Vinayaka Story
Sage Soota (muni) began telling Sounaka and other sages the story of Ganesha’s birth, bad luck that follows if you see moon and it’s remedy.
Once upon a time a demon in the form of elephant performed great penance for Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva was pleased with this and gave him a boon. Then gajasura the demon wished that Lord Shiva should always stay in his stomach. To please him Lord Shiva entered his stomach and settled down.
Meanwhile in Kailasa Parvati was awaiting Lord Shivas return. After a while she came to know that he is taying in Gajasura’s stomach. She went to Lord Vishnu and asked “Oh Lord once you saved my husband from bhasmasura – this time also you should show me a way”. Sri. Hari sent her home with assurances. Then he summoned Lord Brahma and other lords.
They decided the best way to please gajasura is a dance by the bull. They decorated Nandi and each god carried an instrument. Lord Vishnu himself played the bell and shanai. They went to th etown where gajasura lived and began the show. He was pleased and asked the dance party what they wanted. Then Sri. Hari said “this is Lord Shivas vehicle Nandi. It wants Lord Shiva, you should give him”. Then gajasura realized he was talking with demon destroyer Sri. Hari himself. He also realized that his death was imminent. He requested Lord Shiva in his stomach to make his head worthy of worship in all three lokas and asked Shiva to wear his skin as clothing. Then Lord Vishnu asked Nandi to attack gajasura. Nandi killed gajasura with its horns and liberated Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva thanked Lord Vishnu for liberating him. Vishnu advised Shiva to be careful when he gives his boons and proceeded to Vaikuntha. Lord Shiva went to Kailasa on Nandi.
Birth of Vinayaka:
Parvati heard the good news from messengers. She decided to take a bath. With the powder used on her body she made a boy, gave him life and asked him to keep guard as she was putting on the jewelry. Lord Shiva tried to enter the palace. The boy stopped him. Shiva was angered and he cut off the boys head and entered the palace.
As they were chatting the topic of the boy came up. Lord Shiva repented about what he has done. Then he attached Gajasura’s head to the boy, gave him life and named him gajanana. They raised him as their son. To make it easy for his travel they gave him a mouse named anindya.
After some time Parvati and Parameswara had another child named Kumaraswamy. He was very strong and used a peacock as his vehicle.
Vinayaka becomes the commander:
One day devatas, manavas, munis etc prayed to Parameswara and asked him to designate someone to be the remover of obstacles. Both his sons wanted that post. Lord said “who ever takes bath in all holy rivers in the three lokas and returns to me first” will get the job.
As soon as that was said Kumaraswami took off on his peacock. Gajanana was sad. He prayed to his parents and said “you know my limitations, how come you gave such a tough test, please show me a way”. Then Lord Shiva narrated the narayana mantra to him. He said recitation of this mantra is equivalent to taking bath in all holy waters.
Kumaraswami saw Gajanana taking bath before him in every river. He was baffeled and then realized his mistake. He asked his parents to give the designation to gajanana.
On the day of Bhadrapada suddha chaturthi Parameswara made gajanana “remover of obstacles”. On that day all people worshipped him with rice cakes, coconuts, fruits, milk, honey, etc. Vighneswars was very pleased. He took all the offerings. Gave some to his vehicle and took some home. Once home, he wanted to bow down to his parents. Because of his full stomach he was having trouble reaching the floor. Moon – who resides on the head of Lord Shiva saw these antics and laughed violently. With that gajanana’s stomach split and he died.
Parvathi was upset with this and cursed moon. She said who ever looks at you will undergo bad fortune.
Wives of Rushis are maligned:
At that time the seven holy maharshis were performing a yagna. They were circling the fire with their wives. Agni deva was enamored with the wives and was scared. He was losing power. His wife Swaha devi noticed his condition. She took the form of rushis wives , except Arundhati and pleased Agni. Rushis saw this. They left their wives. Rushis wives were cursed because they saw the moon right after Parvatis curse.
Everyone realized the power of this curse and approached Lord Brahma. Since he knew what has happened, he explained the whole situation to everyone, calmed them down. They all went to Kailasa to request Parvati to neutralize the curse. Brahma gave life back to Vighneswara. Parvati was very satisfied and took back the curse. However, she warned “On this day alone – you should not look at moon”. Everyone was satisfied. From then on they were careful not to look at sky on Bhadrapada chaturthi. Time moved on..
Story of Samanthaka diamond:
In Dwapura yuga, Sri Krishna lived in Dwaraka. One day sage Narada visited him and as the evening approached he said ”Sawmi – to day is Bhadrapada chaturthi. One should not look at sky. Please give permission to leave”. With that he narrated the whole story about gajanana to Lord Krishna and left. Krishna announced to Dwaraka residents not to look at sky that night.
Krishna, being a lover of milk always milked his cows at night. He was careful not to look up while milking, however he saw the reflection of moon in the milk bowl. He began to worry about what bad fortune will fall on him.
After a few days King Satrajit who obtained the Samanthaka diamond from Lord Surya went to see Krishna. Krishna was enamored with Samanthaka and asked for it. Satrajit refused saying who would give away a diamond that gives eight tons of gold every day!
One day Satrajit’s brother Prasena wore that diamond in his neck and went hunting. A lion saw the shining diamond and thought it was piece of meat. It killed Prasena and took the diamond. A bear saw that act. It killed the lion and took the diamond as a toy to his daughter Jamabavathi.
Next day, King Satrajit spread the news that Krishna killed Prasena for Samanthaka diamond and maligned him.
Krishna figured out the reason for this. He went looking for it in the forrest. He followed the foot steps near Prasena’a body which led him to the cave where Jamabavathi was playing with the diamond. He grabbed the diamond from the swing set. And Jamavathi began crying. Jambavantha heard these cries and saw Krishna grabbing the diamond. They both fought for 28 days with stones, tree stumps, and finally with fists.
Jamabantha began losing his strength and then he realized who he was fighting with. None other than Sri. Ramachandra the destroyer of Ravana. He bowed to him and said “ Devadi Deva arta jana rakshka . In tretha yuga we both were friends. You asked me one day what I wanted. Like an idiot I said I wanted to have a fight with you. You said it will come true”. Since then I have been waiting for that. Today you came to my house and satisfied my boon. Please pardon my ignorance”.
Krishna massaged his body and brought him back to life. Krishna said “Jambavantha, whole city thinks I stole Samanthaka mani, please give it to me so that I can return it and clear my name.”. Jambavantha gave the Samanthaka mani and also his daughter Jambavathi as gift.
Krishna arrived back in Dwaraka. He summoned every one and explained the whole story. He returned the Samanthaka to Satrajit. King Satrajit repented for maligning Krishna’s name. He gave the diamond and his daughter Satyabhama as gift to Krishna. Krishna accepted Satyabhama but returned the diamond. On a good day he married both Jambavathi and Satyabhama. People in Dwaraka said “You are the lord and you have the abilities to clear your name, how about us?”.
Sri. Krishna proclaimed that on Bhadrapada Sudha Chathurthi those who worship Ganapati, listen to the story of Samanthaka mani and take the blessings will be spared from bad fortunes. From that day all devas, manavas, rushis followed that and were happy.
Sage Soota completed the story to sage Saunaka and others and went home.
Sarve jana Sukhinah bhavantu.