ॐ विघ्ननाशाय नमः।
Om Vighnanashaya Namah।
OM TO THE DESTROYER OF ALL OBSTACLES
Legend has it that when the devas and asuras were churning the ocean of milk Goddess Laxmi rose from the depths of the deep ocean. She was so exquisitely beautiful that all the devas and asuras were enraptured. In those days it was customary for young women to choose their own husbands. As she emerged all the eyes of the devas and asuras were on her but Laxmi had eyes only for Lord Vishnu. His glowing dark skin, his sparkling bright eyes and his delightfully mischievous smile captured her heart. She instantly fell in love with Lord Vishnu.
Their marriage was to be a spectacular event. The heavens were abuzz with excitement about the forthcoming wedding. The stars were to glitter at their brightest and the planets to shine more brilliantly than ever before. The gandharvas prepared to play soul stirring melodies while the dazzling apsaras performed their most creative, stellar dances. The resplendent bride’s path was to be strewn with the multi-hued, fresh flowers the sweet scent pervading all through the heavens. It was to be a most spectacular occasion of joyous celebration.
Everyone was looking forward to the wedding. Naturally the devas were delighted too and were impatiently awaiting D-day. They busied themselves in planning their clothes and picking out their finest jewels to impress all the others present at the wedding. When they heard that Lord Vishnu was presenting his guests with invitations, they all rushed off to his palace and awaited their turn to receive this much coveted invite. Then as they were all gathered together chatting animatedly about the forthcoming nuptial, they saw Lord Ganesha alighting from his vahana, the mouse, and heading towards them.
“Oh no!” exclaimed one of the deva’s, “Look who’s turned up for his invitation – Ganesha.”
All the other devas turned and looked. Sure enough they all saw Ganesha plodding along slowly towards the palace.
“We have to do something about this,” said another deva, “Ganesha will embarrass all of us at the wedding.”
“Yes, he will,” said a third God, “He has such an enormous belly and eats far too much.”
Another God added, “And when he arrives, he will look so ridiculous with his huge body astride his tiny mouse vahana.”
“Besides,” said a fourth deva, “What about his odd, huge elephant head? If he is with us, we will all become the laughing stock of the wedding.”
All the God’s looked concerned. They shook their heads, their foreheads creased with worry.
“What are we going to do about Ganesha? We have to come up with a plan quickly to make sure he isn’t invited,” said yet another deva.
“I have a brilliant idea,” said a seventh God who had been standing apart watching Ganesha as he neared their group. He whispered his plan to the others and continued, “Come hurry, we have no time to lose.”
Relieved all the devas agreed to his plan and they rushed off as a delegation to meet Lord Vishnu. They knew that if they moved fast Lord Ganesha would not be able to catch up with them. They could then speak with Lord Vishnu without Ganesha hearing what they said.
When they reached Lord Vishnu, who was sitting on his magnificent golden throne, all the devas fell at his feet in reverence. Then once they had all stood up, their leader approached Lord Vishnu and said, “Lord if you permit, we wish to make a small request.”
Lord Vishnu in a benevolent and happy mood answered, “Please tell me your request I will certainly grant you your wish.”
The deva then said, “Lord all of us devas are unanimous in our request that Ganesha not be invited to your wedding.”
Lord Vishnu was startled by this request. All the devas stood before him with folded hands - all of them making the same request, they did not want Ganesha at the festivities. Lord Vishnu did not wish to leave out Ganesha and so he said, “But how can I deny him an invitation when I am inviting all of you? Every one of the devas has been invited. How can I make just one exception?”
The crafty devas were prepared with a solution to this problem too. They said, “Lord, all you have to tell Ganesha is that you need someone to look after Swarglok and Ganesha will be more than happy to stay back and do the job.”
Very reluctantly Vishnu agreed to do as the devas wished. When he told Ganesha that he was required to stay back and look after Swarglok, Ganesha being genial and good natured readily agreed.
The devas were jubilant that their plan had worked. They took their invitations home and happily continued with preparing for the grandest wedding they would ever attend.
What the Deva’s didn’t know was that the pious, wandering sage Narada, who is very close to Lord Vishnu, had heard their plan. Narada Muni was known to create confusion and controversy wherever he went. This time too Sage Narada decided to create a little chaos for the heavenly devas. Sage Narada went to visit Lord Ganesha and said, “Narayan, Narayan. What is this I hear Ganesha? You have not been invited to the royal wedding of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi?”
“Yes,” replied Ganesha. “It is true that I will not be attending the wedding. But this is only because Lord Vishnu needs someone to look after Swarglok. I am more than happy to stay back and serve the Lord.”
“You are mistaken Ganesha,” said Sage Narada, “The reason that you have not been invited is because all the devas requested Lord Vishnu not to invite you.”
Lord Ganesha’s face expressed surprise. With simplicity and complete humility, he enquired of the sage, “But Narada Muni why would they not want me to attend this glorious wedding?”
Narada Muni not one to mince words immediately replied, “Because they are embarrassed to be with you.”
Now Ganesha’s usually beaming and happy countenance changed to sadness. Lowering his large elephant head, he turned away from Sage Narada to prevent the holy sage from seeing the disappointment he felt at this rejection. His unhappiness did not go unnoticed by his faithful devotee and vahana, Mooshak, the tiny mouse. Mooshak did not want his beloved Ganesha to be sad. Going up to his Lord and master Mooshak said, “Lord what the other devas and Lord Vishnu have done is wrong. Allow me to teach them a lesson they deserve. Ganesha heard Mooshak’s plan and agreed with Mooshak that the devas should be taught a lesson for being unfair and unkind.
Mooshak the leader of all the mice summoned his army of mice and instructed them to scurry off to the route that the bridegroom, Lord Vishnu, and his party would take to the bride, Goddess Laxmi’s house. Once there, they were to dig under the ground so that the road surface weakened. Mooshak’s battalion of many million mice scuttled off to do exactly as they were ordered. Diligently they dug all the mud away.
Lord Vishnu’s imposing golden chariot of gleaming gold carried the handsome and happy bridegroom. Behind his chariot a long row of chariots carried the devas and their wives. The horses pulling the chariots were covered in rich silks - their mane and tail brushed to shine beautifully. Magnificent elephants their trunks covered in gold, large ornate bells around their necks and with heavy brocade parasols above their heads walked majestically along with the procession. It was indeed a spectacular sight to behold. Every single chariot studded with gems and jewels dazzled the onlookers. The devas were all dressed in exquisite garments and adorned with the most precious jewelry. Everyone was happy, smiling and chattering excitedly in anticipation of the most exclusive ceremony they were about to attend.
Lord Vishnu’s chariot heading the procession departed and the others followed. Then almost mid-way into their journey Lord Vishnu’s chariot wheels collapsed into the slushy mud. Then one by one all the other chariots started sinking too. Mooshak’s army had done a sterling job of digging below the road. The road caved completely under the weight of this glorious procession.
The devas knowing that they had to ensure that Lord Vishnu got to his wedding in time stepped out of their respective chariots one by one to help lift the Lord’s carriage. Ooops as they stepped down their feet shod in bejewelled shoes sunk into the mud. Mindless of the mess they trudged to Lord Vishnu’s chariot. They tried to lift the wheels out. Their hands got covered with mud. Their exquisite garments got splattered with sludge. Their fine ornaments no longer glowed as they were covered in grime. The devas kept pulling, digging and pushing – but to no avail. Lord Vishnu’s carriage would not budge. From a grand and glorious procession, the row of chariots and their occupants were now a complete mess.
Then one of the devas seeing an old farmer ploughing his field said, “Let us ask this farmer. As he is familiar with the land here he may be able to help us.”
The other devas didn’t think this gaunt, old man would be able to do much. But as they were desperate and exhausted, they were willing to take any help available. They called the farmer and told him of their predicament and how it was urgent that Lord Vishnu reach his wedding on time. The farmer readily agreed to help the devas.
Walking to Lord Vishnu’s chariot he effortlessly lifted one wheel out of the muddy rut. Then he did the same with the other one. Each time as he lifted a wheel he would shout, “Jai Ganesha”.
The devas looked dumbfounded. This man who was not particularly strong had managed to do what all the devas together had been unable to do. The devas asked him, “How did you lift the wheels so easily? We have been trying to get the wheels out of the ditch for such a long time and were unable to do so. Yet you could lift them effortlessly.”
The farmer replied, “This is because before I started, I prayed to Lord Ganesh to help me in my endeavor and remove all obstacles from my way. Then as I went about the job, I chanted his name and asked him to bless me with success. Lord Ganesha is the Lord of all beginnings and the remover of all obstacles. If we call out to him, he makes sure our work goes smoothly and well.”
Sage Narada too appeared there and chastised the devas, “You objected to Ganesha being amongst you because of how he looks and because he enjoys food. You did not see Ganesha for his kindness, his good nature or his large heart. As deities you should have known better than to be unkind to others. You should have also remembered to ask for Ganesha’s blessings before starting on your journey. Even now if you pray to Ganesha he will make sure that you arrive at the wedding on time and that no further calamities occur.”
All the devas and Lord Vishnu too felt ashamed of their behaviour. They went back to where Lord Ganesha stood guard at the gates of Swarglok. Falling at his feet they begged his forgiveness. Together they prayed to Lord Ganesha and requested him to bless the auspicious marriage of Lord Vishnu and Goddess Laxmi.
Kind and forgiving Lord Ganesha was only too happy to bless all of them.
LIFE LESSONS
1. We should never judge people by their looks.
2. We should always be kind and caring of others.
3. We should try to see the good in everyone.
4. We should never shun anyone or make them feel alone and left-out.
5. Let us include as many as we can when we celebrate.
6. Like Lord Ganesha let us always be willing and happy to do our duty.
7. Like Lord Ganesha let us be forgiving.
8. Like Lord Ganesha let us be jovial and cheerful always.
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