SHIVA'S SONS

Ganesa is the Hindu god of Prudence and Policy. He is the reputed eldest son of Siva and Pārvati and is represented with an elephant's head. Kartikeya is the younger son and according to Puranic legends, is their son only in the sense that they formed.

The snow capped mountains with their sharp peaks rising on all sides, beautiful flowers and trees and peace all round, the eternal sound of stillness, the murmur of the rivulets as the snow slowly melted and flowed down towards the valleys, the slow chiming of bells and the music of divine chanting. It was kailash: the abode of the Gods. Shiva and Parvathi lived there, with their two sons, Ganesha and Karthikeya. Parvathi was busy cooking. The aroma of food floated through the air and brought little Ganesha, her eldest son, running into the house. Ganesha was the elephant-headed, pot bellied son of Shiva and Parvathi. "Mother," he said, coming near her. He entwined his chubby arms around her neck and peeped over her shoulder. "What are you cooking? It smells good. Are you making my favourite rice dumplings?" Ganesha's long trunk was thrust forward, asking his mother for his favourite sweet. He quickly stuffed one into his mouth saying, "You make the best dumplings in the world, mother." He thrust his trunk out once more. "Now, now. That is enough," protested his mother, pushing him away. She wiped her hands with a cloth, now that everything was ready. "Your father and brother will soon be coming home," she caught hold of her son's hand and proceeded towards the outer portion of the house. 'I do hope he remembers that it is Ganesha's birthday and comes home on time," she thought to herself.

Parvathi turned and looked at her son critically. No, he had not spoilt his attire or ruffled up his hair. How pretty he looked in his silks and splendid jewellery. His elephant face and pot belly always gave him a look of babyish innocence and a prankster's mischievousness. When they reached the outer portals of the house, they saw Shiva coming with an arm around Karthikeya's shoulder's. Karthikeya was the tall, good looking younger son, with a practical and intelligent mind par excellence. He had, at that young age itself, effectively explained the meaning of the Pranav Manthra Om to his own father, Shiva. As he entered, he went up to his mother and Parvathi fondly ruffled his thick, curly hair. "Come in, everybody, wash and get ready for dinner," she announced. "I am washed and all ready." Ganesha couldn't wait any longer, he was hungry. "Hurry up, father. Hurry up brother. Food is getting cold." His father and brother laughed as they went in. Shiva blessed Ganesha before they all sat down to eat.

They had a hearty meal. Ganesha kept on eating. He could never tire of rice dumplings. Stuffed with jaggery, coconut and cardamoms, the little sweets were his favourite. What a cook his mother was! The sweets kept disappearing in their tens. Soon Ganesha's stomach could take no more. He reluctantly got up while the others smiled indulgently. The boys helped their mother clear up and then both of them went out to play. "Race you," said Karthikeya, getting astride his splendid peacock. Ganesha trotted slowly on his vehicle the mouse. "Dear brother" said Karthikeya, getting down from his peacock, "I have a request to make. Why don't you take my peacock instead of the mouse?" Karthikeya was very fond of his brother and wished to give him a more comfortable vehicle. "If I do so, will you take the mouse, younger brother?" asked Ganesha. "Oh! No" replied karthikeya. I will take some other animal or bird which will be more impressive."


"Now you know why I stick to the mouse?" "No I don't, " Karthikeya was insistent. "You are so uncomfortable on it. Besides, it moves so slowly when you sit on it." "No, you don't understand brother," explained Ganesha. "You see, if I abandon it, nobody else would want it either. Father, the mighty Shiva, travels on a big bull, Mother on a lioness, Uncle Vishnu had an eagle and Aunt Lakshmi uses an elephant," Ganesha paused, even Aunt Saraswati flies on a white swan and you this splendid peacock." Ganesha continued, "It may look funny to see me on a mouse, but honestly, I make myself as light as a feather when I sit on it," concluded Ganesha. The mouse came near Ganesha and prostrated before him. Then it turned to Kartikeya and said in a tearful voice. "It is true. I hardly feel his weight," he emphasized. "I used to feel forlorn and forsaken. Nobody wanted me. Then the great Ganesha chose me for his vehicle." The mouse wiped a tiny drop of tear that had flowed down his cheek. "I feel honoured to carry such a kind – hearted soul like him. Who else would be gracious enough to carry a mouse? Please don't send me away." Kartikeya realized that day that not only did his brother have a big body but also a large heart.

Parvathi who was listening to the conversation between the brothers felt proud of Lord Ganesha. She turned towards him, saying in a soft voice, "Yes, it is a good thing to recognize the importance of smaller beings in creation," and smiled appreciatively. Then kissing both her children on the cheek, she said, "Now both of you go and play while I discuss some important matters with your father," and Parvathi walked into the house, a proud mother of two adorable sons. 'Come, let us race now," said Karthikeya, getting astride his peacock once again. While Karthikeya took off immediately, Ganesha kept stumbling of his mouse every now and then. His big tummy, full of rice dumplings, kept sliding to one side or the other adding to his discomfiture. Ganesha took one of his father's snake hanging from a tree and tied it around his middle like a belt to keep his stomach in place. Now things were better, and he moved on. His cousin Moon, who had been watching Ganesha all the time, burst into loud laughter and sad in a mocking tone, "If you eat more than what your stomach wants, this is what will happen, you clumsy clown Ganesha. You look like a moving mountain."

Ganesha, who always brought a smile and cheer to saddened hearts by his very appearance, seldom got angry. He loved fun and frolic and always believed in making others happy. He thought happiness is the first preference in life for any human being. Yet when somebody mocked him or laughed at him, he never hesitated to put him in his place. And so it happened that day. "Cousin Moon, is it your God given beauty that makes you so arrogant? If so, then you do not deserve it any more." So saying, he broke a piece of his tusk and aimed it at the moon, striking it. "From today, you shall lose your light and glitter," he said. When Moon lost its shine, the world became pitch dark. All the gods were worried and begged Ganesha to forgive the Moon and restore his light back to him. The kind hearted Ganesha forgave the Moon readily. "Yet," he said "from now on you will gradually regain it in the next fifteen days. That is the best I can do and nothing more than this. This is a lesson for you my dear cousin, Moon. Karthikeya who had never seen his brother so angry, came running towards him. He put his arms around him and then, turning towards the Moon said, "That should teach you to be less arrogant and keep you from mocking others."