Rama Nama And Ganesha

Anecdotes

-Staff

By Staff

Monday, August 25, 2008, 13:40

On one occasion, a competition was arranged among the gods for selecting the leader of the ganas (troops of demigods who are attendants of Shiva). Participants had to go round the world quick and come back to the feet of Lord Shiva. The gods started off on their own vehicles; the elder son of Shiva also enthusiastically entered the competition.

He had an elephantine head; his vehicle was a mouse! Therefore, his progress was severely handicapped: He had not proceeded far, when Narada appeared before him and asked him, "Whither are you bound?" The son was very much annoyed; he fell into a rage. For, what happened was a bad omen, doubly unpropitious for those going on a journey.

It is inauspicious if the first person you come across when you are on a journey is a lone brahmin. Though the foremost among the brahmins (he was the son of Brahma Himself), Narada was a bad omen! Again it is a bad omen if you are going somewhere and someone asked, "Whither are you bound?" Narada put him that very question!

Nevertheless, Narada was able to assuage his anger. He drew forth from Shiva's son the cause of his predicament and his desire to win. Narada consoled him, exhorted him not to yield to despair, and advised him thus: "Rama -the name- is the seed from which the gigantic tree called the universe has emanated. So, write the name on the ground, go round it once, and hurry back to Shiva, claiming the prize." He did so and returned to his father. When asked how he returned so soon, he related the story of Narada and his advice. Shiva appreciated the validity of Narada's counsel; the prize was awarded to the son, who was acclaimed as Ganapati. (Master of the Ganas) and Vinayaka (leader of all).