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| The Story of Ganesa: 6. A Vahana for Vighneswara | INDIAN MYTHOLOGY |
The Story of Ganesa: 6. A Vahana for Vighneswara
One day, Vajradanta, the asura who had taken the form
of a mouse calling himself Mooshikasura, went to Vighneswara and began to taunt
him. “You’ve big tusks, but what use? You can only eat fruits. Whereas I can
even demolish the whole of Kailas.”
Vighneswara kept his cool and did not show any anger.
“Yes, what you say is true. If my tusks are of no use, why should I have them
at all?” He then pulled out one of his tusks and threw it away. The tusk suddenly
assumed power and began hitting Mooshikasura on his face. Blood
started oozing from the wounds on his face. Vighneswara thus came to be known
as Ekadanta (possessor of one tooth) from that time.
Mooshikasura ran around Vighneswara, pleading that he be
relieved of all pain. “O Vighneswara! Your tusk has cured me of my arrogance;
the pain it gave me has also given me some wisdom. Now please be kind enough to
relieve me of the pain I am suffering.”
Vighneswara thought for a while and said, “I’ve been
going about with my paunch all along, and I cannot move fast. I am
wondering...”
Before he could complete the sentence, Mooshikasura
continued his pleading. “If you will accept me as your mount, I shall feel
doubly blessed. I can grow to any size.”
Suddenly, Mooshikasura bloated to the size of an
elephant. Vighneswara climbed on to the huge mouse, but it shrank to a small
size. “You may remain in your original size so that I can easily climb on to
you.”
Mooshikasura’s wife, Dhavala, now approached Vighneswara
and said, “Let my husband remain as your mount. Please allow me also to serve you.”
Vighneswara turned to Mooshikasura and said, “Your wife
Dhavala is a blessed woman. Because of her, you will remain with me as my vahana,
and you will be happy when you see everybody paying obeisance to me thrice a
day.”
“I shall not only be happy but feel gratified,” said
Mooshikasura.
Meanwhile, Lord Siva and Parvati fashioned a figure
while singing a song in Mohana raga. The figure then assumed a brilliance.
Agni, the god of Fire, took it to Saravana and dipped it in the lake.
The figure now came alive and was named Kumara, the six
headed younger brother of Vighneswara. Kumara went for deep meditation for several
days.
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