Vinayaka - The Leader of all
On
one occasion, a competition was arranged among
the gods for selecting the leader of the
ganas (troops of demigods who are
attendants of S'iva). Participants had to
go round the world quick and come back to the
feet of Lord S'iva. The gods started off
on their own vehicles; the elder son of
S'iva 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
Nârada 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 Brahmâ
Himself), Nârada was a bad omen!
Again it is a bad omen if you are going
somewhere and someone asked, "Whither are you
bound?" Nârada put him that very
question!Nevertheless, Nârada was able to assuage his anger. He drew forth from S'iva's son the cause of his predicament and his desire to win. Nârada consoled him, exhorted him not to yield to despair, and advised him thus: "Râma -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 S'iva, claiming the prize." He did so and returned to his father. When asked how he returned so soon, he related the story of Nârada and his advice. S'iva appreciated the validity of Nârada's counsel; the prize was awarded to the son, who was acclaimed as Ganapati. (Master of the Ganas) and Vinayaka (leader of all).
Category: Chinna Katha
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