The story of Kuber attracted by the Beauty of Goddess Parvati is found in the Mudgala Purana. Kuber, the treasurer of wealth, once visited Shiva and Maa Parvati. Kuber was bewitched by the beauty of Goddess Parvati and he gazed at Her with lustful thoughts.
Goddess Parvati who realized this gave an angry look at Kuber. Lustful thoughts of Kuber turned into unfathomable fear; body of Kuber starting trembling in fear and from the trembling body appeared a demon named Lobhasura.
As he was a demon, Lobhasura approached Asur Guru
Shukracharya and became his student. Shukracharya initiated him in Shiva Panchakshari
Mantra – Om Namah Shivaya.
Lobhasura then retired to deep forest and started performing
intense austerities. He took daily bath and then smeared his body with ash. He
performed intense penance without taking food and water. The severe penance
continued for several years.
Pleased with the penance of Lobhasur, Shiva appeared before
him.
He was granted the boon of fearlessness. The spiritual
strength and lack of fear made Lobhasura powerful and he became the ruler of
the three worlds by disposing Indra,
King of Devas, from Amravati.
Power made the asura corrupt and he led a demonic life
killing and looting innocents. Fed up with Lobhasura, people approached Sage
Raibhya. He instructed them to offer prayers to Ganesha in Gajanana form.
Gajanana was pleased with the devotion of the people and
decided to annihilate the demon. Ganesha did not want war and destruction.
Gajanan asked Lobhasur to stop his Adharmic ways and take
refuge in him.
Shukracharya also advised Lobhasur to take refuge in the
feet of Gajanana as no force in the world can stop this mighty form of Ganapati.
Lobhasur listened to his Guru and became a devotee of
Gajanan.
Gajanana decided to forgive him and gave him a spot in the
netherworld.