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| The Story of Ganesa: 9. The Ganas get a leader | INDIAN MYTHOLOGY |
The Story of Ganesa: 9. The Ganas get a leader
One day Parvati once again reminded Vighneswara about
his marriage, and how his younger brother Kumara was determined not to marry
till his marriage took place. “Mother, Kumara is the army commander of the
devas, and he can afford to have even two wives,” remarked Vighneswara. “Look
at my paunch! I’m always worried about my food. How then can I think of
marriage?”
It was then that Siva intervened. “I’m putting you in
charge of my ganas and you’ll be known as Ganapati.”
“Father, you might be saying that out of affection for
me,” responded Vighneswara. “I don’t have the qualification to be in charge of
the group of celestials attending on you. On the contrary, Kumara as the devas’
senapati is doing his duties exceedingly well. When he is available to preside
over your ganas, why should you want me to take up that responsibility?”
The Lord said: “No, my son, I’ve decided that you will
be gananatha or leader of my attendants. Kumara already has one post; he
need not be burdened with one more. He may find it difficult to hold two
posts.”
“Father, may I make a suggestion?” said Vighneswara.
“Let’s have a contest to decide who will be in charge of the ganas. Whoever
wins should be entrusted with that post.”
Thus, it was decided that there would be a competition
between the brothers. Whoever would visit all the holy temples on the earth and
take a dip in each of the temple tanks and return to Kailas first, would be put
in charge of the ganas. Kumara immediately set out on his peacock mount.
Vighneswara remained wherever he was.
Lord Vishnu came there soon afterwards. He said,
“Vighneswara, I seem to have a lot of affection for you, especially when I see
the humility in you. If you remain inactive, that might be mistaken for failure
on the part of the devas. It is your duty to impress on others the greatness of
your father. For that you don’t have to wander like Kumara. I shall tell you
what you should do.”
On the advice of Vishnu,Vighneswara began chanting the
Siva mantra. The effect of this was felt by Kumara. Whichever temple he
went, he was told that Vighneswara had already visited the place! He was
surprised and was so dejected that he returned to Kailas conceding defeat and
accepting Vighneswara as the victor.
He led his younger brother to the presence of their
father and told him all that had happened. “Brother! Neither have I won, nor
have you been defeated!” he said. “Actually, the victor is none other than our
father. That’s why I was chanting his name which has great powers. This was
revealed to me by Vishnu himself.”
The brothers then paid their obeisance to their parents.
Kumara turned to the devas and deities gathered there and said, “My brother
Vighneswara will now be anointed as the leader of Lord Siva’s ganas. He will
henceforth be known as Ganapati.”
All the devas were happy and praised Kumara’s action in
honouring Vighneswara. The ganas like Sidha, Sadhya, and Yaksha were all happy.
However, Bhringeeswara, Sringeeswara,Chandiswara, and Nandeeswara protested as
they were nurturing some animosity towards Vighneswara. They said, “Kumara is
the senapati of the devas and we had all along recognised him as representing
our Lord Siva. How then can we accept Vighneswara as our leader? We object to
Vighneswara being made the leader of the ganas.”
On hearing this, Siva got very angry. “What! Do you want
to go against my decision?”
Vighneswara, however, kept his cool and said, “Father,
what they say is only right. What qualification do I have to be their leader?
When I was born, I had several followers. Now I don’t have any.”
Surprisingly, several Vighneswaras manifested and came
and stood by his side. All of them had four hands, each of which was holding
weapons like tridents, bows, arrows, swords, and mace. Some carried flutes and
veenas. Some had in their hand’s herbal plants, flowers, fruits, garlands. The
devas and ganas present there looked at them with curiosity.
Soon, some of the Vighneswaras rose towards the heavens.
The ganas then sent a shower of flowers at them. Some ganas went and brought a
stone-studded throne. After Vighneswara sat on it, they paid their obeisance to
him.
Parvati forgot herself and got up to pay obeisance to
Vighneswara, who raised his hands to indicate his objection. “Mother, please
remember that I am your son.” Vighneswara now got up from his throne to
prostrate before Parvati.
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