How Ganesha won the Adipatyam for removing hurdles?
The Devas were in a turmoil about who would be the one God who should be prayed to first; one who could be a vighnakarta (obstacle-creator) in the path of rakshasas (demonic beings), and a vighnaharta (obstacle-averter) to help the Devas. Devas approached the Supreme almighty Shiva and wife Parvati for a solution. Shiva suggested that one of His sons, Ganesha or Karthikeya, would be ideal for the job. Devas gave the couple a divine fruit and suggested that they could assign this position to either of their sons by handing over the fruit to the chosen one. They were also told that the one to get the fruit would get the supreme knowledge and immortality. The parents could not decide who they would give the fruit to.
To resolve the issue, Shiva suggested that whoever can encircle the world three times taking a dip in all holy rivers along the way and come back first will get the fruit and hence the Adhipatyam. Kartikeya also known as Murugan (in Tamil Nadu) or Skanda or Subrahmanya is the God of War and He is also the Commander in Chief of Deva’s army. His vahana (vehicle) is peacock, a very swift carrier. Being a true warrior or God of War, Lord Kartikeya took this challenge very seriously and started his journey around the world immediately without wasting anytime in thinking.
On other hand, Ganesha who is God of wisdom, learning and arts, knew very well that he is no match to Kartikeya in this race. One of the name of ganesha is is ‘Lambodara’ which means the ‘huge bellied lord’. Further, Lord Ganesha’s vehicle is mouse/mushak, a very slow vehicle. So Ganesha knew that with this huge belly and slow moving mouse he cannot defeat his brother Kartikeya. Ganesha thought through it and realised that anything which is very dear to you becomes the center of your life and your life energy goes into it; such becomes your world. His parents were dearest to him.
So Ganesha applied his intelligence and started circling his parents three times. In the meantime Kartikeya was busy going around the whole world. Wherever Kartikeya was going and taking bath in a holy river he would see Ganesha ahead of him. This surprised him immensely. When Shiva asked Ganesha,“Beloved and wise Ganesha! But how can I give you the prize; You did not go around the world?"
He stated that his parents are the whole world and that he need not go further to travel the whole world. Lord Shiva stated that Ganesha was the winner indeed. Kartikeya too agreed that Ganesha used his intelligence and wisdom and he indeed is better suited for the adhipatyam as the ‘remover of the obstacles’. Lord Shiva gave the divine fruit to Ganesha and declared Him the Vignaharta. Ganesh Chaturthi commemorates this episode. Some legends also speak of this episode in connection to a dispute about which of the two sons of Shiva was to be considered the older.
EmoticonEmoticon