ॐ सुखनिधये नमः।
OM SUKHANIDHAYE NAMAH।
Lord Ganesha as a little boy was always joyous and happy. His tiny eyes had a merry twinkle, his mouth beamed a wide smile and his long elephant trunk would always be waving around in glee. Yes, even today when we see Lord Ganesha’s idols or his pictures, his beautiful elephant face is overflowing with love and happiness.
When Ganesha was still a young boy there was another boy, around the same age, who also like Ganesha, had an elephant face. His name was Gajamukha. In fact he looked exactly like Ganesha. The only difference being his tiny eyes had an evil gleam, his wide mouth was always in a cruel smirk and his long, grey trunk was always walloping, beating or destroying everything he came across. Added to all this was the ugly frown on his forehead and the dark, dangerous looks he gave everyone he came across.
Ganesha true to his nature was kind, generous and friendly. He would always share his various goodies with his friends. As Ganesha loved to eat his mother made sure he was served all his favourite foods - the very best of sweets, treats and of course lots and lots of yummy modaks. Ganesha was generous and would invite everyone to join him in his feasting. He would also invite everyone to play with him. He loved to dance and listen to music and so very often all his friends would join him in dancing too. Ganesha would include his numerous friends in his many fun activities. Naturally everyone loved Ganesha. He had innumerable friends and each one of them were delighted to be able to spend time with him.
Gajamukha on the other hand, was rude, mean, cruel and a big bully. He believed that as he was very strong he could bully everyone into doing whatever he wanted. He used to force younger children and those weaker than him to do all his work. If they didn’t, he would pick them up with his mighty trunk and toss them around. Everyone feared Gajamukha and stayed as far away from him as they could. Gajamukha had no friends. No one wanted to meet him, talk to him or even come anywhere near him.
Gajamukha was jealous of Ganesha because he had so many friends. Gajamukha was most annoyed with the fact that he had no friends. He thought, “I am so tough and powerful. Why don’t these children want to be with me? I have great strength and can force everyone to give me whatever I want. So why is it that no child wants to be my friend?”
Gajamukha was so proud and vain that he never even thought that it was his awful behaviour, his selfishness, his sullen personality and his bullying that kept people far from him. No one wanted to be with a mean bully.
One day Gajamukha was wandering through the town when he overheard some children talking about Ganesha and him. He hid quietly behind some trees and eavesdropped on their conversation.
The first boy said, “What fun! Ganesha has invited us over to play with him this afternoon.”
“Yes,” said the second boy, “I’m really looking forward to going to meet him. He always gives us such delicious treats and has so many fun games for us to play.”
The third boy added, “Also he is so welcoming. When he heard that my cousins from the village were visiting, he invited all of them too. We are so lucky to have a friend like Ganesha.”
“That’s so true,” piped in the first boy, “Ganesha is so different from his look alike Gajamukha. That Gajamukha is such a sour-faced bully. I would never want to be his friend.”
“Nor I”, said the second boy, “Gajamukha is mean and cruel. He beat me up yesterday for no reason at all.”
The third one said, “Yes it’s best to stay away from that awful Gajamukha.”
Now Gajamukha who had been listening, got very angry that they were criticising him. He charged out of his hiding place and began to chase the three boys. Fortunately the boys were able to out run Gajamukha and escaped being beaten up by him.
Running after the boys had left Gajamukha a little out of breath. He sat down and began to wonder, “What is it about this Ganesha that makes all these children love him so much. Why don’t they love me?”
As he knew that Ganesha had invited his friends over in the afternoon Gajamukha decided to go and check on how Ganesha ‘tricked” these children into being his friends.”
So that afternoon after a hearty meal to give him plenty of energy, Gajamukha set off to Mount Kailash. Ganesha lived on Mount Kailash, with his mother Parvati and his father Lord Shiva. When he reached the snowy slopes he saw that Ganesha’s friends had already arrived. Ganesha and the other children were having fun playing all sorts of games, dancing, singing and generally merry making.
Gajamukha was most irritated to see all these children having such a happy time. He decided that he would show them that he was the most powerful of all.. He felt that once he had proved his might, they would all want to be his friends and not Ganesha’s.
So in a loud bellowing voice Gajamukha shouted “Hey Ganesha, come down here. Let’s see how mighty you are. Come on and face me. I am Gajamukha. I am far superior to you.”
Peace loving Ganesha was having too much fun with his friends to bother with Gajamukha. So he kept playing happily. After all he did not want to prove his might. Nor was he interested in getting into any petty argument or fight with Gajamukha. So Ganesha just ignored Gajamukha.
This unfortunately angered Gajamukha even more. This time in a louder voice he yelled, “Ganesha you coward. It’s because you are too frightened to face me that you pretend that you do not hear me. Come out. Let’s fight. You will see how I trounce you. I challenge you to fight me.”
Ganesha still did not respond.
Enraged, Gajamukha yelled out, “Come face me, you weakling Ganesha.”
Gajamukha’s yelling and shouting was so loud that Lord Shiva who was in meditation got disturbed and he said to Ganesha, “What is this terrible racket Ganesha? If you can’t keep it quiet, I will have to come and sort out the problem.”
Ganesha did not want to disturb his father. He decided to go and talk to Gajamukha and settle the matter peacefully. But as he approached, Gajamukha charged at him. Ganesha knew that if he decided to fight he would destroy Gajamukha. So instead he broke off a small piece of his tusk and tossed it in the direction of the charging Gajamukha. As the tiny piece of ivory hit Gajamukha’s forehead Gajamukha fell to the floor stunned. With just one casual throw of a minute piece of tusk Ganesha had over powered his opponent. The fallen Gajamukha tried to get up but fell back dazed. He was completely immobilised. He saw Ganesha steadily coming nearer to him. Gajamukha was now getting really frightened because he could not lift himself up to run away. He knew that Ganesha would be above him in seconds and that with just one stomp Ganesha could end his life. Even though he tried desperately hard to get up Gajamukha could not. He began trembling in fear. Ganesha was now standing right over him. Gajamukha felt that this would be the end for him. But then to Ganjamukha’s utter surprise Ganesha stretched out his hand to help him rise up.
It was then that Gajamukha started feeling ashamed of himself. He had always thought of himself as being the most powerful but Ganesha with a toss of a piece of his tusk had knocked him out completely. More remarkable was the fact that, his arch enemy, Ganesha even though he was in a position to beat him to a pulp had instead offered him a helping hand. In a flash he understood why everyone loved Ganesha so much. How was it possible not to be friends with and love someone who helped you even when he knew you had come there to destroy him?
Gajamukha fell at Ganesha’s feet and said, “Oh Ganesha, please forgive me. I was proud and arrogant and I used my powers only for evil. Today you have shown me that strength and power should be used to do good. You have forgiven me even though I had come here with such evil intentions. You extended to me your hand in friendship even though I came to you as your enemy. I am so ashamed of all the bad things I have done. I know now that what I want most is to be like you. In order to do this I wish to remain by your side at all times so that I can copy everything you do and learn to behave just like you. You are known to be generous and giving so please grant me my wish.”
Ganesha was very happy to hear that Gajamukha had had a change of heart and that he was going to transform his life for the better. Kind hearted Ganesha could never refuse anyone anything and so he wanted to grant Gajamukha his wish.
But there was one small problem. Ganesha said to Gajamukha “Gajamukha I am very pleased that you have changed and are willing to do exactly as I do. I would love to grant you your wish but, as we both look alike, if you are always with me and behave exactly like me how will people be able to distinguish between the two of us?”
Once again Gajamukha fell at Ganesha’s feet and said, “Change me into any other form so that we no longer look alike but please I beg you do not dismiss me from your side. I look up to you and want to emulate you. I will be loyal and trustworthy so please allow me to be by your side. Please Ganesha grant me my one wish.”
Ganesha thought for a moment. As he always wanted to grant everyone their heart’s desire, he wanted to do so for Gajamukha too. Then an idea struck Ganesha and he declared, “I will change your form into that of a mouse. You will be my vahan (vehicle) and speed me along through the universe past the planets and stars. As I will ride you, you will go wherever I go. In this way you will always be with me.”
Gajamukha was ecstatic. Ganesha swished his trunk around Gajamukha. There was a flurry of pretty, white snowflake and suddenly Gajamukha disappeared and in his place stood the cutest little mouse.
From that day on Gajamukha, the mouse, became Ganesha’s vahan. He would take Ganesha everywhere and when Ganesha was not travelling Gajamukha would sit at his feet looking up at Ganesha with great love, respect and adoration.
So next time you visit Ganesha take a look at Gajamukha too, sitting quietly at Ganesha’s feet. Close by is a plate heaped with delicious sweet modaks. We all know that mice love food and there placed right next to Gajamukha is a plate full of yummy sweetmeats. But Gajamukha is not looking at the modaks. He has eyes only for Lord Ganesha. He sits dutifully at Ganesha’s feet making a note of every move Ganesha makes so that he too can do exactly as Ganesha does.
No one adores Ganesha as much as little Gajamukha.
LIFE LESSONS
1. The saying “smile and the world smiles with you” is very true. Everyone wanted to be friends with Ganesha because he was happy and joyous.
2. No one wanted to be Gajamukha’s friend because he was grumpy and mean.
3. Be generous and forgiving like Ganesha. Only a very strong person can forgive even his enemy.
4. Only a weak character needs to bully people to show power. Real power is when you have the strength to help others. Everyone avoids a bully.
5. Remember like Gajamukha, all of us too can change for the better.
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