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| The Story of Ganesa: 10. Meeting with Bhairava | INDIAN MYTHOLOGY |
The Story of Ganesa: 10. Meeting with Bhairava
Kailas, the abode of Parvati and Siva, got ready for the
installation of Vighneswara as the leader (pati) of the Ganas, the group of
celestials attending on the Lord. Parvati was surprised to see her son wearing
a simple white dress, while she herself was bedecked in a colourful costume.
“My son, don’t you want to wear something more suitable for the occasion? And
why white?” she asked Vighneswara.
“Mother, white stands for upright character and
intelligence and discrimination,” said Vighneswara. “That’s why I chose white
for today’s ceremony.”
“All right, my son,” responded his mother. “From today,
you will also be known as Shuklambharadhara, the one clad in white.”
The installation of Ganapati was a grand ceremony.
Jayalakshmi as Siddhi (one with capabilities) and Vidyavati as Buddhi
(intelligence and wisdom) accepted Ganapati as their Lord, and sat on either
side of Gananadha, who now came to be known as Siddhi - Buddhi Vinayaka.
Lord Vishnu, who was present as a witness to the
ceremony, remarked, “Even if there be a thousand hurdles, Vighneswara would one
day be married. Only after marriage will anybody become a complete person.”
“That’s very true, O Vishnu!” said Ganapati. “I foresee
the day when you will be born to Kausalya as Rama. You will marry Seetha, and
she will be the cause of your annihilation of the demon, Ravana!”
“When I look at your joyous face,” continued Vishnu, “I
get an endearing affection for elephants.”
“Now I know, O Vishnu!” said Ganapati. “That’s why you
had incarnated as a tortoise and saved the elephant Gajendra.”
After he assumed the position of Gananadha, he started
on his visits. As he was going on his mouse mount, Ganesa crossed the Vindhyas
and landed on a dark mountain. At the nearby rainforest, a group of tribals
were dancing in ecstatic joy. Ganesa took the form of a handsome young boy. The
tribals surrounded him. “He must have been sent to us by the devas,” said one
of them.
They hailed him and carried him to where they were
dancing. Ganesa saw a blood-splattered stone pillar in the centre where he also
found a boy dressed in black clothes and body smeared with turmeric paste, and
wearing a garland of red flowers. Ganesa turned to the tribal chief. “May I
talk to the goddess you worship? Please take me to her.”
The tribal chief
began laughing. “Oh! You seem to be quite naive. Our goddess is like a huge
dark cloud and is ferocious to look at. Nobody can stand her sight. Anybody
will die of fright!”
Ganesa said smilingly, “I’m not at all afraid. In fact,
it is because of fear that you find her frightful. I’m sure none of you have
actually seen her even for once. I don’t think she has demanded letting of
blood or any sacrifice.” He then tapped the stone pillar which now turned into
a beautiful idol.
The goddess, hands resting on her knees, appeared
smiling. She was attractive to look at. Ganesa now placed his hands on the boy
awaiting to be sacrificed. Wonder of wonders! He who had been dumb till now began
to speak. “Please bless me, O holy one!” He started singing in praise of the
goddess.
The tribals were taken aback by these miracles. They
prostrated in front of Ganesa. He signaled them to stop doing so and said,
“Don’t do it. You must pay your respects to the Devi who has taken away your
fear. You must look upon your god as your father, brother, and friend. Stop all
sacrifice. You must offer, not blood, but flowers and fruits. This boy, who has
started speaking and singing, will be your guru as well as pujari.
Your god will appear to you soon!”
After blessing them, Ganesa climbed the mountain and
went up the peak, where he saw Bhairava sitting and smiling as though he was
expecting a visit by Ganesa. He went and held Bhairava in a warm embrace. He immediately
turned into a white figure.
“I wish I had received your blessings when I was born.
In fact, a divine voice had told me even then that I would one day be blessed
by Lord Ganesa and at that time I would discard my dark colour. From now on, I
wish to spend my time in your service. O Lord! Please assume your original form
and bless me!”
Ganesa then assumed his original form of Vighneswara. He
told Bhairava, “You have in you the powers of both Siva and Kesava. It was
because of the mingling of the two powers that you were born dark. You willl
now be worshipped as a god.” He then turned to the tribals who had accompanied
him, to accept Bhairava as their god. Ganesa then disappeared from their
presence.
The tribals built a home for Bhairava and began regular worship of him as their own god and protector.
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