see you, O Gaṇapa, as Kusumeśvara—those who worship with flowers, even mortals who behold you with single-minded focus for but a day—whoever offers devotion and flowers to Kusumeśvara, all are blessed by these boons. Thus has Kusumeśvara been endowed with power, and his greatness has been proclaimed. So concludes the thirty-eighth chapter, “The Description of the Glory of Kusumeśvara,” in the fifth Avantya section of the vast Śrī Skanda Mahāpurāṇa. It is said that by merely seeing Kusumeśvara, good understanding arises in people. Long ago, at the dawn of the kalpa, you alone, in the form of supreme power, were praised by gods, kinnaras, humans, and mighty serpents. Some offered salutations, others composed hymns in your honor. Yet, not all hearts were humble. One, having adopted a cruel mind, became swollen with arrogance, thinking, “There is but one god, Mahādeva; what need have I for this woman?” He neglected worship, circumambulation, and praise, acting with greed and disregard. Hearing this, Bhrṅgiriṭi, inflamed with pride and anger, confronted you: “He alone is my mother; he alone is my father. You too, O Pārvatī, have taken refuge in him.” Hearing these words, you grew angry and replied, “Having become a son, why do you speak to me without kindness?” In your wrath, you listed the parts of his being—nails, teeth, bones, genitals, speech, and head—hinting at the consequences of such pride. Thus, the story of Kusumeśvara and the lessons of humility and devotion are woven together, their glory shining forth in the sacred Purāṇa.